What is severe cold?

Refers to the third "nine days" after the winter solstice, that is, the 19th to 27th days after the winter solstice. Generally, it is the coldest during "March 9". That’s why it’s called “March 9 Severe Cold”.

The severe cold in Sanjiu is calculated from the winter solstice (called "Jiaojiu" from the winter solstice, which means the beginning of cold). Every nine days is a "nine", and the first nine days are one "One Nine", the next nine days are "Two Nines", and so on, until "Nine Nines", that is, the ninth Nine Days, until the number of Nine Nines and eighty-one days is reached. At this time winter is over and spring is coming.

Extended information:

Customs related to the severe cold in March and September:

The custom of "painting nine" appeared in the Ming Dynasty. The so-called painting is actually a picture of calculating the date of spring after the winter solstice. "A Brief Introduction to Scenery of the Imperial Capital" of the Ming Dynasty records: "On the winter solstice, I painted a plain plum branch with eighty-one petals. When the sun dyes one petal, and the petals are gone and ninety-nine come out, it means spring is deep, and it is called the ninety-nine to relieve the cold."

In addition, in the Qing Dynasty, there was also the "Nine-Nine Cold-Resisting Poems". There are four sentences for each nine days, with a total of thirty-six sentences. The content ranges from the "Three Emperors Ruled the World" in ancient times to the current dynasty. "The Great Qing Dynasty Sitting on the Golden Luan" can be regarded as an elegant and interesting historical "memorable event".

The origin of the severe cold:

In ancient times, especially in northern China, working people lacked better cold and warm environments than they do now. Cold winter is also regarded as a threat and punishment, and people are afraid of the cold weather, which directly affects people's emotions. They even feel that winter is strange and long.

At that time, in order to survive the long winter, the Chinese invented the entertainment method of "counting nine" to eliminate the psychological crisis under the threat of cold winter. At that time, counting nine people around the family was also regarded as a state of freedom. The severe cold in Sanjiu is also caused by this.

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