Minor Cold
“Minor” in name, yet often the year's coldest days. Geese sense the turn northward, magpies begin nesting, and plum blossoms open alone against the cold.
At the wall's corner, a few plum branches —
braving the cold, they bloom alone.
— Wang Anshi (Song), “Plum Blossoms”
墙角数枝梅
凌寒独自开
王安石 · 梅花
凌寒独自开
王安石 · 梅花
Rouge
Three Pentads
三候The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.
I
一候 雁北乡
First pentad — Geese turn their thoughts north
II
二候 鹊始巢
Second pentad — Magpies begin to build nests
III
三候 雉始雊
Third pentad — Pheasants begin to call
Seasonal Palette
节气色谱One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.
胭脂#9D2933
yānzhi · Rouge
梅蕊白#F2EDE5
méiruǐbái · Plum Stamen White
腊梅黄#D9B611
làméihuáng · Wintersweet Yellow
冻青#46625C
dòngqīng · Frozen Teal
Customs
风物Laba congee: grains, beans and dried fruits simmered into one warming pot.
吃腊八粥——腊八多在小寒前后,五谷干果同熬一锅暖。
Seeking plum blossoms in the snow — the year's first floral message.
探梅——踏雪寻梅,赏一年中最早绽放的花信。