The Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou is a comprehensive cultural venue built to commemorate Tang Xianzu, one of the world’s hundred great cultural figures and a master of Ming‑dynasty drama in China. It is also one of Jiangxi Province’s ten major memorial halls dedicated to historical luminaries.
The Twenty-Four Solar Terms at the Soup House | After the Beginning of Winter, All Things Wither
Author:
Source:
Time:
2023-11-09
Today is the beginning of winter.
The beginning of winter.
The Beginning of Winter is the nineteenth of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms and marks the start of winter. When the handle of the Big Dipper points toward the northwest and the Sun’s ecliptic longitude reaches 225°, the season begins—typically between November 7 and 8 on the Gregorian calendar. “Li” means “to establish,” and “Dong” signifies “end”; it is a time when all things are gathered and stored away. The onset of winter heralds the waning of vitality, as nature enters a phase of rest and conservation. Meanwhile, the climate transitions from the relatively dry, rain‑scarce conditions of autumn to the overcast, damp, and frosty weather characteristic of winter.
The Beginning of Winter is the first solar term of the winter season, marking its onset and the start of the three winter months. Together with the Beginning of Spring, the Beginning of Summer, and the Beginning of Autumn, it forms the “Four Beginnings.” In spring, all things sprout; in summer, they flourish; in autumn, they are harvested; and in winter, they enter a state of dormancy and storage.
Composed on the Day of the Beginning of Winter
Song Dynasty, Lu You
Another autumn coat day.
The master handed over the clothes at night.
The wall is only shoulder-high.
A small room can still hold a modest fortune.
Establishment Winter
The Beginning of Winter, together with the Beginning of Spring, Summer, and Autumn, is known as the Four Beginnings and was an important festival in ancient times. In a predominantly agrarian society, after a year of hard work, people would take a day off on the occasion of the Beginning of Winter to rest and, at the same time, reward their families for their efforts. The proverb “Nourish yourself at the Beginning of Winter to replenish what the mouth has lacked” is the perfect illustration of this tradition.
Today is the beginning of winter. 
BEGINNING OF WINTER
How Much Do You Know About the Customs of the Beginning of Winter?
Worship of the Winter God
In ancient times, at the onset of winter, the Son of Heaven would don black garments, ride a steed of iron-gray hue, and lead all civil and military officials to the northern suburbs to offer sacrifices to the God of Winter. This deity was named Yuqiang, also known as Xuanming. According to the “Classic of Mountains and Seas,” he dwelled on an island in the North Sea, with a most peculiar appearance: a human face upon a bird’s body, two azure serpents hanging from his ears, and two flying red serpents beneath his feet. The rites dedicated to the God of Winter were grand indeed. As recorded in the “Records of the Grand Historian,” during the Han dynasty, seventy virgin boys and girls would join together in singing the “Xuanming” hymn: “Xuanming presides over the shadowy netherworld; the hibernating insects grow few… At the time of harvest and reaping, the bountiful crops are gathered.” In other words, the weather had turned cold.
Welcoming Winter
The beginning of winter, or “Lidong,” marks the first day of the season. At this time, people engage in dietary nourishment to replenish their energy. It also serves as a moment to celebrate the transition into the agricultural production phase of the farming year, when families are rewarded for their hard work and hopes for a bountiful spring are expressed. Moreover, Lidong is a time when people pray for a warm and comfortable winter ahead.
Eat dumplings
In northern China, there is a traditional custom of eating dumplings on the day of the Winter Solstice; on this occasion, every household enjoys them. Since the shape of dumplings resembles ears, eating them is believed to help “warm the ears” and protect them from frostbite during the cold winter months.
Eat raw scallions
As the old saying goes, “A half‑stalk of scallions a day keeps the winter chill at bay.” Scallions boast exceptionally high culinary and medicinal value. According to the “Mingyi Bila,” “They relieve pain in the bones and muscles during colds, clear blockages in the throat, dispel pathogenic factors from the liver, harmonize the middle burner and benefit the five viscera, and neutralize the toxicity of all medicines.” In short, scallions offer significant health‑promoting benefits.
A Little Story About the Beginning of Winter
In northern China, especially in Beijing and Tianjin, people love to eat dumplings at the beginning of winter. There is a saying that dumplings originated from the “jiaozǐ” — the time of transition. Lunar New Year’s Eve marks the transition from the old year to the new, while the Beginning of Winter marks the transition from autumn to winter; therefore, dumplings are not to be missed at this moment of change.
Speaking of eating dumplings on the day of the Winter Solstice, legend has it that when the renowned Eastern Han physician Zhang Zhongjing retired and returned home, he saw many people whose ears had been frostbitten by the cold. So he set up a large pot by the Yellow River, simmered mutton, chili peppers, and warming herbs in it, then chopped the mixture into small pieces, wrapped them in dough shaped like ears, and boiled them. The resulting dish resembled ears, and these filled dumplings came to be known as “jiaozi.”
That’s why, on the day of the Winter Solstice, eating dumplings is also called “securing one’s ears” by the elderly, and there’s even a saying: “If you don’t put dumplings on your plate on the Winter Solstice, your ears will freeze off—and no one will care.”
Stay warm.
The End of Winter the ending
2023/11/8
A simple greeting brings you a touch of warmth in the depths of winter; a little care helps shield you from the cold’s bite; and a gentle thought wishes you happiness every day this season. Here’s a wish: Friend, it’s the start of winter—dress warmly and stay cozy!
Copyright © Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall of Fuzhou City (Fuzhou Tang Xianzu Culture and Art Center) Technical Support:China Enterprise Dynamics-Nanchangvertical strokeSEO
