White Dew

白露 · BáilùGregorian Sep 7–9Solar longitude 165°

Yin deepens; dew condenses white at dawn. Wild geese fly south, reeds turn silver, and osmanthus scents the widening gap between day and night.

Reeds and rushes, grey and vast —

the white dew turns to frost.

— Anonymous (pre-Qin), “Book of Songs · Reeds”

蒹葭苍苍
白露为霜
佚名 · 诗经 · 秦风 · 蒹葭

Moon White

Three Pentads

三候

The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.

一候鸿雁来

First pentad — Wild geese arrive from the north

二候玄鸟归

Second pentad — Swallows return south

III

三候群鸟养羞

Third pentad — Flocks store food for winter

节气色谱

One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.

月白#C5D8DD

yuèbái · Moon White

苇花#D9CDB8

wěihuā · Reed Flower

鸿羽灰#94A0A8

hóngyǔhuī · Goose Feather Grey

桂子黄#DBB54C

guìzǐhuáng · Osmanthus Gold

风物

Drinking White Dew tea — autumn leaves mellow, neither bitter nor astringent.

饮白露茶——秋茶不苦不涩,有独特的甘醇清香。

Brewing White Dew rice wine from the new glutinous harvest.

酿白露米酒——以新糯酿酒,温中含甜,待客佳品。