The 24 Solar Terms · Start of Winter (Lidong)｜The Beginning of Winter & The Essence of Nourishment

二十四节气 · 立冬｜冬之始，养生之本

On November 7, we welcome the solar term Lidong, the Start of Winter.

“Li” means beginning; “Dong” signifies the moment of storage. Nature draws inward, holding energy in quiet stillness.

11月7日，我们迎来二十四节气中的立冬。“立”者开始，“冬”者收藏。此时天地肃静、万物潜藏，进入收敛的周期。

At the Turn of Autumn and Winter: How Should We Care for Body and Mind?

秋冬之交，身心如何调养？

The Huangdi Neijing states:“The four seasons and yin–yang govern the cycle of life.Follow them and illness is few;Go against them and disorder arises.”

《黄帝内经》曰：“阴阳四时者，万物之终始，死生之本。逆之则灾害生，从之则苛疾不起，是谓得道。”

As yang energy descends and yin energy gathers, alignment with seasonal rhythms results in fewer illnesses and clearer emotions. Misalignment brings fatigue, sadness, and inner turbulence.

秋冬转换之时，阳气沉降、阴气渐盛。顺应节气，则身心清宁；逆之，则疲惫、忧思乃至烦恼易生。

The three essentials of winter wellness:

冬季养生三要：

1. Preserve — Reduce consumption and keep warm

1. 藏——减少消耗，保持温暖

Sleep earlier, conserve yang, keep the body warm and allow its energy to “store.”

早睡护阳，温养身体，让身心进入“收藏”状态。

2. Nourish — Winter governs the kidneys

2. 补——冬主肾，宜补气养肾

Supporting qi and kidney essence is most effective in winter.

此时补气养肾，更能事半功倍。

3. Rest in Stillness — Calmness stabilizes emotions

3. 静——心静则气顺，气顺则无恼

Winter invites us to cultivate inner quiet.

冬日宜静，心安则百脉和顺。

Emotional Balance in Winter: The Smile as Medicine

立冬情绪调剂：微笑，是最好的良药

A well-known couplet before Maitreya Buddha reads:“A great belly holds all that others cannot;A constant smile laughs at all that the world finds laughable.”

弥勒佛前有一副名联：“大肚能容，容天下难容之事；开口常笑，笑世间可笑之人。”

A tense face tightens the entire nervous system; a single smile can soften breath, relax the chest, and soothe the heart.

人若整日板着面孔，全身气机必然闭塞；而微笑之间，呼吸松开，心绪亦随之平和。

The ancients said:“Immortals have no secret—only joy, not sorrow.”

古语云：“神仙无别法，只生欢喜不生愁。”

The Four Seasons Are Not Only Outside, but Within Us

四时之道，亦在我们自身

The 24 solar terms and the 72 micro-seasons are reflected not only in the environment but also within the rhythms of our organs.

二十四节气与七十二候，不仅在天地之间，也在我们自身的五脏运行之中。

On the face, ancient medicine saw a map of the five organs:

古人以面部为五脏之图：

• Left cheek → Spring → Liver

• 左颧为春，属肝

• Forehead → Summer → Heart

• 额为夏，属心

• Right cheek → Autumn → Lung

• 右颧为秋，属肺

• Chin → Winter → Kidney

• 下巴为冬，属肾

• Nose → Center → Spleen & Stomach

• 鼻为中央之土，属脾胃

The Neijing teaches:“The wise embody the Dao; the foolish merely wear its symbols.”

《内经》曰：“道者圣人行之，愚者佩之。”

True nourishment begins with observing and understanding our own patterns.

真正的养生，是懂得察觉自身的节律与变化。

The sages taught:“The highest medicine treats what has not yet become illness.”

古语云：“不治已病治未病，不治已乱治未乱。”

Conclusion 结语

Lidong marks the beginning of winter’s “storing” phase.May we:

愿在立冬时节，我们能够：

• Slow down｜放慢脚步

• Stay warm｜温暖身体

• Settle the mind｜安定心绪

• Meet the season with a smile｜以微笑迎接冬日

To follow the seasons is true nourishment;

To follow nature is the beginning of wisdom.

顺应四时，即是养生；顺应自然，即是智慧。