Autumn Equinox: day and night equal, autumn deepens
Autumn Equinox is the 16th solar term among the 24 solar terms, and the fourth solar term of autumn. It occurs annually around September 22-24 on the Gregorian calendar, when the sun reaches 180° ecliptic longitude. At this time, day and night are equal in length, and cold and heat are balanced. Afterward, nights grow longer than days in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn deepens, and the climate becomes cooler and drier.
Climatically, the morning and evening chill gradually appears in the north, requiring precautions against early frost; typhoons may still affect coastal areas in the south, requiring wind and flood prevention. Agriculture enters the large-scale autumn harvest stage, with attention to rushing harvest on sunny days and preventing mold and lodging during rainy weather.
First Pentad - Thunder Begins to Cease: As summer heat recedes, thunder sounds cease, and yin energy gradually increases.
Second Pentad - Hibernating Insects Seal Their Burrows: Insects that hibernate seal their burrows with mud, preparing for winter.
Third Pentad - Waters Begin to Dry Up: Rainfall gradually decreases, water levels recede, and the climate becomes drier.
Daily Routine: Sleep and rise early, add clothing in morning and evening to prevent catching cold; maintain appropriate indoor humidity to prevent autumn dryness.
Diet: Nourish yin, moisten dryness, reduce pungent foods and increase sour foods. Consume pears, lotus root, lily bulbs, white fungus, sesame, honey, and seasonal fruits and vegetables; reduce spicy and dry-heating foods.
Exercise: Moderate aerobic exercise and stretching, such as walking, tai chi, and stretching, with light sweating as the measure, avoiding excessive sweating that damages yin.
Mental Well-being: Autumn qi governs gathering inward; maintain calm mind and tranquil spirit; reading quietly, sitting meditation, and short outings to nature help balance emotions.
Autumn Society Sacrifice: In some regions, Autumn Equinox is observed as the society day, with sacrifices performed to pray for abundant harvests.
Moon Sacrifice and Appreciation: Near the Mid-Autumn season, folk customs include moon sacrifice and moon appreciation, symbolizing reunion.
Kite Flying: In the clear autumn weather, flying kites is done to pray for well-being and lift spirits.
Harvest Celebration: Many regions hold harvest celebrations, displaying agricultural products and giving thanks for the year's abundance.
Autumn Equinox follows White Dew and precedes Cold Dew. Its seasonal characteristic is equal day and night, balanced cold and heat, after which nights grow longer than days and autumn deepens.
Astronomical Significance: On the Autumn Equinox day, the sun reaches 180° ecliptic longitude, nearly directly shining on the equator, resulting in equal day and night globally. Afterward, the point of direct sunlight continues moving south, shortening daylight and lengthening nights in the Northern Hemisphere.
Agricultural Guidance: Regions enter the peak autumn harvest period, rushing to harvest on sunny days and preventing mold during rain; the south still guards against typhoon wind and rain impacts, while the north monitors early frost and strong wind weather.
