小寒，在寒凉里静待春意
窗外小寒小寒
二十四节气中的中华文化之小寒（中文版）
小寒是二十四节气中的倒数第二个。
人们常说“数九寒天，冷在三九”，
小寒节气正是在“二九”“三九”的时段，
在北方地区更是有着“小寒胜大寒，常见不稀罕”的说法。
鲁山雪晴图（中国画·局部） 范杰
小寒有多冷？
唐代诗人杜甫说，“汉时长安雪一丈，牛马毛寒缩如猬”。
诗人李贺则看到，“霜花草上大如钱，挥刀不入迷濛天”。
而在今人范杰的画作《鲁山雪晴图》中，
雪后的鲁山银装素裹，显得澄澈清透。
千树万树上挂满的“梨花”，给素雅的冬天装点了一份灵动。
画者把目光聚焦于崇山峻岭的一角，
用特写的方式展现出自己体悟到的冰雪世界。
对于孩童来说，寒冬的大雪是季节赐予的一片童话王国。
插画师木壳人把嬉笑打闹的童年糅进了画中。
简易的木板就是女孩最时尚的雪橇，
一只呆鹅载着她和心爱的猫儿一起冲下山坡。
属于孩子们的山谷里，总是回荡着清脆爽朗的笑声。
“小寒大寒，冻成一团。”
这样的光景里，捧一碗热乎乎的腊八粥，岂不幸福？
戴树良的民俗画《小寒》中，
人们在蜡梅枝下排起了长队，
一碗热粥让大家不惜在寒冬里露出双手。
为大家分食的僧人面前，
炉火“噼里啪啦”烧得正旺，
夹杂着香味的热气从锅口蒸腾而起，似乎马上就要冒到画外。
俗话说“三九补一冬，来年无病痛”，
此时民间的饮食也都以滋补为要，
除了腊八粥，糖炒栗子、羊肉火锅、烤红薯……
也都为寒冬增添了一番温暖的香甜。
小寒（插画） 木壳人
“莫怪严凝切，春冬正月交”。
古人认为，
小寒时节虽然寒冷难耐，却即将迎来冬春相交的时分。
因此说小寒有三候：雁北乡，鹊始巢，雉始鸲，
鸟类已从寒冬中率先感受到春的气息。
天地清冷，万物雪藏。
隆冬数九，新岁将至。
时光正在这样的“停滞”中悄悄孕育着新生。
（作者：李笑萌《光明日报》 2021年01月10日 09版）
Xiaohan (Minor Cold)
When Spring Awaits the Freezing World
二十四节气中的中华文化之小寒（英文版）
Xiaohan (Minor Cold), ranks twenty-third among the 24 solar terms. Ancient Chinese have divided winter into several consecutive periods, each containing 9 days. Xiaohan in January roughly corresponds to 2nd and 3rd 9-day periods, which are considered to be the coldest days of winter, perhaps even colder than the following solar term Dahan (Major Cold).
农事诗·小寒（油画） 陈玲洁
Exactly how cold is it in Xiaohan?
Over a millennium ago, Chinese poets observed:
“The ancient capital is buried in deep drifts of snow;
Rolling up like hedgehogs, the oxen and horses stoop low.” (Trans. by Li 2021)
“Under ice crystals as big as coins, the withered grass is concealed;
Even the sharpest spear cannot pierce the hazy sky’s shield.” (Trans. by Li 2021)
In the contemporary painting by Fan Jie, the Lushan Mountain of East China’s Shandong Province is covered with dazzling snow, looking purified. The tree branches laden with crystal “pear blossoms” add a touch of dynamism to the modest winter season. Focusing on a corner of the expansive mountains, the artist presents his unique view of the icy winter world.
摄影｜吕文捷
For children, this solar term accommodates a fairytale kingdom of heavy snow. Art illustrator Mukeren has immersed the playful childhood into this work, in which a simple wooden board serves as a trendy sledge for the girl who toboggans down the hill with an adorkable goose and her beloved cat. Accompanied by children, a valley is always filled with gleeful giggles and sweet smiles.
During the freezing Xiaohan, people consume the Laba congee, a dish of the Laba Festival which usually falls in this solar term and has been influenced by Buddhism. In the painting by Dai Shuliang, on the day which coincides with the enlightenment day of Buddha, people are queuing up under wintersweet branches for the freshly cooked congee. The Buddhist monks are distributing the hot and delicious congee made with rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruits and lotus seeds.
As the saying goes, “During coldest winter days, eat foods that are rich and hearty;
Then for the whole next year, you will be robust and healthy.” Besides the Laba congee, people also eat nourishing foods such as fried chestnuts with sugar, lamb hotpot and roasted sweet potatoes during the solar term Xiaohan.
“The winter ordeal deserves no reproach;
In a month, renewed spring days approach.” (Trans. by Li 2021)
Ancient Chinese believe that Xiaohan heralds the intersection of winter and spring. Traditional phenology reveals that during Xiaohan, wild geese migrate north, magpies start to build their nests, and pheasants begin to make their spring call. These birds are among the first to sense the coming of spring.
Buried in snow, the world is cold and clear.
After the freezing days, comes the new year.
When everything seems static, new life is being nurtured in the solar term Xiaohan (Minor Cold).
文字素材来源 / 光明日报
出品 / 光明日报&中国传媒大学
总监制 / 王玮
执行主编 / 张燕
副主编 / 跃升
责编 / 张燕
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