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Winter deepens as Major Snow arrives, depicted in ancient painting
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
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The third solar term of winter — Major Snow (da xue) — begins today. As temperatures drop and snow becomes more likely, let's step into a serene winter world through the eyes of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) artist Xiang Shengmo (1597-1658).
In this painting A Fisherman in Snow, now housed in the Palace Museum, snow blankets four sturdy trees bare of leaves, with their tangled branches against the sky. By the water, a fishing boat rests and a fisherman stands at the bow with his paddle. In the distance, pale mountains look like clouds, stretching into infinity. What a tranquil and poetic winter scene!
