The plum blossoms are just beginning to bloom as the Winter Solstice approaches, and all things are gathering strength, awaiting the emergence of Yang energy. In this season when days are short and nights are long, and the year is coming to an end to welcome the new, we have ushered in the Winter Solstice, one of the 24 solar terms. Jiaxing Shengbang Technology Co., Ltd. wishes everyone: May the Winter Solstice bring you good fortune and your career thrive as bright as day!
Introduction to Solar Terms
When the Yin energy reaches its peak, the Yang energy begins to rise. The sun reaches its southernmost point, the days are the shortest, and the shadows are the longest. Therefore, it is called the Winter Solstice. As one of the earliest solar terms to be determined among the 24, the Winter Solstice carries the astronomical wisdom and humanistic sentiments of the Chinese nation over thousands of years.
As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ancestors discovered through the earth GUI that this day had the shortest daytime and the longest nighttime, and regarded it as the "beginning of the year", marking the start of a New Year's time cycle. The History of the Han Dynasty states: "On the Winter Solstice, the Yang energy rises, the ruler's way grows, and thus it is celebrated." Since the Han Dynasty, the Winter Solstice has become an important festival for both the court and the people to celebrate together. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, a folk tradition was formed that "the Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year", with the royal family offering sacrifices to heaven and the common people paying homage to their ancestors. The complexity of the rituals is comparable to that of the Spring Festival.
The cultural core of the Winter Solstice is the Chinese people's philosophical reflection on the "transformation of Yin and Yang". On this day, the Yin energy reaches its peak, yet it is also the starting point of the Yang energy's emergence, like the hidden vitality in the cold winter, which perfectly aligns with the Eastern wisdom that "after the darkest hour comes the dawn".
In modern society, although the Winter Solstice is no longer a legal holiday, it remains an important milestone that carries family affection and homesickness. It reminds us to slow down in the hustle and bustle of life, return to tradition, and draw strength to move forward from reunion and rest. And this yearning for a warm and comfortable life is precisely what Jiaxing Shengbang Technology Co., Ltd. has been pursuing all along.
Winter Solstice Folk Customs
The dietary customs of the Winter Solstice vary from place to place, but all are filled with people's expectations for warmth, reunion and health. There is a saying in the north that "dumplings are eaten on the Winter Solstice and noodles on the summer Solstice." Dumplings are shaped like ears. Legend has it that if you eat dumplings, your ears won't get cold in winter. This simple care for food reflects the wisdom of the Chinese people in maintaining health through diet. A family sits around making dumplings, rolling out the wrappers, filling the fillings and shaping the edges. Amidst the steaming heat, there flows a deep sense of family affection.
Eat tangyuan
In the south, it is popular to eat tangyuan, especially in the Jiangnan region. The character "round" symbolizes reunion and completeness. Eating tangyuan on the Winter Solstice implies a harmonious family and a happy life. The outer skin made of glutinous rice is soft and delicious, and it is filled with fillings such as sesame, peanuts or red bean paste. It is sweet on the tip of the tongue and warm in the heart.
Counting nine
In addition to dietary customs, the Winter Solstice also features many unique traditional activities. In ancient times, there was a custom of "counting the nine days" on the Winter Solstice. Starting from the Winter Solstice, every nine days was a "nine", totaling ninety-nine and eighty-one days. There is a folk custom called "The Nine-Nine Cold Relief Picture". People would draw nine plum blossoms on the picture, with nine flowers on each branch. They would dye one plum blossom every day. When all eighty-one plum blossoms were dyed, spring would come and flowers would bloom.
Nowadays, although the sense of ceremony of "Counting the Ninth Day of the Ninth lunar Month" is gradually fading, the feeling of looking forward to spring in the cold winter can still resonate with people. In addition, in some areas, there are customs such as tomb-sweeping on the Winter Solstice, seeking plum blossoms in the snow, and paying homage to teachers on the Winter Solstice. These customs have been passed down from generation to generation and have become an indispensable part of Chinese culture.
Fabric renewal
During the Winter Solstice, when it's cold outdoors, home becomes a warm haven. Windows are the interface through which a room communicates with the outside world and also the main channel for heat loss in winter. A suitable curtain can not only decorate the room but also play a role in heat preservation and insulation. Although traditional thick curtains keep warm, they often appear dull and block the precious winter sunlight.
Modern home design pursues "warm lightness" - it is necessary to maintain the indoor temperature while allowing natural light to flow in and creating an open and transparent view. This requires the curtain fabric to have special properties: it needs to have a certain thickness to block the cold air, and at the same time, it should have good breathability to prevent the indoor air from becoming murky. It should be able to block overly strong light while also softening the sunlight that penetrates.
The same wisdom is also applied to home decorations such as sofas and wall fabrics. In winter, people are more willing to stay indoors, and the time spent in close contact with furniture increases significantly. Therefore, the hand feel, breathability and ease of cleaning of the fabric all become particularly important. A high-quality home fabric should be as warm and soft as the winter sun, and as breathable and comfortable as the gentle spring breeze caressing the face.
The applications of Yuanzhu fiber are far from limited to this. In various fields such as automotive interiors, fashionable lace, and window screens, Yuanzhu fiber is redefining the connotation of "warmth" with its unique properties - it is no longer a heavy package, but a light care. It's no longer just a single insulation, but multiple comfortable experiences.
At the Winter Solstice, the Yang energy begins to rise and all things await spring. During this traditional festival, we not only trace the cultural memories of a thousand years but also look forward to the better life brought by technology. The DEZTE Yuanzhu series fibers from DEZTE are like the newly emerging Yang energy after the Winter Solstice. With the essence of nature and the innovation of technology, they infuse this winter with a warm and light force.