<p>東: 主人。由於古時主位在東，客位在西，所以稱主人為「
　　東」。如：「房東」、「店東」。</p>

<p>Translation: In ancient times, the host was seated to the east and the guest to the west, so the host was called "East".</p>

<p>reference:<br>
<a href="http://dict.variants.moe.edu.tw/yitia/fra/fra01875.htm">http://dict.variants.moe.edu.tw/yitia/fra/fra01875.htm</a></p>

<p>Personally I have also heard it is because the Sun rises from the east, thus east is seen as the 'emic', or the 'theme'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-04T21:05:15.087Z
2015-05-04T22:09:29.680Z
2015-05-04T22:09:29.680Z
Alex
<p>Examples include 房东 or 财东 and 东道, respectively. What is the etymology behind this additional meaning?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-20T07:00:17.873Z
You can see that the origin of 東/东道主. In ancient times, China is the oriental mainland. In TV series _Journey to the West_ you can hear 東/东土大唐 frequently. The 東/东 means hosts come from east side and guests come from west at first, then changes to host country or person.
xenophōn
<meaning><characters><etymology>
How come 東/东 has a second meaning 'owner/master' or 'host'?
# How come 東/东 has a second meaning 'owner/master' or 'host'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-04)

Examples include 房东 or 财东 and 东道, respectively. What is the etymology behind this additional meaning?

**Tags:** meaning, characters, etymology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You can see that the origin of 東/东道主. In ancient times, China is the oriental mainland. In TV series _Journey to the West_ you can hear 東/东土大唐 frequently. The 東/东 means hosts come from east side and guests come from west at first, then changes to host country or person.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-04. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

東: 主人。由於古時主位在東，客位在西，所以稱主人為「
　　東」。如：「房東」、「店東」。

Translation: In ancient times, the host was seated to the east and the guest to the west, so the host was called "East".

reference:  
<http://dict.variants.moe.edu.tw/yitia/fra/fra01875.htm>

Personally I have also heard it is because the Sun rises from the east, thus east is seen as the 'emic', or the 'theme'


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