A cool wind is rising and the dew is turning cold. Today is Cold Dew (Han Lu), the first of the 24 solar terms with the character for "cold" in its name. The last warmth of summer has fully gone, and deep autumn has quietly arrived. The gap between day and night temperatures is widening. In the morning, dew settles on the plants. The air is crisp and cool, a gentle sign that autumn is here.
The ancients divided Cold Dew into three pentads. In the first, wild geese arrive as guests, and flocks fly together to the warm south. In the second, sparrows disappear and clams are plentiful by the sea, because the autumn wind is bleak and the birds hide. In the third, chrysanthemums bloom yellow. While other flowers fade, they open in the cold and take the autumn scenery for themselves.
Cold Dew has its own autumn scenery and poetry. Folk customs include admiring chrysanthemums and climbing to a high place to say goodbye to the green of summer. The west wind is fresh, and the crabs are full. This is the best time to taste autumn crab. Soft sesame cakes and clear chrysanthemum wine add to the flavors of the season.
As autumn deepens and the days grow colder, we hope you add a layer of clothing, stay warm and make the most of the autumn light. May you keep a gentle heart through the quiet of deep autumn, and may the years pass calmly until winter arrives.
