Minor Snow

小雪 · XiǎoxuěGregorian Nov 22–23Solar longitude 240°

Rainbows hide away; heaven and earth close their gates. The first snows are light and melt on landing, while cured meats appear under household eaves.

Evening comes; the sky is poised to snow —

could you not stay and drink one cup with me?

— Bai Juyi (Tang), “A Question for Liu Shijiu”

晚来天欲雪
能饮一杯无
白居易 · 问刘十九

Dusk Mountain Violet

Three Pentads

三候

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

一候虹藏不见

First pentad — Rainbows hide from sight

二候天气上升地气下降

Second pentad — Heaven's breath rises, earth's descends

III

三候闭塞而成冬

Third pentad — All seals shut, and winter is made

Seasonal Palette

节气色谱

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

暮山紫#9B8AA6

mùshānzǐ · Dusk Mountain Violet

初雪白#EDEFF2

chūxuěbái · First Snow White

腊味红#9F4A4A

làwèihóng · Cured Meat Red

暝色蓝#5B6378

míngsèlán · Twilight Blue

Customs

风物

Curing meats in the cold wind, laying up stores against deep winter.

腌腊肉——「冬腊风腌,蓄以御冬」,小雪后正宜制腊味。

Drying fish in the north wind along the coast.

晒鱼干——沿海人家趁北风晒鱼,称「晒鱼场」。