Winter Sunbathing Warms the Qi
Winter Sunbathing Warms the Qi
In the ancient text *Liezi*, specifically in the "Yang Zhu" chapter, there is a story called "The Old Farmer Offers Sunlight," describing a poor farmer from the State of Song who wore coarse hemp clothing in winter. When sunlight appeared, he would go outside to bask in the sun to ward off cold. This made him feel warm and comfortable, so much so that he forgot about palaces, warm clothes, fur garments, or rich food. He told his wife: "The warmth of basking in the sun is unknown to others; I shall offer it to my lord and receive great reward." Though the old man seemed ignorant and out of touch with reality, upon closer reflection, his intention to offer "sun-warming" actually contains scientific principles worth exploring and adopting.
The term "basking in the sun" mentioned here literally means turning one’s back to the sunlight—what we now call "sunbathing."
China’s great Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi greatly valued this health practice, practicing it diligently and reaping its benefits. In his poem *Bathing in Winter Sunlight*, he joyfully described the physical and mental experience of winter back-bathing: "With eyes closed, basking in sunlight, warmth spreads through the skin. Initially like sipping fine wine, later like a hibernating creature awakening. Externally, all limbs feel relaxed; internally, thoughts vanish. Boundless and free, mind merges with emptiness." Indeed, his longevity to age seventy-four was likely partly due to winter sunbathing.
Traditional Chinese medicine theory places great emphasis on the health benefits of sunlight, believing regular sun exposure helps activate the body’s yang energy, especially in winter when nature is in a state of "yin dominance, yang decline." Humans, mirroring nature, also benefit from increased yang energy during winter, enhancing warmth and promoting meridian circulation.
The *Huangdi Neijing Suwen: Dabai Lun on Regulating the Four Seasons* states: "In winter, the three months are for storage; ice covers the ground, and one should stay up late and rise early, waiting for sunlight." This suggests that during winter, waking and sleeping patterns should align with sunrise and sunset. Cao Cishan’s *Laolao Hengyan* further clarifies: "Sitting with your back to the sun, as described in *Liezi* as 'backing the sun’s warmth,' allows the spine to receive gentle warmth, making the whole body feel harmonious and comfortable. The sun is the essence of heaven; its light strengthens yang energy."
This emphasizes back-facing sun exposure because the head is the convergence point of all yang energies, and direct exposure risks excessive yang accumulation, violating the principle of yin-yang balance.
Adults should regularly expose themselves to sunlight, and children equally need it. In *Qianjin Yaofang*, Sun Simiao wrote: "When weather is warm and windless, let mothers take their children out into the sun to play. Frequent exposure to wind and sunlight makes blood thick and qi strong, muscles firm and resilient, capable of resisting cold and preventing illness." This clearly outlines the importance of sunbathing in preventing childhood diseases and promoting healthy growth.
Sunlight mainly consists of ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and visible light. Among these, ultraviolet rays have the greatest impact on the human body. Though invisible to the eye, they kill skin bacteria, increase skin elasticity, luster, and softness, strengthen skin resistance, stimulate hematopoiesis, boost immune function, improve carbohydrate metabolism, promote calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and enhance vitamin D synthesis, effectively preventing rickets or osteomalacia. They also promote circulation, enhance appetite, and strengthen overall constitution. Infrared rays, though invisible, account for 60%–70% of sunlight and penetrate skin to subcutaneous tissues, exerting a thermal stimulus that dilates blood vessels, accelerates blood flow, boosts metabolism, and provides anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Visible light, which humans can see, comprises red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet colors. It regulates mood, uplifts spirits, enhances life enjoyment and work efficiency, and improves various physiological functions.
When sunbathing, avoid excessive exposure to prevent premature skin aging or even skin cancer caused by overexposure to UV radiation. Protect the head and eyes during sunbathing to avoid dizziness, blurred vision, or fatigue. Avoid sunbathing when fasting, overly full, or fatigued, to prevent adverse reactions. Individuals with severe heart disease, hypertension, or neural excitement disorders, those allergic to sunlight, those prone to bleeding, and women during menstruation or within one month postpartum should also avoid excessive sun exposure to prevent complications.