Han Lu (Cold Dew) falls on 8th or 9th October each year when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195. The dew condenses and becoming frost during Cold Dew, and the weather turns colder.
At this time of the year, the chrysanthemum starts to bloom. The chrysanthemum is the flower of Chinese culture, as it presents its beauty after the fading of most other flowers and does not compete with them in beauty. The cultivation of chrysanthemums at the Temple of Heaven dates back to the Ming Dynasty when the Taoist priests in the Divine Music Office grew them. Today, events of chrysanthemum flowers are held at Beihai Park, Beijing Garden of World’s Flowers and Beijing Botanical Garden from September to November each year. It is common for people to see the chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine in autumn.
During “Cold Dew”, the most apparent climate feature is "dry". When it is dry, sweat often evaporates quickly, and people can feel skin stretched, wrinkle increased, and often cough. Eating sesame, nut, tremella, radish, tomato, lotus root, milk, and lily can help nourish and moisten the dryness.
Here is a poem about autumn from Tang Dynasty.
秋词 刘禹锡
自古逢秋悲寂寥，我言秋日胜春朝。
晴空一鹤排云上，便引诗情到碧霄。
A Poem on Autumn by Liu Yuxi
Only desolation autumn has been known to arouse,
I say autumn’s day triumphs spring’s morn.
When crane’s wings beat against the blue sky’s clouds,
My poetic sentiment follows her to the heavens.
By Catherine Mang
Librarian
