Major Snow (Daxue, 大雪), at solar longitude 255°, brings more snow and deep cold to the north; cured meats hang to dry and Taiwan's mullet season peaks.
Solar longitude
255°
Type
Sectional term (jie)
Season
Winter
Order
No. 21 of 24
Usual dates
Dec 6–7
Meaning and Astronomy
Daxue (大雪) begins when the sun reaches ecliptic longitude 255°, usually between 6 and 8 December. Compared with Minor Snow, temperatures are lower and snow in the north is more frequent and more likely to settle. 'Major' refers to the wider chance and extent of snow rather than to blizzards every time.
It is the third term of winter and a jie (節) or 'sectional' term, marking the start of the eleventh month (the zi month) in the stem-branch calendar. The zi month is regarded as the month in which yang energy is reborn, and the Winter Solstice always falls within it.
The Three Pentads
First pentad: The hedan bird falls silent (鶡鴠不鳴) - a bird named in ancient texts, usually identified with the 'cold-crying bird', stops calling in the cold.
Second pentad: Tigers begin to mate (虎始交) - ancient writers believed yin was at its peak while yang was stirring, prompting tigers to court.
Third pentad: The li grass sprouts (荔挺出) - a type of iris-like orchid grass sends up new shoots, responding to the first stirring of yang.
Climate and Farming
By Daxue the northeast and northwest are snowbound, the North China Plain often has snow and hard frost, and rivers and lakes freeze over. The Yangtze region sees occasional sleet and a raw, damp cold. Low ground in southern China rarely sees snow, but cold surges can drop temperatures sharply in a short time. In Taiwan, high peaks such as Hehuanshan may get snow during strong cold waves, while Hong Kong is mostly dry and cold.
A well-known saying holds that 'timely snow promises a good harvest' (瑞雪兆豐年). Traditionally, a blanket of snow was believed to keep winter wheat warm, replenish soil moisture when it melts in spring, and kill some overwintering pests. Northern farm work centres on protecting crops, repairing tools and keeping livestock warm.
Customs
A southern saying runs 'pickle vegetables at Minor Snow, cure meat at Major Snow'. Around Daxue, households across Jiangnan and southwestern China salt pork and fish and hang them under the eaves to dry, a key part of New Year provisions. In Guangdong and Hong Kong, cured sausages and duck are at their best.
Where snow falls, people enjoy snow-viewing, snowmen and snowball fights; scholars of old liked to brew tea and talk by the fire while watching the snow. Off southwestern Taiwan, mullet arrive in large numbers, fulfilling the fishermen's saying 'a few at Minor Snow, many at Major Snow', and the busy season for catching mullet and making roe begins.
Because the Winter Solstice is close, preparations such as tonic meals and rice cakes start in some areas. Korea also recognises Daeseol as a traditional seasonal term, though without major national observances.
Seasonal Food and Wellness
Traditional wellness holds that yin is at its height, so the advice is to avoid cold and seek warmth, keeping the head, back and feet covered and not lingering in bitter wind. Northern households stew mutton or beef; in the south, chicken soup, ginger duck and slow-cooked soups are popular, and Taiwan's mutton hot pot is in high demand.
Sharp indoor-outdoor temperature differences are a particular concern for people with heart conditions during cold surges. Meals should be warm and balanced, and tonics taken in moderation. These are general reminders; individual health matters call for professional advice.