Beginning of Autumn
A faithful cool breeze; one leaf announces autumn. Summer's heat lingers, yet the first paulownia leaf has already fallen.
Young crows cry and scatter; the jade screen stands empty —
one pillow of new coolness, one fan of wind.
— Liu Han (Song), “Beginning of Autumn”
乳鸦啼散玉屏空
一枕新凉一扇风
刘翰 · 立秋
一枕新凉一扇风
刘翰 · 立秋
First-Turned Leaf
Three Pentads
三候The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.
I
一候 凉风至
First pentad — Cool winds arrive
II
二候 白露降
Second pentad — White dew descends at dawn
III
三候 寒蝉鸣
Third pentad — Cold cicadas chirr
Seasonal Palette
节气色谱One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.
缃叶#D6B85A
xiāngyè · First-Turned Leaf
梧桐黄#C8A951
wútónghuáng · Paulownia Yellow
晚波蓝#7FA0AC
wǎnbōlán · Evening Ripple Blue
新凉白#F1EFE4
xīnliángbái · First-Cool White
Customs
风物“Padding on autumn fat”: hearty braised dishes to restore what summer wore away.
贴秋膘——夏日清减,立秋以炖肉进补,贴回亏空。
“Sunning the autumn”: rooftops blaze with drying chilies and corn in hill villages.
晒秋——山区人家于屋顶晾晒辣椒玉米,五色斑斓。