Frost is the last solar term in autumn. In many parts of China, red persimmons are eaten during the frost season. In the eyes of locals, this can not only keep warm from the cold, but also replenish muscles and bones. It is a very good frosty food. In fact, this custom is related to a folk tale.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang led the rebels to fight against Yuan soldiers. On this day, coinciding with the frost falling solar term, he fought a big defeat. The brigade was scattered, and he fled to a barren slope one by one.

At that moment, he was tired and hungry, and there were stars in his eyes. Suddenly, the horse let out a long hiss, "plopped" and collapsed to the ground. Zhu Yuanzhang rolled off the horse's back while standing. There happened to be a steep slope ahead, and Zhu Yuanzhang's legs were weak and he rolled straight down. He was shocked and thought, "This time it's over!

Fortunately, his body was blocked by an old persimmon tree, so he didn't fall to his death. Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still in shock, found that the old persimmon tree was full of persimmons, and he was immediately shocked. He quickly climbed the old persimmon tree and ate a "feast" of persimmon, which saved his life.

A few years later, Zhu Yuanzhang reorganized the Rebellion Army and repeatedly frustrated the spirit of the Yuan Army. However, although he has the ability to lead the army, he lacks effective strategists, so it has been difficult to develop.

Another year of frost fell, and Zhu Yuanzhang dreamed that an immortal stood under a persimmon tree at night and smiled and said, "Persimmons save lives, scholars rule the country." After Zhu Yuanzhang woke up, he couldn't let go for a long time. He thought to himself: The immortal in the dream may enlighten me and ask me to find a virtuous celebrity to assist me, so that great things can be achieved!

Not long after, Zhu Yuanzhang captured Dingyuan and searched for famous men in the city. Later, when he saw Li Shanchang, a famous man in Dingyuan City, he felt that his talent was very in line with his own employment standards, so he immediately reused him. Li Shanchang really lived up to Zhu Yuanzhang and soon helped his army on the track of rapid development.

In Hong Wu's third year, he was awarded the title of Hero. Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to make Li Shanchang a duke, but was worried that the generals would object, so he deliberately tried it out. On another frosty day, Zhu Yuanzhang led Xu Da and a group of founding generals to the old persimmon tree and told everyone about the past when he ate persimmonto save his life. When he talked about the emotion, he took off his big red cloak and put it on the persimmon tree, saying: Persimmons save lives, scholars rule the country, and persimmons should be sealed like Marquis Lingshuang! The generals were moved by Zhu Yuanzhang and did not show any objection.

The next day, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict canonizing Li Shanchang, Xu Da, Chang Mao, the son of Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Feng Sheng, Deng Yu and other six people as dukes, and Li Shanchang was the first. In ancient times, titles were divided into five grades, namely Duke, Hou, Uncle, Son, and Male, and Duke was the highest title.

So far, the saying of "persimmons save lives" has also continued. Eating persimmons on the day of frost has become the most important folk custom of the solar term frost.