Frost's Descent | Autumn fades away, winter is near.
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I. Overview of the Solar Term
Frost's Descent (Shuangjiang) is the 18th of the twenty-four solar terms and the sixth solar term of autumn.
The handle of the Big Dipper points to the Xu position; the sun reaches a celestial longitude of 210°; it usually falls between October 23rd and 24th in the Gregorian calendar each year.
At this time, temperatures drop sharply and the diurnal temperature range increases; dew condenses into frost, marking a significant transitional solar term from autumn to winter.
A folk proverb says: "Cold Dew (Hanlu) is not yet truly cold, but Frost's Descent brings a change in the weather." In the north, "winter arrives overnight," and white frost first appears in the Yellow River basin; while the south may not yet reach icy cold, the air grows increasingly chill and the atmosphere of late autumn deepens.
As Frost's Descent arrives, the chill sets in. Plants wither and fall, and the heavens and earth turn solemn and clear.
II. The Three Hou of Frost's Descent
The ancients divided each solar term into "three hou" (five-day periods) to record the order of nature through phenological changes.
· First Hou: Jackals sacrifice their prey
The "Collection of Annotations on the Seventy-Two Hou of the Monthly Ordinances" states: "In the middle of the ninth lunar month, jackals offer prey as a sacrifice to the heavens, signifying a report of their origins."
Jackals hunt and lay out their catch as if for a sacrifice, which the ancients viewed as the "principle of sacrificing to the metal of autumn," symbolizing solemnity and a return to the essence.
· Second Hou: Plants and trees wither and fall
The "Book of Rites: Monthly Ordinances" says: "In the final month of autumn, plants and trees wither and fall."
After Frost's Descent, leaves wither and flutter down, turning into fertile soil in anticipation of the coming year. The layers of forests painted in vibrant colors constitute the swan song of autumn.
· Third Hou: Hibernating insects bow their heads
The "Yi Zhou Shu: Chronological Interpretation" states: "On the day of Frost's Descent, hibernating insects bow their heads."
Bees and butterflies hide, snakes and bears enter caves, and insects droop their heads; all things hibernate to conserve their vitality and await the spring.
The transformation of the three hou fully describes the contraction and stillness of nature.
III. Customs of Frost's Descent
· Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine
The "Annals of Yanjing Customs" states: "Around the time of Frost's Descent, scholars and officials hold banquets to appreciate chrysanthemums, known as 'Chrysanthemum Parties'."
Literati drink chrysanthemum wine and compose poems to extend their longevity and practice self-reflection.
· Climbing to view red leaves
"One Hundred Questions on Seasonal Customs" records: "Climbing high mountains during Frost's Descent to admire red leaves is said to lead to a long life."
The Fragrant Hills in Beijing, Qixia in Nanjing, and Yuelu in Changsha see their red leaves in full glory after the frost.
· Posting Frost's Descent signs and lighting up the fields
According to southern folk customs, people post red paper inscribed with the characters "Frost's Descent" on doors to ward off evil;
silkworm farmers light fires in the fields to pray for a bountiful silk harvest.
· Eating persimmons
"Gazing at the Scenery in the Imperial Capital" says: "Eat persimmons at Frost's Descent to avoid a runny nose."
At this time, persimmon skins are as thin as paper and the juice as sweet as honey, serving to nourish the lungs and yin.
· Weddings during Frost's Descent
The ancients considered the month of Xu as a storehouse, symbolizing "success and completion," making the time around Frost's Descent auspicious for marriages and betrothals.
Folk customs of Frost's Descent are rooted in the wisdom of following the seasons, responding to heaven, and finding peace in life.
IV. Health Preservation in Frost's Descent
· Nurturing Yang in daily life: Sleeping early and rising early
Given the large diurnal temperature range, protect your feet and keep your neck warm;
soaking feet before sleep in a decoction of mugwort, ginger, and Sichuan pepper can warm the meridians.
· Dietary regulation: Gentle and moistening nourishment
Consume sesame, chestnuts, jujubes, persimmons, and walnuts
to nourish the lungs, replenish yin, and protect yang.
Avoid pungent and drying foods; be cautious with raw and cold foods.
· Mental regulation: Tranquility and composure
The autumn air is solemn; one should calm the mind.
Playing the qin, practicing calligraphy, or transcribing scriptures can help clear the mind and clarify one's ambitions.
· Guiding and stretching exercises
"Chen Xiyi's Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sitting Practice Chart" records:
"Sit straight during the Chou and Yin hours, raise both arms upward, repeat three to five times on each side, and perform tooth-clicking and rhythmic breathing."
This is primarily for treating wind-cold-dampness arthralgia and strengthening the spine and waist.
· Moxibustion for balancing qi
Feishu (BL13): Descends and disperses lung qi to prevent wind-cold;
Guanyuan (CV4): Warms yang and stabilizes the foundation;
Zusanli (ST36): Strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi.
At the junction of autumn harvest and winter storage, nourish yang to resist cold, and nourish yin to calm the spirit.
V. Cultural Imagery: Frost covers the earth, all things are completed
"Xiao Jing Yuan Shen Qi" states: "Fifteen days after the Autumn Equinox, when the Dipper points to Xu, it is Frost's Descent."
"Huainanzi: Treatises on Astronomy" records: "In the final three months of autumn, the Goddess of Frost (Qingnü) appears to bring frost and snow."
Qingnü is the goddess of frost, scattering it like catkins to cleanse the dust.
Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen wrote in his "Poems on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms":
"The wind sweeps away the clear clouds, frost stretches across ten thousand miles of empty sky.
Wild jackals first offer their moon-lit sacrifice, and fairy chrysanthemums meet the Double Ninth Festival."
Frost's Descent is not merely a change in climate,
it is also a rhythm of life for "gathering" and "storing."
With each frost and each night, the autumn sounds fade,
each persimmon and each cup warms the human heart.
Frost's Descent is a nodal point where "energy is disciplined and condensed," a ritual for nature to turn from abundance to decay and from motion to stillness.
When the first frost lands on the branches, why not slow your pace, brew a pot of chrysanthemum wine, climb high to look into the distance, and see the "frost-touched leaves that are redder than February flowers."
In this season when all things return and store, let the heart emulate nature—gather strength, and quietly wait for the rebirth of spring.
Recommended reading:
The Origin of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms | Time Wisdom in the Operation of Heaven and Earth