Autumn tiger on the prowl

There is a Chinese saying, yi ye zhi qiu, which means the falling of one leaf heralds the coming of autumn. It is said that during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the imperial astronomer would move a potted Chinese parasol tree inside the court on the day of li qiu and report the exact time of autumn's beginning when the first leaf fell.

Like the other solar terms, li qiu guides the lives of the Chinese people even today through healthy diet and various rituals.

Wu Zimu, from the Song Dynasty, wrote in Menglianglu how women and children collected colorful autumn leaves, cut them into various shapes and patterns, and used them on hair and clothes as accessories. The culture is still popular in some regions, including Shandong and Henan provinces.

According to the ancient Chinese medical classic Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), li qiu marks the dynamic shift from yang or active phase to yin or passive phase.

"Just as the weather changes from bright to dull, so does the mood. It is, therefore, important to remain calm and composed, and refrain from depressing thoughts, so that one can make a smooth transition to winter," it says.