Solar Terms 101: Fiery Leaves, Shining Persimmons, and Autumn's Unmistakable Hues

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 节气 jiéqì solar terms based on seasonal changes and natural phenomenon. They play an important role in guiding agricultural activities, even to this day. But even city-dwellers like us can enjoy them. Each solar term has its own associated customs, traditions, and even recipes. In Solar Terms 101, we delve into what makes each one special...


Name of the solar term: 霜降 shuāngjiàng lit. “First Frost"
Gregorian date: Oct 23 +/- a day (Oct 23, 2022)

What is shuangjiang all about

As the 18th solar term of the year, shuangjiang is also the last solar term for autumn. The diurnal temperature variation continues to increase, as does the dreaded autumn dryness, evidenced by the recent chilly mornings here in Beijing. With cold air marching further south, the lowest temperatures will drop below freezing, and thus winter officially begins. While the advent of frost isn't necessarily an omen for impending frostbite, it is worrying for southern farmers as it risks damaging their ongoing harvest. What's more, it's also the end of the life cycle for most herbage in the north, just as the old saying goes, 霜降杀百草 shuāngjiàng shā bǎicǎoShuangjiang kills the herbs.”                                                                         

The micro seasons of shuangjiang

Following in the raptors’ footsteps (wing-beat?) during chùshǔ, dholes – or wild dogs – also ritualistically line up their prey before digging in during this season, therefore the first micro season 豺乃祭兽 chái nǎi jì shòu the dholes use prey as tribute has a similar name as that of the summer solar term, 鹰乃祭鸟 yīngnǎijìniǎo raptors use their prey as tribute. As for the flora, in the second micro season 草木黄落 cǎomù huáng luò, the grasslands go stark while autumn foliage paints the mountains in vibrant colors – inspiring poetry lines such as 霜叶红于二月花 shuāng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā "the red leaves are richer in color than the spring flowers" – before they fall to the ground, releasing their nutrients for next year’s growth. And 蛰虫咸俯 zhé chóng xián fǔ, the last micro season of shuangjiang is a sequel to 蛰虫始户 zhé chóng shǐ hù the second micro season of the autumn equinox. After living in caves and other shelters for a month, myriad bugs are finally ready to hunker down for a long hibernation.

Kick out the taro ghost and pull the radish from the field

Of course, now is the prime time for a late autumn field trip to capture the beauty of the changing leaves and blossoming chrysanthemums. However, more fun awaits! That is if you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty.

In the Canton area, folks will seize this solar term to 送芋鬼 sòng yù guǐ send the taro ghost away. In other words, villagers will build a tower from roofing tiles in a nearby river, fill it with firewood, and light the thing on fire until the tiles become red hot. Then, the tower is dismantled and the tiles are used to cook taro or sweet potatoes. Finally, the tiles are discarded outside the village as a means to expel evil spirits. 

In Shandong province, the customs surrounding shuangjiang are also tied to the 白萝卜 bái luóbo radish. As one of the most prominent winter vegetables on northern Chinese dining tables, the radish is believed to ease symptoms of autumn dryness and protect the respiratory system from cold weather. Shandong is something of a radish wonderland in China, and thus it is imperative to harvest this peppery little snack before shuangjiang's devastating frost sets in.

What to eat for shuangjiang

We already discussed a few foods above, namely because the number of dishes made around this solar term is seemingly endless.

Nevertheless, the most seasonal treat among them all is probably 柿子 shìzi the persimmon, a fruit resembling 西红柿 xīhóngshì tomatoes in shape and name, but with a distinctly sweeter taste. At the center of the persimmon is a silky, jelly-like core, also known as its tongue. Persimmons can be enjoyed fresh or sundried, the latter being preferred by old-time Beijingers. Take heed, however, this fruit is rich in tannic acid and pectin, so consuming a large amount of it could disrupt your digestive system. Likewise, you should avoid eating it with another seasonal treat, the crab, since this combination could lead to some serious gastrolithiasis. 

Back to what you can eat... Chestnut, honey, silver mushroom, carrot, and pears are all ideal parts of a balanced diet during this time. They're mild in taste and believed to strengthen your immune system and repair membranes. The diurnal temperature variation also will increase the sweetness of various fruits and even vegetables. Protein wise, mutton and rabbit are recommended since the former possesses yang energy necessary to warm the body in the harsh winter, whereas rabbit meat keeps the fire element in the body under control and prevents inflammation.

Read: Baby It’s Cold….in Here? Understanding China’s Central Heating System Divide

Images: Sohu, Sina, Zhihu, 17qq

Comments

New comments are displayed first.
Giovanni Martini wrote:
BauLuo wrote:

anoterh things that bugs me is `16;30,' as in i will be there at 16:30 . Cantcha just say 4:30 this afterfoon? you think you is comin 4:30 in the morning. Unless ya aint a really a really high or low class hooker doin some dregs , ya aint comin at 4:30 in the mornin.

Enter the beer code below, or above, as the case may, and or a picture of a pink elbow If you are Elbonian, as we at the Beijinger are non-ethnist.

16:30 is a time? I thought it was some Chinese hoo-doo reincarnation sh*t. Like my boss asked me where I was at 1630 and I just naturally assumed she was talking about my fekking up at the Battle of Randeniwela where the Sri Lankans whupt the pudding out of the Portugese. I showed her my crystal ball, where I was busy helping Massachusetts Bay Colony outlaw dice and cards that same year. Turns out my boss was talking about some afternoon meeting yesterday. So now, not only am I jobless, I'm also down for 30 days mental evaluation after babbling about the Reverend Richard Mather having first claim on my time rather than a gang of freebooter Portugese soldiers of fortune. A mistake that could happen to anybody. But, like the doctor here says, "Yes, but it happened to you. I'll be back at 7:30." So now here I am. Does he mean tomorrow morning, or do I have to fobb off King Pelayo de Asturias with another excuse why I can't come hang with the Goths on Biscay's Bay circa 730?

Another interesting story, which is entirely true. Two days ago, I left my glasses in classroom after end of class. I get bao an sorta lady at front desk to open my classroom. Glasses are gone. So yesterday I go to optician, buy two sets of simple reading glasses for 620 kuai , first one was empty (first eyeglass box) And, drunkenly quickly lost the other pair of glasses. So today, late afternoonish, being glassless I wander out, stop in a nearby yaodian 药店, see iffen they gots any eyeglasses. They gots no eyeglasses for sale, but they gots eyeglasses that they offer to old folk for to use when in their store. They gave me a pair, said givem back in a day or two. Which I will.

Now in Canada every freaking chao shi, corner store, budget store and etc, has a rack of cheap reading glasses from magnification 1.5 up to 4 . They cost 2 bucks, last time I was in Canada, maybe they are 4 bucks now, I don't know. They are all made in China, but I can't get them in China? 为啥?

Enter the free zone of benevolence and animosity.

I am Doktor Aethelwise Snapdragoon.

anoterh things that bugs me is `16;30,' as in i will be there at 16:30 . Cantcha just say 4:30 this afterfoon? you think you is comin 4:30 in the morning. Unless ya aint a really a really high or low class hooker doin some dregs , ya aint comin at 4:30 in the mornin.

Enter the beer code below, or above, as the case may, and or a picture of a pink elbow If you are Elbonian, as we at the Beijinger are non-ethnist.

I am Doktor Aethelwise Snapdragoon.

Giovanni Martini wrote:
BauLuo wrote:
Giovanni Martini wrote:

I am again inspired. This time to frame an elegant haiku after the manner of the refined 小鬼子。

“Persimmons shining among autum leaves/ As after his sitzbath/ Uncle Joe's hemorrhoids glisten"

MEMO: To Bao Luo---don't come sniffing around counting syllables. In the original pre-Shogunate Japanese, the count is 100% correct.

Not to worry, not to worry, I only gots ten fingas, an ten toes, which are usually shod.(Toes that is, I rarely wear shoes on my hands, though sometimes I do) Anything over 20 I become confuzzled. An' I wouldn't know a Japanese syllabus from an omnibus anyways.

`Confuzzled' bye the by, is a neologism created by Patti Stepien, circa 1995, conflating `confused' and `puzzled' . I think it works.

Entre la lotus, just entre la lotus. 来,来。 进入 buddy.

Is a freshly-chopped down tree a "neolog?" I figgered a Canadian might know, being a lumberjack and ok and all. B.C.-ers make leo-logs, Newfies eat quohogs, and the shining land between is truly a Trudeau's true-doing.

I have cut done a few trees in my day,, with chainsaw, more labouresly with bow saw.. Done both. , Whack in the wedge, make it fall anywhere ya want, I ain't an ijdjit yet. , bein a country boy and all,, but I managed to plant about 800,000 thousands of them, Of course not all of them survived. 8 years planting trees should get me at least a freindly slap on the back.

Enter the freemasons handshake in reverse using Swahillli

I am Doktor Aethelwise Snapdragoon.

Giovanni Martini wrote:

I am again inspired. This time to frame an elegant haiku after the manner of the refined 小鬼子。

“Persimmons shining among autum leaves/ As after his sitzbath/ Uncle Joe's hemorrhoids glisten"

MEMO: To Bao Luo---don't come sniffing around counting syllables. In the original pre-Shogunate Japanese, the count is 100% correct.

Not to worry, not to worry, I only gots ten fingas, an ten toes, which are usually shod.(Toes that is, I rarely wear shoes on my hands, though sometimes I do) Anything over 20 I become confuzzled. An' I wouldn't know a Japanese syllabus from an omnibus anyways.

`Confuzzled' bye the by, is a neologism created by Patti Stepien, circa 1995, conflating `confused' and `puzzled' . I think it works.

Entre la lotus, just entre la lotus. 来,来。 进入 buddy.

I am Doktor Aethelwise Snapdragoon.