Among the 24 solar terms, the beginning of the four seasons is called "immediately". Beginning of winter is the19th solar term among the 24 solar terms and the first solar term in winter. "When winter goes and spring comes, everything is harvested." The beginning of the winter solar term indicates that autumn will end in winter, and the "winter storage" and "winter nourishment" for recuperation have begun.
Beginning of winter means that everything is in a state of recuperation. Wu Cheng, a scholar in Yuan Dynasty, compiled twenty-four solar terms, which were divided into "seventy-two periods", and each solar term was divided into three periods. The three seasons in beginning of winter are: "As soon as the water waits, the ice begins;" The second waiting place began to freeze; Waiting for the flood is a cockroach. " It means that water can turn into ice at this time; The land also began to freeze; The pheasant in the flood is a pheasant, which means a big bird like a pheasant. The pheasant is a big clam.
After beginning of winter, there were few big birds such as pheasants, but giant mussels with similar lines and colors could be seen at the seaside, so it was thought that pheasants would become giant mussels when they arrived in beginning of winter.
Agricultural activities in early winter
In ancient times, China was an agricultural country, and beginning of winter, like other solar terms in the twenty-four solar terms, reflected climate change and corresponding phenology, which had practical guiding significance for agricultural production. Beginning of winter season is a good time for autumn harvest and winter planting in the south. All localities should make full use of the weather, do a good job in harvesting and drying late rice, and ensure the storage quality. After beginning of winter, the northern agricultural and forestry crops entered the wintering period in an all-round way, and the Jianghuai area entered the "Sanqiu" (autumn harvest and autumn planting).
Beginning of winter solar terms and high-altitude westerly jet have been fully established in South Asia. At this time, the fluctuation of the south branch of the high-altitude westerly wind moves eastward. When the zonal circulation in Asia is strong and the fluctuation of the south branch of the west wind is strong, there will be a wide range of rainy weather. In addition, the zonal circulation will end, the meridional circulation will be established, and there will be a cold wave and significant cooling. Farming activities cool down and prevent cold.