Dongzhi
Winter solstice solar term and festival of balance and harmony.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Dongzhi is the 22nd solar term of the traditional Chinese calendar, marking the winter solstice. It begins when the Sun reaches celestial longitude 270° and ends at 285°, with the term commonly referring to the day of exact alignment. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around 21 December (22 December East Asia time) and ends around 5 January. Along with equinoxes, solstices mark the middle of traditional Chinese calendar seasons, and the character '至' means 'extreme,' so Dongzhi signifies the summit of winter, analogous to 'midwinter' in English.
- field
- Solar term and festival
- known_for
- Winter solstice celebration; shortest daylight and longest night; associated with yin-yang philosophy and the I Ching hexagram fu ('Returning')
- celebrated_in
- China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam
- related_festival
- Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice Festival)
Lore & Background
The Dongzhi Festival traces its origins to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After the celebration, days grow longer, increasing positive energy (yang). The festival was first celebrated during the Zhou dynasty (1045 BCE–256 BCE) and declared official during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), when people took a break from work to worship heaven and honor ancestors by burning joss paper. In ancient times, it was also called the 'festival of extreme length' because the sun's extreme position lengthens shadows. It was traditionally a very important holiday, comparable to Chinese New Year.
Reader's Guide
Dongzhi holds significance as both a solar term and a festival emphasizing family reunion, ancestor veneration, and the philosophical victory of light over darkness. In China, families gather to eat tangyuan (glutinous rice balls symbolizing reunion) and dumplings, a tradition attributed to Han dynasty physician Zhang Zhongjing, who distributed lamb dumplings to prevent chilblains. In Korea, the day is called 'Small Seol,' with customs including red bean porridge (patjuk) sprayed on walls to ward off ghosts. In Japan, people drink grapefruit hot water and eat pumpkin. In Taiwan, offerings include nine-layer cakes shaped like auspicious animals, and tonic foods such as mutton hot pot and ginger duck hot pot are consumed to nourish the body during winter. The festival reinforces the belief that celebrators become 'a year older' after Dongzhi, rather than at Chinese New Year.
Did You Know?
- Dongzhi is the 22nd solar term and marks the winter solstice, the day with the shortest daylight and longest night.
- The festival was first celebrated during the Zhou dynasty (1045 BCE–256 BCE) and became official during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
- In Korea, red bean porridge (patjuk) is sprayed on walls or doors to ward off bad ghosts.
- In Taiwan, nine-layer cakes made from glutinous rice flour in animal shapes are offered as ceremonial sacrifices to ancestors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dongzhi?
Dongzhi is the 22nd solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, pinpointing the winter solstice. It marks the moment of shortest daylight and longest night before the light begins its slow return.
When does Dongzhi occur on the Gregorian calendar?
The solar term generally begins around December 21 (the 22nd in East Asian time zones) and runs until roughly January 5. Most people focus on the single day of exact solar alignment for celebrations.
What does the name 'Dongzhi' literally mean?
'Dong' refers to winter and 'zhi' translates as 'extreme' or 'peak,' so the term literally signals the absolute summit of the cold season. It functions as the Chinese equivalent of the English word 'midwinter.'
How does Dongzhi connect to yin-yang philosophy and the I Ching?
In traditional Chinese thought, the solstice is the instant when yin energy hits its maximum and yang energy starts to re-emerge. This turning point is captured by the I Ching hexagram called 'fu' (Returning), symbolizing light's rebirth after the longest darkness.
Where is Dongzhi celebrated today?
The festival is observed across China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam, each region adding its own local food and ritual customs. It stands as one of the most widely shared seasonal celebrations in the broader East Asian cultural sphere.
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