Today marks Minor Cold. The first solar term of 2026 has slipped in quietly.

Frost lies thick as the year wanes, and the scent of the Lunar New Year grows stronger. Minor Cold brings the year's deepest chill, yet it secretly harbors the tidings of spring. As the proverb goes, "Minor Cold and Major Cold freeze the world into solid ice." At this time, frost and snow blanket the fields, and all creation lies dormant. Yet, beneath this stillness, life is quietly gathering strength—winter wheat grows beneath its snowy quilt, wild geese start their flight north, and magpies busy themselves building nests. Even in the deepest cold, Nature has already prepared for rebirth.

As nights lengthen with the arrival of Minor Cold, thoughts of home kindle warmth in the heart. The bitterer the cold outside, the more we cherish the warmth inside. In the North, steaming mutton hotpot bubbles on the stove; in the South, the savory aroma of cured meats and glutinous rice wafts from the kitchen. A bowl of hot soup on the table, a simple greeting from family—all these tell us a simple truth: coldness comes from the elements, but warmth radiates from the heart. These are more than just ways to fill our stomachs; they embody the wisdom of living in harmony with the seasons.

Minor Cold is the ideal season for settling the mind. Just as farmers take this time to select seeds and mend their tools, we use the year's end to take stock of the past. This echoes the wisdom of the ancients: "Winter signifies completion; the Cold signifies storage." The coldest season is precisely when the art of "preservation" is most vital, and where true mastery lies. While time appears to stand still, vitality is already stirring in the depths.

While seasons cycle between cold and warmth, life maintains its own inherent fire. Only having tasted the biting chill of winter can we truly cherish the promise of spring. The deeper the cold, the more radiantly we must live—for we know that light lies ahead, and warmth dwells within.

Sending you three wishes on this day of Minor Cold:

First, may you be well-fed and warmly dressed, that your body knows no cold;

Second, may the lights of home be affectionate and bright, that your heart knows no cold;

Third, may you await the spring with inner peace, that your journey knows no cold.

Next comes the Little New Year, followed by New Year's Eve... Winter runs deep, but spring is not far behind. In these days of growing festivity, may we both harbor warmth in our hearts and quietly await the bloom of spring.

——Peace and Joy on Minor Cold.