大雪 Dàxuě
Major Snow
In 2026: 7 December 2026 to 22 December 2026 (Beijing time)
“Major snow”: heavy snow in the north and the deepening of winter. A season for stillness and inner work.
- Sun’s longitude
- 255°
- Month (earthly branch)
- 子month
- Season
- Winter
- Five Phase
- 水Water
The three pentads
Each term is divided into three five-day pentads, named for what the ancients saw happen in nature.
- First pentad鹖鴠不鸣The hedan bird falls silent
- Second pentad虎始交Tigers begin to mate
- Third pentad荔挺出Iris shoots appear
Wudang yangsheng for this term
- Breath
- Breathe out with a soft, low “chui” sound, the kidney sound of the Six Healing Sounds.
- Warm tea and diet
- Nourishing stews with chestnut and walnut; ripe pu’er.
- Sleep and daily rhythm
- Keep the head and back warm outdoors; in hard cold, train indoors.
Traditional guidance, not medical advice. The terms follow the seasons of central China.
In the Book of Changes
Each month has a sovereign hexagram (消息卦) that shows how far yin or yang has grown. For the 子 month it is 复, Return.
Seeker’s Q&A
What does this story have to do with Major Snow?
Deep snow is the season’s picture of patience: nothing grows on the surface, yet the ground is being prepared. The two students’ waiting is the same quality in a person.
Is the story about obeying teachers?
It is about respect and attention, not blind obedience. They waited because they valued what they had come to learn, and they would not disturb a teacher at rest.
How can I use this season for learning?
Winter suits deep study: one book, one form or one skill, practised slowly. Choose one and give it twenty quiet minutes a day until the solstice.
Is there traditional advice for the body now?
Keep warm and avoid sweating heavily in cold air; gentle practice such as standing or slow taiji suits the season better than hard training. This is traditional guidance, not medical advice.
One-minute practice
Stand still for one minute, knees soft, arms relaxed, eyes half closed, like the two students waiting in the snow. Each time you want to move, breathe out and settle a little lower instead.