Winter Solstice and Health Preservation
Introduction: November 8th is the Winter Solstice, the 19th of the 24 solar terms. In ancient China, it was customary to regard the Winter Solstice as the beginning of winter.
The Origin of Winter Solstice
The "Winter Solstice" solar term occurs on either November 7th or 8th each year and is the 19th of the 24 solar terms. In ancient China, it was customary to regard the Winter Solstice as the beginning of winter. The "Seventy-two Seasons of the Monthly Ordinances" says: "Li, to establish a beginning," and also: "Dong, the end, all things are stored." This means that all autumn crops have been harvested and stored, and animals have also hidden themselves to prepare for hibernation. It seems that the Winter Solstice not only represents the arrival of winter. To be precise, the Winter Solstice signifies the start of winter, the storage of all things, and the avoidance of cold.
Like "Autumn Equinox," the ancients also used divination methods in this season to predict the coldness or warmth of the winter, such as "a clear Winter Solstice means a freezing winter; a cloudy (rainy) Winter Solstice means a warm winter." Without exception, in ancient times, on the day of the Winter Solstice, the emperor would personally lead the dukes, ministers, and high officials to the northern suburbs to perform the "Welcoming Winter" ceremony. Ancient China divided the Winter Solstice into three phases: "First, water begins to freeze; second, the earth begins to freeze; third, pheasants enter the water and become clams." During this solar term, water can already freeze; the land also begins to freeze; in the third phase, "pheasants enter the water and become clams," the "pheasant" refers to large birds like pheasants, and "clam" is a large clam. After the Winter Solstice, large birds like pheasants are seldom seen, while large clams with shells similar in lines and color to pheasants can be seen by the sea. Therefore, the ancients believed that pheasants turned into large clams after the Winter Solstice. During the Winter Solstice, the sun has reached the celestial longitude of 225°, and the solar radiation received by the Northern Hemisphere is decreasing. However, due to the remaining heat stored in the ground from the summer half of the year, it is generally not too cold yet. On clear, windless days, there is often a warm and comfortable "Little Spring" weather, which is not only very pleasant but also very beneficial for the growth of winter crops. However, at this time, the cold air in the north has already become quite strong and often invades the south frequently, sometimes forming a cold wave with strong winds, temperature drops, and accompanied by rain and snow. The solar terms of China are a carrier of agricultural customs. History has passed, leaving behind culture. The customs of the solar terms are actually part of agricultural culture (food customs are also one of them). Although they have no practical significance in modern life, they add to the fun of life. The Winter Solstice, along with the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumn Equinox, are collectively known as the "Four Lis." In ancient society, it was an important festival. On this day, the emperor would lead civil and military officials to the northern suburbs of the capital to set up an altar for worship. Nowadays, people also celebrate on the day of the Winter Solstice. The "tonifying" foods on the Winter Solstice vary greatly from place to place. Most people in the north eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice, while in the south of China, people love to eat chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
Winter Solstice Health Preservation
Although the Winter Solstice is the first solar term of winter, it is not winter in the true sense. The real winter is defined by five consecutive days of average daily temperature below 10°C. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the arrival of this solar term is when Yang energy is hidden, Yin energy is at its peak, plants wither, hibernating insects hide, and all living activities tend to cease. They enter a state of hibernation, conserving their essence and strength to prepare for the vigorous vitality of the coming spring. So, what should we pay attention to after the Winter Solstice? Winter health preservation should follow the law of nature's storage, with the fundamental principle of preserving Yin and protecting Yang. In terms of spiritual cultivation, one should control emotional activities, maintain a peaceful state of mind, be reserved and not reveal emotions, avoid disturbance, and allow the body's Yang energy to be hidden. In the cold winter, do not disturb the Yang energy and destroy the body's physiological function of Yin-Yang transformation. Therefore, sleeping early and rising late, working after sunrise, and ensuring sufficient sleep are beneficial for the storage of Yang energy and the accumulation of Yin essence. However, wearing too little or too thin clothing, or having a room temperature that is too low, can easily lead to catching a cold and consuming Yang energy. Conversely, wearing too much or too thick clothing, or having a room temperature that is too high, will cause the pores to open, preventing Yang energy from being stored and making it easier for cold evil to invade. TCM believes: "Cold is a Yin pathogen that often damages Yang energy." The body's Yang energy is like the sun in the sky, giving light and warmth to nature. Without it, nothing can survive. Similarly, if the human body lacks Yang energy, it will lose the vitality of metabolism. Therefore, after the Winter Solstice, the daily routine and health care must focus on "storage." For dietary conditioning, one should follow the principle of eating less raw and cold food, but also avoid overly hot and dry food. It is advisable to eat some diets that nourish Yin and潜阳 (subdue Yang) and are relatively high in calories. At the same time, one should also eat more fresh vegetables to avoid vitamin deficiency, such as: beef, mutton, black-boned chicken, crucian carp, drink more soy milk and milk, and eat more radishes, green vegetables, tofu, and wood ear mushrooms.