Autumn Equinox (Qiufen)
At the Autumn Equinox, meals should be balanced and gently moistening, with neither too cooling nor too warming.
Script
Hello, and welcome to Autumn Equinox, Qiufen. In the classic Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie, Qiufen is the midpoint of the eighth lunar month, and day and night are equal. The season calls for meals that are balanced and gently moistening, with neither too cooling nor too warming. On the table, you can enjoy lotus root, lily bulb, and pomegranate, along with seasonal hairy crab. A simple dish like Stir-Fried Chinese Broccoli, Qingchao Jielan, also fits this light home-style rhythm. Go easy on overly spicy and drying food, and do not eat too much raw or chilled fruit at one time. If you want to cook along, please check the Autumn Equinox Light Seasonal Ingredients Pack below.
On the table this season
- Lotus Root (Lian'ou)cool
Fresh and tender in season, with a light and refreshing texture that fits the season
- Lily Bulb (Baihe)cool
Mild and gentle in flavor, and traditionally eaten on autumn tables
- Pomegranate (Shiliu)warm
A seasonal fruit that is sweet-tart and juicy, well suited to autumn eating
- Chinese Broccoli (Jielan)cool
Crisp and tender, and suits simple, light home-style dishes
- Hairy Crab (Dazha Xie)cold
Comes into season in autumn and is traditionally eaten at this time of year
Cook it
Stir-Fried Chinese Broccoli (Qingchao Jielan)
Ingredients: Chinese broccoli, garlic, cooking oil, salt
- Wash the Chinese broccoli, peel the tough outer layer from the thicker stems, and cut into short pieces.
- Heat oil in a wok or pan and stir-fry the minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add the Chinese broccoli and stir-fry over high heat, cooking the stems first and then the leaves.
- Season with a little salt and cook just until tender-crisp, then serve.
Lotus Root and Lily Bulb Sweet Soup (Lian'ou Baihe Geng)
Ingredients: lotus root, lily bulb, rock sugar, water
- Peel the lotus root and cut into small pieces; separate the lily bulb and rinse well.
- Put the lotus root into a pot, add water, and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer until the lotus root softens, then add the lily bulb and continue cooking.
- Add a small amount of rock sugar at the end and cook until the soup is slightly thickened.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly spicy and drying food.
- Do not eat too much raw or chilled fruit at one time.
- Seafood may be seasonal, but freshness and cleanliness still matter.
Classical source
秋分，八月中。解見春分。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
"Mid eighth month" marks the Autumn Equinox as the midpoint term of the eighth lunar month. The text points back to its note on the Spring Equinox: "fen" means half, the day falls halfway through the ninety days of the season, and day and night are equal.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.