With the arrival of “Cold Dew” (Hanlu), the 17th of China’s 24 solar terms and autumn reaches its peak. As the weather turns cooler, mist settles over the mountains and fields, and crimson leaves paint the hillsides.
Ancient Chinese divided the 15 days of Cold Dew into three pentads.
The first pentad welcomes the arrival of the geese that completed their migration in summer.
The second pentad reflects the belief that sparrows transform into clams due to their similar stripes and colors.
In the third pentad, yellow chrysanthemums bloom, and indeed the period of Cold Dew coincides with the ninth month of the lunar calendar, which is known as the month of chrysanthemum. Besides appreciating the beautiful flowers, during the cold days of Hanlu, people also enjoy drinking chrysanthemum tea and wine and eating flower cakes.
Cold Dew is a perfect time for hikes and enjoying the seasonal landscapes with the changing leaves of the vibrant autumn foliage and is a great time for fishing. Because the temperature drops so fast, sunlight cannot reach the deep waters, a natural occurrence that leads the fish swim toward shallower areas where the water temperature is still relatively high, making fishing easier. During Cold Dew, temperatures drop below the earlier White Dew, and surface dew starts condensing to frost, a harbinger of winter’s impending arrival. So now is the time to start moving into warmer clothes.
Even though crops gradually start to whither, farmers still have a lot of work to do. The season crops need to be harvested and field work needs to be completed before Han Lu ends and frost settles over the fields, otherwise the yields could be affected or destroyed. Although parsnips taste sweeter after the frosts.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, as the temperatures drop and the air becomes dry during Cold Dew, people often experience dry throats and noses, so people should guard against colds and ailments related to dryness. To moisten the body and strengthen resistance, a nourishing diet of foods is recommended, while raw and cold foods should be avoided.
The Hanlu means a transitional period between cool and cold days. According to the traditional Chinese health-preserving theory, “maintaining Yang in spring and summer and nourishing Yin in autumn and winter”, people should eat nourishing food to strengthen lung and stomach and relieve the autumn dryness. Consequently, it has become a folk custom to “eat sesame on Hanlu days”.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), people’s energy releases in spring and summer and accumulates in autumn and winter. People are advised to eat more moist food such as sesame, sticky rice, rice, honey and dairy produces, along with nutritious food such as chicken, duck, beef, pork liver, fish, shrimp, yam, etc. Spicy food, or capsicum, ginger, spring onion and garlic are not good choices.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1320778.shtml
Cold Dew or Hán Lù (Chinese: 寒露) is the seventeenth of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms and marks a turn toward colder weather. During this time, temperatures are much lower, with rain begins to fall in many parts of the country. Autumn crops begin to ripen and chrysanthemums bloom.
Each solar term is divided into three pentads consisting of 5 (occasionally 6) days, with each pentad named for corresponding cycles of nature. The pentads for this period are as follows: (1) Wild swans and geese arrive as guests (鴻雁來賓), (2) Sparrows go into the deep water for clams (雀入大水為蛤), and (3) Chrysanthemums display yellow flowers (菊有黃華).
Here are some useful health cultivation tips for Cold Dew (Hán Lù):
1. Health cultivation for this season continues to be focused on nurturing Yin energy, and on nourishing both the lungs and stomach organs. Avoid the overconsumption of cold foods, as it can result in abdominal discomfort or diarrhea and weaken the spleen and stomach. These people should drink warm beverages
2. With dryness a prominent environmental feature during this period, it is important to protect the lungs from dryness, especially for the elderly and people with lung and other chronic ailments.
3. Food that will help nurture Yin and nourish the Lungs & Stomach include:
• Fruits and vegetables such as pears, bananas, carrots, mushrooms, raw honey
Eat apples. It’s apple season and according to Chinese medicine, apples are sweet and sour and have a slightly cold nature. Regular consumption helps generate fluids, stop thirst, and moisten the lungs.
• Chrysanthemum tea
• Dietary herbs such as Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae, or Mountain Yam), Bai He (Bulbus Lilii, or Lily Bulbs), Yin Er / Bai Mu Er (Tremella or Wood Ear), Lian Zi (Semen Nelumbinis or Lotus Seed), etc.
