Lidong 立冬 — Start of Winter
Overview
Lidong falls around 7 November. It opens the winter season and, in the five-element scheme, begins the water season.
Meaning
The opening term of winter — the season of storage and of what is held.
Traditional Interpretation
Winter's assignment to water follows the same logic as autumn's to metal: the season is named for what happens in it, and what happens is gathering and keeping rather than producing.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What is lidong 立冬 — start of winter in the Chinese calendar?
The opening term of winter — the season of storage and of what is held. Lidong falls around 7 November. It opens the winter season and, in the five-element scheme, begins the water season.
Is lidong 立冬 — start of winter a festival or a calendar date?
It is a solar term — a date fixed by the sun's position, not by the moon. The opening term of winter — the season of storage and of what is held. The element assignments for the four seasons are the load-bearing link between the calendar and every other system in the tradition, which is why the same four characters appear everywhere.
How is lidong 立冬 — start of winter read in Chinese tradition?
Winter's assignment to water follows the same logic as autumn's to metal: the season is named for what happens in it, and what happens is gathering and keeping rather than producing. It is grouped under Water (水) in the five-element system.
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