Sanggang (霜降): Korea’s Seasonal Wisdom Linking Nature and People in Late Autumn
At Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace — Where Autumn Foliage in Full Glory Reflects the Season’s Philosophy Sanggang (霜降): The Frost’s Arrival that Colors Korea’s Autumn Dear readers, hello! Today, I would like to introduce Sanggang (霜降) , one of Korea’s traditional 24 seasonal divisions known as jeolgi (절기) . Sanggang marks the time when frost first begins to form, and in Korea, it coincides with the peak of autumn foliage. Let us begin!. Introduction: Standing at the Threshold of Frost The concept of jeolgi (seasonal divisions) originated in ancient China as part of an agricultural calendar that divided the year into 24 equal parts to mark the subtle shifts of the seasons. This system later spread to neighboring countries such as Korea and Japan, where it was adapted to local climates and agricultural traditions. Among these divisions, Sanggang literally means “descent of frost.” It usually falls around October 23 on the solar calendar. At thi...
