夏有凉风冬有雪

夏有涼風冬有雪

xià yǒu liángfēng dōng yǒu xuě

quotation

Meanings

1 in summer there is cool wind, in winter there is snow
2 (fig.) the simple, complete pleasures of each season — a Chan-Buddhist image of contented living
3 (lit.) summer has cool-wind, winter has snow

Characters

wind (凉风 = cool breeze)

Examples

退休后回乡下住，夏有凉风冬有雪，日子很惬意。

Tuìxiū hòu huíxiāng xià zhù, xiàyǒuliángfēngdōngyǒuxuě, rìzi hěn qièyì.

After retirement I moved back to the countryside — 'cool winds in summer, snow in winter' — life is very pleasant.

她朋友圈写着夏有凉风冬有雪，配了张乡下的照片。

Tā péngyǒuquān xiě zhe xiàyǒuliángfēngdōngyǒuxuě, pèi le zhāng xiāngxià de zhàopiàn.

Her WeChat Moments post reads 'cool wind in summer, snow in winter,' with a countryside photo.

Tips

history

From 宋代无门慧开禅师《颂》(Song-dynasty Chan master Wumen Huikai, 1183-1260, in 《无门关》): 春有百花秋有月，夏有凉风冬有雪。若无闲事挂心头，便是人间好时节 (Spring has a hundred flowers, autumn has the moon; summer has cool wind, winter has snow. If no idle worry hangs on your mind, this is the world's best season). A Chan verse teaching presence — every season is complete if the mind is clear.

usage

Always quoted as part of the four-line stanza, or paired with 若无闲事挂心头. The structure is strict parallel: 春/夏/秋/冬 with each season's signature image. A favorite in modern lifestyle and mindfulness writing.

Stroke Order

夏 xià

有 yǒu

凉 liáng

风 fēng

冬 dōng

雪 xuě