Autumn Equinox
Day and night divide equally once more; from here, cold gains on warmth. Thunder withdraws, cassia perfumes the air, crabs fatten and chrysanthemums gild the season.
Metal's breath — the autumn equinox;
wind clear, dew cold, the season at its half.
— Xie Yi (Song), “To “Rouged Lips” · Autumn Equinox”
金气秋分
风清露冷秋期半
谢逸 · 点绛唇 · 金气秋分
风清露冷秋期半
谢逸 · 点绛唇 · 金气秋分
Turmeric Gold
Three Pentads
三候The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.
I
一候 雷始收声
First pentad — Thunder withdraws its voice
II
二候 蛰虫坯户
Second pentad — Insects seal their burrows
III
三候 水始涸
Third pentad — Waters begin to dry
Seasonal Palette
节气色谱One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.
姜黄#C89B40
jiānghuáng · Turmeric Gold
桂红#B5544E
guìhóng · Cassia Red
霁蓝#6B798E
jìlán · Clear-Sky Blue
蟹壳青#7D9B8A
xièkéqīng · Crab Shell Teal
Customs
风物Moon rites — the ancestor of today's Mid-Autumn moon worship.
祭月——古有「秋分祭月」,中秋拜月之俗由此演化。
Since 2018, the equinox is celebrated as the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival.
庆丰收——2018年起,秋分日被定为「中国农民丰收节」。