The origin and meaning of "phoenix tree leaves, the world knows autumn"

Indus leaves fall to know autumn.

Wutong yíyér tiān Xiàzh qi

Interpretation: From the falling of a plane tree leaf, we know that autumn is coming.

That is, seeing the big from the small and inferring the coming of autumn from the dead leaves.

Source: "Huai Nan Zi Shuo Shan": "See the big from the small, and you will know the old when you see a leaf fall." Volume 24 of "Peaceful Magnolia" quotes "A leaf falls and you know the autumn on earth".