Start of Winter 立冬 · Lì Dōng · ~Nov 7
AT A GLANCE
Winter opens — the storing season. 立冬补冬: the traditional tonifying day.
How the food tradition reads it
The classic warming dish of the whole tradition: Danggui ginger lamb soup (当归生姜羊肉汤， from 《金匮要略》) — the term’s signature bowl.
Tonight’s bowl
Danggui ginger lamb soup — lamb 500 g, danggui 15 g, ginger 30 g, simmered 90 minutes.
The practice of the term
Sleep early, rise late — “wait for the sun” becomes literal.
What to watch for this term
- The five colds: neck, nose, lung, waist, feet
- Heart and vessels clench in the first real cold — the year’s cardiac vigil begins
Who feels this term most
Yang Deficiency — Your hardest hundred days begin — warmth is the whole practice
Qi Deficiency — Guard the surface like a door — scarf, collar, and no cold feet
Watching a pattern is not a diagnosis — flare-ups and chronic conditions belong with a professional.
The season’s anchor
“The three months of winter are called the storing… sleep early, rise late, wait for the sun.” — Suwen, On Nurturing Life by the Four Seasons
The cycle continues
← Frost Descent · Lesser Snow →
