The origin of the winter solstice is said to be related to Zhou Gong of the Shang Dynasty.

The winter solstice of 2016 has already arrived, but there are still people asking what the winter solstice means. Next, let’s learn about the origin of the Winter Solstice.

The Origin of Winter Solstice: The Origin of Solar Terms

The Winter Solstice is one of the 24 solar terms, and the origin of the Winter Solstice can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty. At that time, Duke Zhou first used the gnomon method to measure shadows and plan the capital. This move had political significance at the time, but now it has become one of the festivals that has influenced later generations for thousands of years. The winter solstice in 2016 is on December 21, the 23rd day of the eleventh month in the lunar calendar, and the winter solstice in 2017 will be on December 22, the fifth day of the eleventh month in the lunar calendar.

The Origin of Winter Solstice: Traditional Festival

The origin of the Winter Solstice becoming a traditional festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and has been passed down to this day. There is such a record in "Book of the Later Han": "Around the winter solstice, gentlemen rest themselves and rest, officials stop working and do not attend to government affairs, and choose auspicious days to do things." So on the winter solstice, in ancient times, the court would take a day to rest, the army would be on standby, the border fortresses would be closed, businesses would stop operating, and relatives and friends would give each other delicious food and visit each other to celebrate this special holiday.