Autumn

Autumnal Equinox

Sep 23–Oct 7

Autumn Equinox (Qiufen) is the sixteenth solar term of the twenty‑four solar terms, and the fourth solar term of autumn. The sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180°. Day and night are of equal length across the globe, and the season of autumn is equally divided. This article explains its astronomical significance and the principle of yin‑yang balance, citing the saying from Dong Zhongshu’s Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals: “Yin and yang accompany each other, hence day and night are equal, and cold and heat are balanced.” It details the three pentads (thunder begins to retreat, hibernating insects seal their burrows, water begins to dry up) and traditional folk customs such as the egg‑standing game, sticking the beak of the sparrow (to prevent sparrows from eating grain), worshipping the moon, and flying paper kites. It is the season when the atmosphere of autumn gradually deepens and the climate is at its most comfortable.