As the air begins to cool and the days shorten, the time approaching the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Zhong Qiu, marked a significant period for agricultural communities and those who relied upon the land's bounty. For herbalists like myself, this season was not solely about the veneration of the moon, but also a crucial juncture for the preparation of vital resources. Specifically, the pressing of oils from harvested seeds and nuts often occurred in the period leading up to this festival.
The timing of oil pressing was intimately connected to the agricultural calendar. Following the summer harvest, as autumn took hold, various oil-bearing crops reached maturity and were ready for collection. The solar term of Bai Lu (White Dew), which typically falls in early September, signaled the significant drop in temperature and the increase of dew. This period marked the final stages of maturation for many plants, including sesame, soybeans, and various nuts. By the time Zhong Qiu arrived, usually in late September or early October, the bulk of these harvests would have been completed. The pressing of oils was a practical necessity that directly followed the collection of these seeds and nuts. It was a way to preserve the yield, extract valuable nutrients, and prepare essential commodities for the coming colder months.
The social implications of this timing were profound. The Mid-Autumn Festival was a time for family reunions and community gatherings. The availability of oil, processed and stored from the recent harvest, was integral to the celebratory feasts and the daily sustenance of households throughout the year. Edible oils were a fundamental component of the ancient Chinese diet, used for cooking, preserving food, and even for illuminating homes. Beyond immediate consumption, the rendered oils were traded, contributing to the economic vibrancy of local markets. For herbalists, the extraction of specific oils from medicinal plants also occurred during this time, ensuring a supply of liniments, balms, and ingestible remedies for seasonal ailments. The successful pressing of oils, therefore, represented a tangible outcome of the year's agricultural labor, contributing to the overall well-being and prosperity of the community as they transitioned from the abundance of harvest to the leaner months. The festival provided a natural pause, a moment to appreciate the fruits of labor and to share in the communal stores that would see everyone through the winter.
Modern life presents a stark contrast to this traditional rhythm. The industrialization of food production has largely separated the act of oil extraction from the seasonality of harvests and community festivals. Today, vegetable oils are mass-produced in factories, readily available year-round through global supply chains. The intimate connection between the land, the harvest, the pressing, and the subsequent communal sharing, as embodied by activities surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival, has largely dissipated. For most individuals, the origin of their cooking oil is a distant concern, divorced from the cycles of nature and the collective efforts of agricultural communities. While modern methods offer convenience and accessibility, they also represent a detachment from the deeply interwoven fabric of life that characterized ancient Chinese society, where the pressing of oils was a practical, communal, and socially significant endeavor tied to the very rhythm of the year and the celebration of its bounty.
--- This article is based on traditional Chinese calendrical systems and historical texts, provided for cultural learning and reference purposes only.