What are the three stages of slight cold in ancient China?

Slight cold, the 23rd solar term in the 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar, marks the official start of the season and winter, and the climate of China begins to enter the coldest period of the year. Therefore, there is a folk saying that "slight cold and great cold turn into ice". As soon as slight cold passes, it will immediately enter the "ice-out" for three or nine days. This is also the reason why slight cold is colder than great cold.

In ancient China, slight cold was divided into three stages: "The first stage is to wait for Yanbei Township, the second stage is to wait for magpies to nest, and the third stage is to wait for pheasants to swim". The ancients believed that the geese among migratory birds migrated along the yin and yang, and at this time, the yang had moved, so the geese began to move northward; Magpies also feel the sun's spirit in this solar term and start building nests; When waiting for the third time, the pheasant also felt the growth of Yang and Sang.

Extended data:

The slight cold solar term originally originated in the Yellow River Basin. It is said that in the early years, every farmer in the Yellow River valley used the "Nine-Nine Cold Map" to keep out the cold and keep fit. Count to nine, calligraphy is red, which can not only dispel the cold, but also be a good way to keep in good health in winter.

In the coldest season of the year, China people who don't eat from time to time begin to look for all kinds of delicious ingredients as the nourishing and health-preserving products of the season, and warm foods such as mutton and dog meat naturally become delicious dishes on the table of every household.

In the slight cold season, the flavor of the year is getting stronger and stronger. Write Spring Festival couplets, cut window grilles, and go to the market to buy New Year pictures, colored lights, firecrackers, incense and so on. What we used to see is getting farther and farther away from us now. However, no matter how the times change, our expectations for a beautiful holiday and life have never changed.