Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox) marks the 16th of the 24 Chinese solar terms. This year it arrives on 23 August when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180 degrees. "Fen (equinox)" means equal length for the day and night. It also refers to the equal division of yin and yang, and means the equal division of heat and coldness, according to the ancient Chinese book Luxuriant Dew of Spring and Autumn.
Upon the arrival of Qiu Fen, people in most parts of China feel refreshed. The temperature drops with the rains one after another. As one saying goes, "autumn is colder with each rain.” Qiu Fen used to be the traditional "Festival of Offering Sacrifices to the Moon, "which was the predecessor of today's Mid-Autumn Festival. The Altar of the Moon in Beijing used to be where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the moon.
Owing to the dry weather and reduced precipitation, people can drink more water and eat food such as sesame, nuts, sticky rice, honey, pears and dairy food to prevent a parched mouth and scorched tongue.
Here is a famous poem from the Tang dynasty.
《静夜思》 李白
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。
举头望明月，低头思故乡。
Thoughts in a Quiet Night by Li Bai
Moonlight there is afore my bed, I doubt if it’s frost on the ground.
To gaze at the moon, I lift my head, When bending low, thoughts of home abound.
By Catherine Mang
Librarian
