What does the Winter Solstice Nine-Nine Song mean?

"Winter Solstice Nine-Nine Songs" is also called "Nine-Nine Songs". It is mainly popular in northern my country, because the climate in the south is not as cold as the north, and "Nine-Nine Songs" are mainly for the cold season. "Winter Tips".

"Nine-Nine Songs" is also called "Nine-Nine Songs". The full text is as follows:

One-nine-nine-two-nine does not take action; three-nine-four-nine walks on the ice; five-nine six-nine, Look at the willows along the river; the river opens in seventy-nine, and the wild geese come in eighty-nine; the ninety-nine plus one, the cattle are everywhere.

"Counting nine" means counting from the day of the winter solstice until nine, which is a "nine", called "one nine"; then continue counting, counting to nine again, This is the second "nine", which is called "twenty-nine". By analogy, you can count to "nine-nine", that is, to the ninth "nine". In this way, you have counted nine-nine and 81 days.

The "not taking action" in "Nine Nine Songs" means that the weather is suddenly cold and you are a little uncomfortable. You should pay attention to keep warm, especially put your hands in your pockets to keep warm. Although it is said here that "don't take action" and don't let your hands get cold, it actually means that the weather has suddenly become cold and you need to take precautions against the cold.

"Walking on the ice" means that the ice is already thickly frozen at this time, and it is thick enough to walk on. At the same time, this sentence also tells people that after a period of adaptation, they should be able to withstand the cold invasion and can go outside to exercise, such as doing ice sports.

"Looking at the willows along the river" means that spring is already brewing at this time, and the willow trees are already quietly sprouting, just waiting for the arrival of "beginning of spring". At this time, people can go out and see the rare sight of "spring buds sprouting".

"Eighty-nine wild geese are coming" means that the migratory birds geese have begun to fly from the south to the north. At this time, the pace of spring is closer.

"Nine-nine plus one-nine" means counting nine after the winter solstice, and then adding one-nine, so that it is 90 days. 90 days after the winter solstice, it is already the eve of Qingming Festival. As winter turns to spring, farmers will usher in the busy season of spring plowing, so it is said that "plowing cattle are everywhere".

So, why did the custom of "counting nine" come into being during the Winter Solstice?

"Counting Nine" has been formed in the Song Dynasty. There are two reasons for its formation.

The first reason: Because winter is long and cold, in order to survive the long winter night, people look forward to the cold winter passing as soon as possible. And counting is a good way to "sustain the winter". Counting past one or nine means that spring is one step closer.

The second reason: In order to adapt to seasonal climate changes, we have formulated regular formulas that can be followed. People discovered climate patterns through long-term observation and formulated the 24 solar terms. Similarly, through observation and research on winter, people discovered the evolution patterns of the cold season, so they formulated the "Jiujiu Song" and determined some rules that people follow. There are regular things, such as "not taking action", "walking on the ice", "watching willows along the river", etc. These are different coping methods adopted for different time periods.

Therefore, it can be said that "Nine-Nine Songs" is the crystallization of the wisdom of the working people. Precisely because it contains a certain truth, it is still spread among the people.