The Origin and Legends of Beijing's Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice, also known as "Dongzhi" in Chinese, is a significant traditional festival celebrated in China, including Beijing. It falls on the 21st or 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month. Here is the background and a legend associated with Beijing's Winter Solstice:
**Background:**
Dongzhi marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. The ancient Chinese believed that the Winter Solstice was the time when the yin energy was at its peak and yang energy began to grow again. It's a time to honor the gods of the sun and to celebrate the return of longer days.
In Beijing, Dongzhi is a time for family gatherings, eating special foods, and engaging in various activities to ward off cold and bring good fortune.
**Legend of the Rabbit Making Medicine:**
One popular legend about the Winter Solstice in Beijing is the story of the Rabbit God. According to the tale, the Rabbit God is an immortal who lives on the moon and is responsible for making medicinal herbs.
The story goes that the Moon God's only child fell ill, and the Moon God was desperate to find a cure. He sent his child's medicine-making skills to the human world. The Rabbit God, who was known for its gentle nature and intelligence, agreed to help.
The Rabbit God worked tirelessly on the moon, using a pestle and mortar to grind up the medicinal herbs. The Moon God, in return, created a silver hare on the moon to help the Rabbit God in his work. Since then, the Winter Solstice has been associated with the rabbit, and it is customary to eat rice porridge with red beans on this day, as red beans are considered to be a symbol of the rabbit and are said to have medicinal properties.
This legend, along with the习俗 (customs), has made the Winter Solstice a cherished part of Beijing's cultural heritage.
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