Frost Descent

Introduction

The last term of autumn: dew turns to frost and leaves fall

Frost Descent is the last solar term of autumn, beginning when the sun reaches 210° of ecliptic longitude, around 23–24 October. Night temperatures can fall to about 0°C and water vapour freezes as frost on the ground and on plants. Its three pentads are jackals laying out their prey, plants yellowing and shedding leaves, and hibernating insects lying dormant. The northern harvest is nearly done and ripe crops must be brought in before frost, while the south is busy reaping late rice and sowing wheat and rapeseed. Customs include eating persimmons and viewing chrysanthemums, and the Zhuang of Guangxi hold the Frost Descent festival.

Timeline

1. 139 BCEOriginThe Western Han Huainanzi (Tianwen xun, c. 139 BCE) sets out the twenty-four terms by the pointing of the Dipper's handle, recording 'fifteen days on, it points to xu: Frost Descent', the earliest systematic attestation of Frost Descent.
2. 104 BCEEvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Frost Descent became a fixed term in it.
3. 2014ImpactIn 2014 the Zhuang Frost Descent festival of Tiandeng, Guangxi, was added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item; the UNESCO inscription also names it.

Heritage Listings

1. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms of the Lunar Calendar · nominated by the China Agricultural Museum · collective item
2. 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item4th batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Zhuang Frost Descent Festival
3. 2016UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityThe Twenty-Four Solar Terms · knowledge in China of time and practices developed through observation of the sun's annual motion · collective inscription