For international friends exploring the traditional Chinese calendar, “Frost’s Descent” (Shuangjiang) is one of the most “visually evocative” names among all 24 solar terms. It is the eighteenth solar term and the last one in autumn, usually arriving between October 23rd and 24th in the Gregorian calendar. The name “Frost’s Descent” can easily lead to a misunderstanding — as if frost falls from the sky.
In reality, frost does not “descend” from above; rather, it is formed when water vapor near the ground directly condenses into white ice crystals under low temperatures. The ancients used the word “descent” (降) because when you open the window in the morning, a layer of white frost has covered the grass and trees overnight, appearing as if it had fallen from the heavens.
What Does “Shuangjiang” Mean?
“Shuang” (霜) means “frost,” and “Jiang” (降) means “to descend” or “to arrive.” “Shuangjiang” means: the weather grows colder, and the first frost appears.
Frost’s Descent is the last solar term of autumn and serves as a “transitional station” between autumn and winter. Once Frost’s Descent passes, the Start of Winter follows. There is a folk saying: “Frost’s Descent kills all grasses” — meaning that after this solar term, plants wither and the earth begins to take on a desolate appearance.
It is worth noting that “Frost’s Descent” does not mean frost appears everywhere across the country. In southern China, the weather during this period may still be as warm as spring; while in certain parts of Northeast and Northwest China, the first frost may have appeared as early as the ninth lunar month. “Frost’s Descent” is more of a climatic signal, marking the beginning of a new phase of cold air activity.
Nature’s Signals: The Three Pentads of Frost’s Descent
Ancient Chinese divided Frost’s Descent into three pentads (each lasting five days) to record the subtle changes in nature during the final stretch of deep autumn:
First Pentad: Jackals Sacrifice Beasts.
Jackals begin hunting in large numbers, piling their prey together as if performing a “sacrifice.” Ancient observers noted that during Frost’s Descent, jackals intensify their hunting to store energy for the coming winter. They arrange their captured prey on the ground in neat rows, which from a distance resembles sacrificial offerings — hence the ancients called it “sacrificing beasts.”
Second Pentad: Grass and Trees Turn Yellow and Fall.
Vegetation withers and leaves drift to the ground. After Frost’s Descent, temperatures drop sharply, causing the chlorophyll in leaves to break down rapidly. Leaves turn golden yellow, fiery red, or deep brown before fluttering down one after another. The earth becomes blanketed in a thick layer of fallen leaves, presenting the classic deep autumn scene of “boundless falling leaves rustling down.”
Third Pentad: Hibernating Insects All Bow Down.
Insects preparing for hibernation curl up and become completely still. “Xian” (咸) means “all,” and “fu” (俯) means “bowing down and curling up.” After Frost’s Descent, temperatures have dropped low enough that most insects and small animals enter a state of dormancy. They huddle underground or inside tree hollows, no longer moving, quietly awaiting the arrival of spring.
Customs Full of Everyday Warmth
As the last solar term of autumn, Frost’s Descent has given rise to many customs related to “bidding farewell to autumn and welcoming winter”:
1. Eating Persimmons
Frost’s Descent is precisely the season when persimmons ripen. There is a folk saying: “Eat persimmons at Frost’s Descent, and you won’t catch a cold in winter.” By this time, persimmons have been “blessed” by the autumn frost, reaching their peak sweetness with a soft, luscious, and fragrant texture. In northern China, people traditionally eat persimmons on the day of Frost’s Descent, believing this will keep them warm and prevent their lips from chapping during winter. In some places, there is even a playful saying: “If you don’t eat persimmons at Frost’s Descent, your nose will run all winter.”
2. Admiring Chrysanthemums and Drinking Wine
During Frost’s Descent, chrysanthemums enter the final phase of their peak bloom. Ancient people regarded chrysanthemums as “flowers of the frost” — the more they are struck by frost, the more fragrant they become. Around Frost’s Descent, people hold chrysanthemum appreciation gatherings, judging various cultivars while sipping chrysanthemum wine. Su Shi once wrote: “The lotus has perished, leaving no umbrella to hold the rain; though the chrysanthemum fades, its branches still proudly defy the frost,” praising the chrysanthemum’s indomitable spirit standing tall even in the cold.
3. Nourishing the Body
Frost’s Descent marks the starting point of “autumn-winter nourishment.” There is a folk saying: “Nourishing at Frost’s Descent is better than nourishing at Winter Solstice” — meaning that beginning to nourish the body during Frost’s Descent yields better results than waiting until Winter Solstice. During this time, people begin eating warming and nourishing foods such as lamb, beef, and chicken soup to store energy for the harsh winter ahead. In the southern Fujian (Minnan) region, there is a custom of eating duck meat during Frost’s Descent, as duck is considered cooling in nature, helping to nourish yin and moisten dryness, balancing the “heat” generated by autumn-winter tonics.
4. Climbing Heights to Admire Red Leaves
During Frost’s Descent, red leaves across the mountains enter their prime viewing period. In many parts of China, climbing heights to admire red foliage is the most important outdoor activity around this time. People gather in groups to ascend hillsides and appreciate the breathtaking sight of forests dyed in every shade of color — both a farewell to autumn and a tribute to nature.
Conclusion
Frost’s Descent is like the last letter that autumn writes to the earth. With a thin layer of white frost, it draws a closing line under autumn and opens the curtain on winter.
Next time you open your window on a morning during this season and see a crystalline layer of frost covering the grass and trees, hear the crunch of golden leaves beneath your feet, or savor a sweet persimmon “kissed” by autumn frost, take a moment to appreciate this ancient Chinese wisdom — nature is never in a hurry. With a silent descent of frost, it gracefully closes the chapter on autumn and calmly paves the way for winter.
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