What are the origins and customs of the Great Cold?
Twenty-four solar terms originated in the Yellow River Basin. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, four solar terms were set, namely, mid-spring, mid-summer, mid-autumn and mid-winter. After continuous improvement and perfection, by the Qin and Han Dynasties, the 24 solar terms had been completely established. In BC 104, the taichu calendar written by Deng Ping officially set 24 solar terms in the calendar, and defined the astronomical position of the 24 solar terms.
The time when the sun runs along the longitude of the Yellow River from zero 15 degrees is called "a solar term". It runs 360 degrees every year, and * * * experiences 24 solar terms, twice a month. Among them, the first solar term of each month is "solar term", that is, beginning of spring, Jingzhe, Qingming, Changxia, Mangzhong, Xiaoshu, beginning of autumn, Bailu, Hanlu, beginning of winter, Heavy Snow, Xiaohan, etc. 12 solar terms; The second solar term of each month is "Zhongqi", that is, there are 12 solar terms such as rain, vernal equinox, Grain Rain, Xiaoman, summer solstice, great heat, intense heat, autumnal equinox, first frost, light snow, winter solstice and great cold. "Solar term" and "neutral qi" appear alternately, each lasting 15 days. Now people have called "solar terms" and "neutral gas" solar terms.
Like slight cold, great cold is also a solar term representing the degree of cold weather. Although many records of modern meteorological observation show that in most parts of China, the severe cold is not as good as the slight cold, in some years and a few coastal areas, the annual minimum temperature will still appear in the severe cold solar terms. In the severe cold season, the average temperature in our basin is mostly 6℃ to 8℃, which is nearly 65438 0℃ higher than that in the slight cold season. The proverb "slight cold and severe cold, cold into a ball" shows that the severe cold solar term is also a cold period of the year. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to do a good job in the cold protection of crops, especially to protect livestock from wintering.
People often say that "there is a great cold every year, not on March 9 but on April 9". The implication is that the great cold is already very cold. In fact, the great cold is only relative to the slight cold, and both are solar terms that characterize the degree of cold weather. In some areas, the great cold temperature is not lower than the slight cold temperature, and the great cold only shows a trend that the ancients viewed the cold climate change. "Great cold is the middle, and the upper form is slight cold, so it is called Great Cold ... extremely cold, so it is called Great Cold." At this time, the cold wave frequently goes south, which is the coldest period of the year in most parts of China. The wind is very strong and the temperature is very low. The snow on the ground has not melted, showing a cold scene of ice and snow.
Great cold story
Once upon a time, there was a prodigal son whose family was quite rich. But the prodigal son didn't know the seasonal solar terms and didn't farm well. All he did was eat, drink and be merry, which exhausted his father's ancestral business. Later, he had to borrow money from his relatives.
After a long time, relatives ignored him. He had to borrow clothes from his uncle and pawn almost all his few clothes, leaving only a cotton-padded jacket with some value.
On the first day of the first month, the prodigal son called to visit his uncle to pay a New Year call, in fact, in order to borrow this cotton-padded jacket. When I saw my uncle wearing a cotton-padded jacket, it was so cold that I didn't have the courage to let him take it off.
Finally, in February, the prodigal son thought: My uncle may not wear a cotton-padded jacket these days, so he came to my uncle's house. As soon as my uncle heard that he wanted to borrow a cotton-padded jacket, he said, "On February 28th, chickens and ducks froze to death." Hearing this, the prodigal son had no choice but to leave.
In March, the weather is getting warmer and warmer. The prodigal son thought: My uncle may not wear a cotton-padded jacket these days, so he came to my uncle's house. As soon as my uncle heard that he wanted to borrow a cotton-padded jacket, he said, "On March 3, the bachelor froze to death."
The prodigal son knew that his uncle was a bachelor, but when he heard this, he had no choice but to leave.
In April, the weather is warmer. The prodigal son thought: My uncle may not wear cotton-padded jacket these days, so he came to my uncle's house again. When my uncle heard that he still wanted to borrow his cotton-padded jacket, he said, "On April 20, the branches were frozen." Hearing this, the prodigal son knew that there was no way to borrow a cotton-padded jacket and had to go.
In May, people all wore light clothes, and the prodigal son thought, What can my uncle say if I borrow a cotton-padded jacket now? Who knows, my uncle said, "You can't send cold clothes after eating May Zongzi."
In June, it was so hot that people were shirtless. The prodigal son thought, I'll borrow a cotton-padded jacket in the dog days of June, and see what you say! Who knows my uncle said, "people are not caterpillars, but are afraid of the cold north wind in June."
In July, the weather was still very hot, and the prodigal son borrowed a cotton-padded jacket from his uncle. My uncle said, "I had a meal in July and a half, and let my son Dipo stand." The meaning is clear:
It's getting cold, so I can't borrow a cotton-padded jacket. In August, the prodigal son never gave up and went to see his uncle again. My uncle said, "On August 15th, the wild goose gate opened, and frost came on the wild goose's head." It's starting to frost. Who wants to lend out the cotton-padded jacket?