🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Today is White Dew. Folk wisdom says “White Dew, do not expose your body”—meaning autumn has arrived, weather cools down, so beware catching cold.
Editor’s Recommendation: Late autumn sees significant weather changes, with increased morning and evening temperature differences. Especially during the transition from autumn to winter, strong cold fronts often bring sudden drops in temperature. Persisting in “autumn cold exposure” (a practice of wearing less to adapt to cooler weather) can backfire. See—[Rules for Autumn Cold Exposure]
Old Yang once doubted whether he suffered from the same condition as Lu Xun’s fictional “Old Lady Nine Jin”—constantly complaining that today’s weather is warmer than in the past. For example, today’s high temperature remains at 29°C despite the influence of Typhoon No. 19 “Sanda,” bringing strong winds and cooling, with scattered showers in some areas. In the morning, Old Yang tried going bare-chested at home, briefly becoming a “bare-chested man,” feeling quite comfortable.
Actually, Old Yang’s view resonates with many. Yesterday evening, while strolling near his residential area, he saw some middle-aged men wearing pajama pants and walking bare-chested casually. More commonly, people exposed their bodies—mostly middle-aged men in tank tops or young women and housewives in halter tops and belly-baring shirts.
Nowadays, people pursue comfort, especially the middle and young generations. They wear suits and ties even in extreme heat, enduring discomfort for a “gentlemanly” image. Similarly, in White Dew or deep autumn, they wear halter tops and belly-baring shirts to show off youthfulness. As long as your body can handle it, do whatever feels comfortable—others have no right to judge.
Of course, playing the gentleman or showing off youthfulness must be done in moderation—occasionally only. Still, “do not expose your body in White Dew” holds some truth. White Dew signals autumn’s arrival. Though daytime temperatures may still be high, mornings and evenings are cool, with large temperature differences. The back and navel—areas we deliberately expose—are vulnerable spots, prime targets for autumn cold invasion.