The Beauty of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series: Winter Solstice – Good Days Are Always Here; The New Winter Is Not Cold.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms are seasonal markers that were summarized by ancient Chinese people through their observations of the sky and earth. They reflect the climatic changes throughout the four seasons in China and embody the life experiences and cultural memories of the agricultural era. These terms are imbued with the traditional Chinese wisdom for survival and a philosophy of life. In November 2016, the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” were officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As soon as the maple leaves turn red and then fall, another winter is upon us. The Winter Solstice is a traditional Chinese festival. Ancient people believed that from the Winter Solstice onward... ， As the yang energy of heaven and earth begins to rise and grow stronger, with the first sign of yang emerging at the Winter Solstice and the yang energy of heaven and earth ascending, ancient people regarded the Winter Solstice as an auspicious day. As an old saying goes: “Winter Solstice is as significant as the Lunar New Year—marking a small reunion in the human world.” The beginning of the lunar year—the first day of the new year—is akin to the first month of the lunar calendar today. During the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, as well as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Winter Solstice was regarded as the “beginning of the year” and was also known as the “Zhou Zheng Festival.” It wasn’t until the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, when the Xia calendar was adopted, that the Winter Solstice was officially separated from the first month of the lunar calendar. Thus, it’s evident that the Winter Solstice held an extremely important place in the daily lives of ancient Chinese people.

Winter Solstice Phenology

“The first sign is earthworms coiling up; the second, deer antlers beginning to shed; the third, springs starting to stir.” As the winter solstice brings new seasonal signs, we see—first, earthworms curled up tightly, their bodies resembling knots tied in a rope; second, deer antlers that have just begun to regrow after shedding, brimming with the first signs of yang energy. At this time, the “Deer of Longevity” painting from the Eight Great Mountainsman Memorial Hall perfectly captures these seasonal phenomena. The painting’s depiction—neither wholly realistic nor entirely abstract—its lively and natural posture reflects not only keen observation of external objects but also the cultivation of one’s inner nature.

Zhu Da / Deer of Longevity Painting

Three wells with rising spring water and flowing springs.

The culture of the Winter Solstice has been passed down for thousands of years and has long been integrated into people’s daily lives. Among those who have recorded this auspicious day through calligraphy, ink, and seals are many renowned artists—such as Wu Changshuo, a master of the late Qing and Republican periods who was deeply influenced by the art of Bada Shanren. On the very day of the Winter Solstice, Wu Changshuo once carved a seal bearing the inscription: “Zujinxuan”—and during the Qing dynasty, the scholar-painter Zhang Ruohai once created an album of illustrations depicting the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. As these examples show, the phenological phenomena, customs, and rituals depicted in these images have long since become cultural memories passed down through generations.                               

During the Ming Dynasty, ancient people would observe the winter solstice on this day. Ancient people would write on paper. Draw one. Branch Plum Blossom—each day adding one petal to the plum blossom, for a total of eighty-one. After Nine plum blossoms are blooming on the branches of the back branch. Thus, welcoming spring back. Among the works of Bada Shanren, there are also numerous pieces featuring plum blossoms—for example, the "Plum Blossom Album" and the "Plum Blossom Hanging Scroll." The plum blossoms in his works are rendered with extreme simplicity, their compositions are concise yet profound, and their artistic atmosphere is deeply evocative. He uses... “Du Zhi Mei” and “Lu Gen Mei” convey feelings of loneliness.

Winter Solstice Customs — Northern Region

In many regions of northern China, there is a proverb. “If you don’t hold a bowl of dumplings on the Winter Solstice, your ears will freeze off and no one will care.” It is said that when the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing retired and returned to his hometown, he saw people suffering from the cold. So he took mutton, some herbs that dispel cold, and dough sheets, shaped them into ear-like forms, and created a dish called... The medicinal ingredients of “Cold-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup” were given away as alms to the people. Later, every year on the Winter Solstice, people began to imitate making and eating this soup, thus giving rise to a custom.

Winter Solstice Customs — Southern Region

In many parts of southern China, people celebrate the winter solstice with festive activities. In Jiangxi, in addition to eating dumplings, the winter solstice customs also include enjoying hot tofu, chicken, glutinous rice, tangyuan (sweet rice balls), making ma ci guo (glutinous rice cakes), and preparing nuomi ba (sticky rice cakes). Every year when the winter solstice arrives and the weather turns cold in Fuzhou, Jiangxi, locals begin preparing a variety of local delicacies and snacks, such as Fuzhou stuffed sausages and fermented tofu. On the day of the winter solstice, most families will purchase high-quality ingredients and gather together, setting up a hot pot for everyone to enjoy in a warm and joyful atmosphere. Moreover, the winter solstice is also a time deeply rooted in folk traditions. It’s the perfect time for “pickling” and “fermenting.” Old residents of Nanchang often say, “It’s a good idea to pickle meat on the Winter Solstice,” so after the Winter Solstice, people typically start slaughtering pigs, pickling meat, fermenting tofu, and steaming rice wine from glutinous rice—making all the necessary preparations for the upcoming New Year.

Epilogue: On the Winter Solstice, as we gaze upon the evening snow covering myriad mountains, time grows cold. May this moment be serene, and the future one radiant.

Come share in the comments what beauty of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms you’ve discovered!

Drafters: Hu Xinrui, Liao Zixian, Liu Yang

Typesetting / Image caption: Hu Qi

Issued by: Lü Xiang