Beginning of Winter: The Wisdom of Embracing Winter and Storing the Bounty of Autumn

当最后一片枫叶在寒风中飘落，当清晨的露水凝结成薄薄的白霜，中国传统二十四节气中的“立冬”便悄然而至。它不仅是季节轮转的标记，更藏着中国人与自然和谐共生的古老智慧——在藏纳秋实中积蓄力量，在迎接冬寒中沉淀心灵。

When the last maple leaf drifts down in the cold wind, and the morning dew freezes into a thin layer of white frost, the "Beginning of Winter" (Lidong), one of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, arrives quietly. It is not only a mark of the changing seasons but also holds the ancient wisdom of the Chinese people living in harmony with nature—storing the fruits of autumn to accumulate strength and settling the mind while welcoming the cold of winter.

 

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一、节气之“名”：冬的序章，藏的开始

“立冬”中的“立”，意为“开始”，“冬”则代表“终了”，寓意着一年的田间劳作即将结束，万物进入休养生息的阶段。在古代，立冬是重要的节气，甚至被视为“四时八节”之一，皇帝会举行隆重的“迎冬”仪式，向上天祈祷来年丰饶，也提醒百姓做好御寒准备。

The character "Li" in "Lidong" means "beginning", and "Dong" stands for "ending", implying that the year's field work is coming to an end, and all living things enter a period of rest and rejuvenation. In ancient times, Lidong was an important solar term and even regarded as one of the "Four Seasons and Eight Festivals". Emperors would hold grand "Winter Welcoming" ceremonies to pray to heaven for a bountiful year ahead and remind the people to prepare for the cold.

 

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从气象学角度看，立冬时节我国北方大多已进入寒冷的冬季，河水结冰，大地封冻；南方则虽未严寒，却也凉意渐浓，树叶渐落。这种南北气候的差异，也让立冬的习俗更加丰富多彩。

Meteorologically, most of northern China has entered the cold winter during Lidong. Rivers freeze, and the land becomes frosty. In southern China, although it is not yet bitterly cold, the coolness gradually intensifies, and leaves fall one after another. This difference in climate between the north and the south enriches the customs of Lidong.

 

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二、舌尖之“暖”：立冬补冬，来年无病

“民以食为天”，立冬的习俗最直观地体现在餐桌上。中国人认为，立冬后天气转寒，身体需要补充能量来抵御严寒，这便是“立冬补冬”的说法来源。各地的“补冬”美食，藏着浓浓的地域特色。

"Food is the paramount necessity of the people." The customs of Lidong are most intuitively reflected on the dining table. The Chinese believe that after Lidong, the weather turns cold, and the body needs to replenish energy to resist the severe cold. This is the origin of the saying "Replenish for winter on Lidong, and stay healthy in the coming year". The "winter-replenishing" delicacies in various regions carry strong local characteristics.

 

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在北方，立冬吃饺子是必不可少的习俗。传说饺子源于“医圣”张仲景的“祛寒娇耳汤”——寒冬时节，张仲景用羊肉、辣椒和药材煮成汤，再把面团包成耳朵形状的“娇耳”煮熟，让百姓食用后暖身祛寒。如今，饺子早已成为立冬的“标配”，一家人围坐在一起包饺子、吃饺子，既是补充营养，更是团圆的象征。

In northern China, eating dumplings on Lidong is an indispensable custom. Legend has it that dumplings originated from "Cold-Dispelling Jiao'er Soup" created by Zhang Zhongjing, the "Medical Sage". In the cold winter, Zhang Zhongjing boiled mutton, chili peppers and medicinal materials into soup, then wrapped dough into ear-shaped "Jiao'er" (dumplings) and boiled them, allowing the people to eat them to warm their bodies and dispel the cold. Today, dumplings have long become the "standard" for Lidong. A family sitting together to make and eat dumplings is not only a way to replenish nutrition but also a symbol of reunion.

南方的“补冬”则更偏爱温热的汤品和肉类。在广东，人们会喝用党参、枸杞、羊肉炖成的浓汤；在福建，姜母鸭是立冬的热门选择，用老姜、米酒和鸭子慢炖，香气浓郁，暖身效果极佳。这些美食不仅满足了味蕾，更体现了中国人“顺应时节”的养生理念。

In southern China, people prefer warm soups and meats for "winter replenishment". In Guangdong, people will drink thick soup stewed with Codonopsis pilosula, wolfberries and mutton. In Fujian, ginger duck is a popular choice for Lidong. It is slowly stewed with old ginger, rice wine and duck, which has a strong aroma and excellent warming effect. These delicacies not only satisfy the taste buds but also reflect the Chinese people's health-preserving concept of "adapting to the seasons".

 

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三、生活之“智”：藏养身心，静待春归

立冬的智慧，不仅在“补”，更在“藏”。古人云：“冬三月，此谓闭藏”，意思是冬天是万物闭藏的季节，人的生活也应顺应自然，减少消耗，积蓄能量。

The wisdom of Lidong lies not only in "replenishing" but also in "storing". The ancients said: "The three months of winter are called the season of hibernation", which means that winter is a season when all things hibernate. People's lives should also conform to nature, reduce consumption and accumulate energy.

在生活起居上，立冬后人们会早睡晚起，保证充足的睡眠，让身体得到充分休息；注意保暖，尤其是头部、手部和脚部，避免寒气侵入。在精神状态上，古人提倡“冬宜藏神”，即保持心情平和，避免情绪大起大落，就像大地一样沉静，为来年的“生发”做好准备。

In terms of daily life, after Lidong, people will go to bed early and get up late to ensure sufficient sleep and allow the body to rest fully. They also pay attention to keeping warm, especially the head, hands and feet, to avoid the cold from invading. In terms of mental state, the ancients advocated "hiding the spirit in winter", which means keeping a calm mood and avoiding drastic emotional changes, just like the quiet earth, preparing for the "growth" of the coming year.

对于农民来说，立冬是粮食归仓的季节。他们会把收割的稻谷、小麦等粮食妥善储存，翻耕土地，为来年的播种做准备。这种“藏”不是消极的等待，而是积极的积蓄，是对自然规律的尊重，也是对未来的期许。

For farmers, Lidong is the season to store grain. They will properly store the harvested rice, wheat and other grains, and plow the land to prepare for sowing in the coming year. This kind of "storing" is not a passive wait, but an active accumulation, a respect for the laws of nature, and an expectation for the future.

 

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四、文化之“韵”：跨越千年的生活哲学

如今，随着生活节奏的加快，很多人可能不再严格遵循古老的习俗，但立冬所承载的文化内涵却从未消失。它提醒我们，在忙碌的生活中要停下脚步，关注自然的变化，关爱自己和家人的健康；它教会我们，人生就像四季轮回，有耕耘就有收获，有沉寂就有绽放，在“藏”的阶段积蓄力量，才能在“生”的季节绽放光彩。

Today, with the acceleration of the pace of life, many people may no longer strictly follow the ancient customs, but the cultural connotation carried by Lidong has never disappeared. It reminds us to stop in the busy life, pay attention to the changes of nature, and care for the health of ourselves and our families. It teaches us that life is like the cycle of the four seasons: where there is cultivation, there is harvest; where there is silence, there is bloom. Only by accumulating strength in the "storing" stage can we shine in the "growing" season.

立冬，是冬的开始，也是希望的开端。当我们端起一碗温热的汤，当我们在暖阳下享受片刻的宁静，我们便读懂了这份跨越千年的节气智慧——藏秋实，迎冬寒，待春归。

Lidong is the beginning of winter and also the beginning of hope. When we hold a bowl of warm soup and enjoy a moment of peace under the warm sun, we understand this solar term wisdom that has spanned thousands of years—store the fruits of autumn, welcome the cold of winter, and wait for the return of spring.

 

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