the kongdan foundation

The Winter Solstice, or Dōng Zhì, is a celebration marking the shortest day of the year and the official arrival of the winter season. Dōng Zhì is also an honored festival in China and much of East Asia, with a history of traditional observance that spans thousands of years. From the Taoist legacy of alchemy, which strongly influenced the foundations of TCM, the Winter Solstice is a potent time signifying the transformation of energies, as the Earth’s movement begins to shift from a descent into the darkness of Yin toward the increasing light of Yang.

While all of Winter is a time predominantly characterized by the energies of Yin, the solstice marks a turning point as the days begin to lengthen, and the “return” of the light is initiated through the rebirth of Yang energy.  

On the longest night of the year, we can see essence of the polar and ancient forces of Yin and Yang. Their ever-moving, cosmic dance sparks all change and motion in the universe and within us, as the peak of one energy naturally shifts momentum toward its opposite.

During the exact moment of this transition, it is believed that there is a pause characterized by perfect harmony as the opposing forces in all of creation are balanced. At this seasonal turning point, the mysterious fusion of Yin and Yang creates a fertile opening for new creation and rebirth. It is during this time we look within us to see the goodness of our lives and look to change our intentions.

Rituals associated with Winter Solstice vary, but it can be seen as a time of honoring duality. Many people mark this occasion by gathering with family and community in a celebration of union, while it is also an opportune moment for introspection and stillness. It can be a time to recognize the ways both darkness and light each manifest within us, as well as in the world around us. We can make offerings to our ancestors and thank them for the teachings and memories of spirit, while also praying for what we wish to birth in the upcoming cycle.

It is possible to release what no longer serves us, while setting intentions for what we would like to invite in. By sitting with the various manifestations of these two polar energies – light and dark, Yin and Yang – we can experience our true wholeness.

Before we go on with Verse number 11 of 81, it’s worth noting that the title of the book we’re adding commentary to—Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching—is my own version, titled “Thoughts on Becoming a Sage: The Guidebook to Leading a Virtuous Life”. As referred to above, it’s important to note that Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching in the sixth century BC.

Verse 11 – Opening Doors while Staying Behind

Remaining empty to become full.  Knowing your place is to put all the cards on the table so that the proper path becomes obvious for all to see. Becoming simply the vessel from which all that represents virtue is known, endured and followed as the way by all.

Reminded as our breath ebbs and flows we become full by remaining empty as our mind and thoughts remain the catalyst for change and enlightenment. Our usefulness only determined by the emptiness that fills us. Employing nothing to gain advantage that would allow ego to stand in the way.

As you seek only virtue and leave only vestiges of yourself behind. Your role is to open doors for others as you nurture and prepare them to walk through.

Giving birth to virtue and letting it grow.  Nourishing what comes forth without claiming to own them. Remaining as the hub of a wheel… constant, reliable and still, yet ever-present and nonexistent.

第１１节　敞开大门 置身在后

恪守虚空，才能充实。要知道你的职责是把所有的牌放在桌子上，让众人一览无遗。你要成为示范大德的榜样，坚忍不拔，为众人所追随。

当我们的气息减弱和流淌时，我们因为保持空虚而变得充实，我们的大脑和思想是变化和启迪的催化剂。我们的价值由使我们充实的空虚来决定。不要被自私自利挡了你的路。

因为你追求的是大德，留下的只是轨迹。你的任务是为别人打开大门，然后帮助他们通过。

培育大德，让其成长。培育所有来者，但不要声称拥有他们。甘做轮子的轴心…..恒久，可信，平和，但不露声色。

By keeping in mind that Yin and Yang are always present in varying degrees, constantly nudging each other toward balance, we can ease the fear that comes with Winter. The emotion tied to this season is fear, which makes sense since it’s traditionally been a time of food shortages, harsh weather that can threaten lives, long periods of darkness, and reduced social interaction or isolation.

We can be strengthened by acknowledging that the days are slowly beginning to grow longer and the light is returning, and further help thaw feelings of fear through ritual, taking great care to nourish ourselves well, tending to our warmth, prioritizing rest, and signaling abundance to our bodies with herbal medicine. 

For millennia, cultures worldwide have celebrated this moment, recognizing it as a time to honor the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Through feasts, rituals, or spiritual practices, the Winter Solstice invites us to reconnect with our soul, release the past, and step into a new cycle with intention and clarity. The energy of the Solstice is one of profound transformation, a powerful reminder that, like the Sun, we too can rise again, no matter how dark the night may seem.

During this sacred pause, the Solstice invites us to slow down and tune in to the gentle rhythms of our own soul. As the light begins to return, it calls us to embrace this universal renewal, finding calm in the stillness before a new chapter begins. Whether looking back on the past year or setting intentions for the future, the Winter Solstice offers a chance to pause and honor the sacred cycle of life we are here to embrace.