The Significance of Winter Solstice in Ancient China

The winter solstice held profound meaning in ancient Chinese cosmology. Known variously as “Zhiri” (the arrival of winter), “Changzhi” (longest night), or “Duanzhi” (shortest day), this pivotal astronomical event marked both the depth of winter’s chill and the promise of spring’s renewal. During the Warring States period, all central plains states (except Qi with its unique calendar) observed this solar term with great reverence.

For the ancients, the winter solstice represented the cosmic turning point where yin energy reached its peak and yang energy began its gradual resurgence. This dual nature – both the coldest day and the harbinger of warmth – made it an occasion for communal celebration. The custom of “warm soup gatherings” (暖汤酺) emerged, where families and friends would share hearty hot meals to fortify themselves against the winter while anticipating spring’s arrival. This tradition later evolved into eating dumplings on winter solstice, with folk wisdom warning that “not eating hot dumplings means not truly passing winter.”

Lü Buwei’s Strategic Relocation

Against this cultural backdrop, the merchant-statesman Lü Buwei chose the winter solstice of 245 BCE to move from his Cloud Cottage to the tranquil Valley of Granary Creek. Though personally indifferent to auspicious dates, Lü deferred to his steward Xi Men’s traditional wisdom in selecting this symbolically charged day for his relocation. “The winter solstice is excellent!” Lü remarked. “The year turns anew, awaiting spring’s arrival – most auspicious indeed!”

The move represented more than mere domestic convenience. As a rising power broker in Zhao’s capital Handan, Lü Buwei’s choice of residence carried political significance. The six-level hillside estate in Granary Creek Valley, with its middle three sections nestled against the mountain, featured cascading waterfalls, bamboo groves, and golden poplars surrounding simple yet elegant pavilions – a carefully cultivated image of refined eremitism masking ambitious statecraft.

The Intimate Banquet and Its Unexpected Guests

Rather than hosting Zhao’s elite, Lü Buwei arranged an intimate gathering with four carefully selected guests: the eccentric scholar Mao Gong, the retired official Xue Gong, the Qin hostage prince Ying Yiren, and the mysterious swordsman Jing Yun. The banquet’s military-style seating arrangements, orchestrated by the delightfully disheveled Mao Gong in his uncharacteristic formal attire, created an atmosphere both ceremonious and convivial.

The culinary highlights reflected the eclectic tastes of the Warring States period. Steamed bear meat prepared two ways – Mao Gong’s rustic northern style with large chunks dipped in vinegar and scallion sauce, versus Jing Yun’s sophisticated southern preparation with orange peel and celery stuffing – showcased regional culinary traditions. Roast pork with black fungus syrup and other delicacies accompanied three varieties of wine, creating a feast worthy of the occasion.

The Fateful Performance: Music, Politics and Romance

The banquet’s entertainment took an unexpected turn with the appearance of two remarkable women. First came Zhao Ji, a talented performer recommended by Lord Pingyuan, whose haunting song of exile moved the homesick Qin prince Ying Yiren to visible emotion. Her subsequent “Swallow Dance” with a green-robed performer demonstrated the acrobatic artistry of Warring States era entertainment.

However, the evening’s pivotal moment arrived when Lü Buwei’s ward Zhuo Zhao, a spirited young noblewoman, challenged Ying Yiren’s dismissal of Handan’s zither players. Her masterful performance on a 25-string qin zheng (a type of zither) stunned the gathering, particularly when the instrument was revealed to be Ying Yiren’s long-lost treasure – sold during his impoverished years as a hostage and miraculously reunited with its owner.

The emotional climax came as Zhuo Zhao danced while Ying Yiren played “Mulberries on the Northern Slope,” their artistic synergy creating such intensity that the prince fainted from overwhelming emotion. This dramatic moment set in motion a chain of events that would alter the course of Qin’s history.

The Political Calculations Behind the Revelry

Beneath the surface of music and merriment, Lü Buwei’s winter solstice banquet represented a carefully orchestrated political maneuver. The merchant-statesman recognized in the exiled Qin prince a valuable opportunity – what he famously termed “a rare commodity to be hoarded.” By facilitating connections between Ying Yiren, the talented Zhao Ji (who would become mother to Qin Shi Huang), and his own ward Zhuo Zhao, Lü positioned himself as architect of Qin’s future leadership.

The post-banquet discussions between Lü, Mao Gong, and Xue Gong lasted until dawn, strategizing how to leverage these personal connections into political capital. As Mao Gong crassly but accurately observed: “The princess is secured! The boy can sleep easy now.” This crude assessment belied the sophisticated geopolitical game unfolding – one that would eventually see Lü Buwei become chancellor of Qin and Ying Yiren (later King Zhuangxiang) ascend the throne.

Legacy of the Winter Solstice Gathering

The consequences of this carefully staged evening reverberated through Chinese history. The union of Ying Yiren and Zhao Ji produced Ying Zheng, who would become Qin Shi Huang – the First Emperor who unified China. Lü Buwei’s patronage of the Qin prince laid the foundation for his own rise to power and influence over the future empire.

Moreover, the cultural elements showcased – from the cosmological significance of the winter solstice to the musical traditions and culinary arts – provide invaluable insights into Warring States period society. The banquet’s blend of political calculation, artistic expression, and personal drama encapsulates the complex interplay of factors that shaped China’s transition from warring states to unified empire.

As the first cockcrow pierced the morning mist over Granary Creek Valley, the participants little realized they had set in motion events that would reshape Chinese civilization. The winter solstice of 245 BCE thus stands not merely as a seasonal turning point, but as a pivotal moment when personal relationships, artistic expression, and political ambition converged to alter the course of history.