** UPDATED OCT 2023 **
* Reader’s Note : The 24 solar terms are a ‘code of living’; assisting us in living in tandem with seasons and beating to our internal circadian rhythm. The Ancient Chinese knew nothing of the Southern Hemisphere when making their astrological calculations. However, anyone experiencing the opposite season in an opposing Hemisphere, could consider reading the 5th Solar term of Clear and Bright (Qing Ming) for its cultural customs , gardening, dietary suggestions and climate cues. Readers should disregard dates when looking back at post link. We practice authentic Classical Feng Shui, so regardless of your domicile, ‘FENG SHUI’, ‘CHINESE MONTH’ and ‘ZODIACAL ANIMAL’ observations below will remain unchanged.
A week has past since the Full Moon Festival (aka Mid-Autumn Festival) that followed the Equinox. The 17th Solar Term of ‘Cold Dew’ (Hanlu 寒露) gets under ways on 8 Oct., as does a New zodiacal month - Yang Water Dog month. Followed on week later on 15th Oct by the ninth lunar month or Chrysanthemum month; also a Solar eclipse!
☼ 17th SOLAR TERM - Cold Dew (Hanlu 寒露 )
The beginning of the 17th Solar Term* - Cold Dew (Han Lu) which in the Hsia Calendar commences on the 8 Oct. at 15:24 2022 (Beijing). During Cold Dew’s reign over the next 15 days the crisp autumnal colours will become more marked, leaves may begin to fall and Jack frost will begin to appear.
To solar term devotees the second half of Autumn is well underway. As the solar term indicates in name - Dew, is more frequent as temps drop and misty vapours bring fog and damp dewy weather. Dew is an indicator of coolness into coldness. and may begin to crisp under foot as the nodal takes hold. Autumnal crops will also be ready for harvesting soon. The sun’s (solar) celestial longitude - it’s apparent position on the ecliptic - is now 195° in the sky.
The Chinese almanac system also further subdivides the seasonal terms into more detailed increments of time, known as the 72 Material Manifestations (wuhou). The first of the five day divisions is called ‘Swan Geese Come and Stay’ (Hongyan lai bin). The Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) is a large migratory bird. Its natural breeding site ranges from southeastern Russia to northeastern China. Swan goose has a relatively fixed migration route and the birds rarely change their stopovers or length of stay. In fact due to their punctuality, swan geese were postal messengers in ancient China. The shape of flying swan geese also inspired the logo of China's postal system! The second wuhou is ‘Siskins Dive Into the Watery Abyss to Become Clams’ (Jue ru dashui wei ge) ending the solar term with the final wuhou of ‘Chrysanthemums Display Yellow’ (Ju you huanghua ). The Manifestations are a nod to *phenological cues that indicate Winter is gaining ground.
🌐 OCT IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Yang is growing in the Southern half of the celestial sphere and to many folks domicile in Southern parts Spring buds have already unfurled. The Chinese 5th solar term of Clear and Bright | Qing Ming 清明 which lasts 15 days approx., will therefore be resonating for folks down under. worth a read if you Downunder for its for its cultural customs , gardening, dietary suggestions and climate cues.
👥CULTURAL CUSTOMS
The Chinese ‘Double Ninth Festival’ or as it’s sometimes called ‘Mountain-climbing Festival’ occurs on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar, which falls this year on the 22 Oct. (2023) in Universal calendar. As the name suggests- people climb mountains! The tradition is seeded in the concept of climbing high in your career or social standing, which the Ancients placed great significance upon.
As usual, culinary customs are many during this two week increment. Yin is in need of nurturing and the lungs are the most active organ. Eating less spicy, pungent even smoked foods is advised. ‘Cold Dew’ signals the best time to pick camellia seeds, with folks heading to the tea mountains to harvest seeds and make tea seed oil. As air temps drop, fish are said to rise to warmer shallow water banks making aquatic life easy pray for those keen on fishing. ‘Initiate’ Days in the Tong Shu are said to favour fishing on such days. Prized for centuries, Pomegranates are ripe for consumption and their exquisite colour, flavor and health benefits are capitalized on in all manner of fashions. Hawthorn trees are also laden with berries, a previous post details the fascinatingly magical plant properties.
Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Autumn, as it’s one of the few showy flowering plants to bloom in Autumn beds. To prevent Autumn dryness, the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine is common in many regions. Especially on the ‘Double Ninth Festival’. According to ancient records, drinking the wine made with chrysanthemums petals, poria cocos and pine oleoresin, is said to promise long lasting youth. The multi petaled pompom bloom is a native of China and represents happiness, laughter and speaks to nobility and integrity. In Asian communities the yellow chrysanthemum is a symbol of joy and a wish for peaceful retirement, or multi generational harmony when depicted with nine quails. When chrysanthemums are illustrated on scrolls with cicadas and grasshoppers, it implies a potential promotion.
Classed as one of the five most important flowers with links to feng shui- white magnolia, orchid, chrysanthemum, lotus and peony. It’s stoic and hardy reputation is revered in China and has along been hailed a longevity elixir.
Wearing cornel twigs, otherwise known as Dogwood was also commonplace in the Tang Dynasty and is still sported by women and children today. Worn on ones arm or head the fabric sachets containing the twigs. Cornel is a stick among twigs; the animal of the floral kingdom if you will, deploying the nose tail philosophy, it’s multiple uses. The heavily scented plant bares white flowers in spring, which to Native American Indians signaled the ideal time to plant corn. In autumn the branches bare a bounty of sour red berries which are said to be edible. Its bark was simmered and its extract used to relieve aching muscles while bark tea was used to elimination aid to increase sweating, curing inner heat. It’s also a Quinine substitute used to treat malaria with insect repellent qualities in its natural form.
Folklore denotes the planting of cornel twig slips on the Double Ninth Festival was believed to dispel evil like diseases and avert disaster. Dogwood is an extremely strong hard wood used in furnishings and in Christian circles it’s said the cross of Calvary was fashioned from the tree. Walking sticks were also whittled for the purpose of climbing hills on the Festival day. It reminds me of the Irish shillelagh walking stick, a short blackthorn stick fashioned especially for hill climbing. Coincidentally Oct 21st-30th are governed by Dogwood in the Celtic tree zodiac signs system. All in all you gotta love a plant that shares its namesake with the Chinese Zodiac month!
🌿GARDENING
Did you know that the drier an Autumn the more brilliant the show of autumnal colour? But if it’s colour you’re after this Autumn then the aforementioned Chrysanthemum is hard to pass with thousands of varieties. The perennial is a showstopper and if multi petaled balls of color rock your boat, then dahlias make a worthy second place in my book. Another personal favourite is the Japanese anemone, it’s so delicate it could pass as a spring flower.
Hawthorn magic is also in the air. No matter the season you're celebrating, hawthorn is bound to feature - in flower Downunder or berries in N.H. Apparently an adage exists that ‘It’s time to harvest hawthorn during Cold Dew’. See this post on the magical Hawthorn tree and its links to the fae.
Weeding maybe the most pressing task, before pesky seeds set and before leaves carpet over the ground. Weeding is an ideal chore that will hail the best results, especially with a waning moon till 15 Oct. After Solar eclipse the light of a New moon grows planting Spring bulbs early should deliver an early crop. In temperate climates where the earth is still warm, successful planting will yield good results. Lilies are best planted now.
The once prolific primrose should be set out ready for spring show and keep some roots for drying and future cultivation. Interestingly, primrose’s delicate petals can also be used to flavour wine! Should Primroses prove to illusive to propagate, then prune sage plants, keeping the harvest for magic work.
Don’t forget Old Farmer’s Day this falls Month - follow for new post updates.
ⓒ FENGSHUIISM 2023 - Originally written in 2018, updated in 2023
* The relevance of the ancient Chinese Almanac and the 24 Solar Terms (or seasonal nodes, as they are sometimes referred to), were not only for agricultural purposes; individuals took cues from the Nodes and adopted various seasonal diets and exercise. Calculated via the sun's annual motion, they discern the year's change in season by way of phenology, climate and the tilt of the sun varying shadow length on the ecliptic to decipher a season.
Phenology, is one of three methods used to decipher seasons - it uses the changes in plant and animal behaviour - such as animal migration, types of plants, and changes in colours in the landscape - to determine when the seasons begin. The Chinese seasons commence 1½ months before the comparative seasons in the Western Calendar. The 24 solar terms are used to insert leap (intercalary) months in the Chinese calendar to keep it in sync with seasons.