Start of Autumn: A Poetic Solar Term

“This morning, sweltering heat is gone; Autumnal winds sweep hither and yon. Cloud-flecked sky displays no tint of summer; Swaying foliage composes an autumnal song.” (Trans. by Li 2021) In early August, comes the solar term Start of Autumn, when Chinese parasol trees shed their leaves, hence the idiom “one leaf heralds the autumn”. The Chinese character for “autumn” composes two parts: crop + fire, meaning “ripening of crops”. The right part “fire” also indicates the warm colors decorating this solar term. Yellow ginkgoes, red maples, and mandarin oranges… all constitute a renewed “palette” of the nature.

The painting by Dai Shuliang, presents customs and real life scenarios of this solar term, demonstrating a skillful composition as well as vivid details. Pumpkins of different sizes are like red hanging lanterns on the vines; women and children are eating watermelons while making headdresses out of Catalpa leaves. What a joyful and harmonious scene!

The whole family eating watermelons together is a custom of this solar term, namely, “A Bite of Autumn”. Painted with mischievous imagination, this watercolour illustration by Liu Xianghui depicts a super watermelon which is comparable to a mountain. The red-fleshed watermelon resembles a lake filled with sweetness, beside which sits a little girl, fishing and showing a pleasant and contented smile.

The scroll painting by Tang Defu shows a rural scene during Start of Autumn, in which women in the deep mountain area of Southwest China’s Chongqing are trained to master the art of the intangible cultural heritage - Miao Embroidery. These intelligent and diligent women, are as strong and tenacious as mountain lilies blooming in autumn. With their embroideries sold at home and abroad, they manage to create a lovely life scroll featuring poverty alleviation through promoting intangible cultural heritage.

The painting by Chen Fuchun reminds us of the impermanence of everything, but fully capturing the beauty in the bleakness.

In the painting by Yang Minggui, the majestic natural wonders are adorned with human habitation, with the grand and lofty mountains softened by the hazy autumnal atmosphere.

The painting by Wang Aizhong imparts a refreshing coolness blended with a delicate scent of falling leaves, chasing away the last bit of summer heat.

With the autumnal breezes, foliage, rain and moon, nature has blessed us with many poetic scenes and moments during the solar term Start of Autumn.