Tian Shiguang | Fish Play Picture
Beginning of summer / 5.5
Beginning of summer，the seventh solar term in the lunar calendar and the first solar term of summer, marks the official beginning of the Mengxia season. The Collection and Interpretation of the Seventy Two Houhou of the Moon Order records: "Beginning of Summer, April Festival. The character 'Beginning of Summer' is interpreted as' Spring ',' Summer ',' False ', and' All things up to this time are false and great '.
Saying goodbye to spring at the beginning of summer is the beginning of summer, hence it is also known as the 'end of spring day'. When the flowers of spring are blown down by wind and rain overnight, and when cuckoos are awakened by the heat and start singing, spring comes to an end. And summer has finally arrived. Spring is the most vigorous season for the growth of all things, followed by summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage.
Spring, summer, autumn harvest, and winter storage are the best seasons for many crops to grow vigorously. Adequate sunlight, suitable temperature, and abundant rainfall provide the necessary conditions for plants. All things flourish, starting from the beginning of summer. At the beginning of summer, it is flourishing with wheat.
Beginning of summer · Sanhou
Yi Hou, grasshoppers chirped
The "chirping of crickets" refers to the summer insects such as crickets and frogs starting to chirp. During the beginning of summer, the temperature gradually rises and the humidity increases, providing a suitable environment for insect activity. The mole cricket is a typical nocturnal insect, and its vocalization behavior is closely related to temperature and light. Modern biological research has shown that insect calls are often related to behaviors such as courtship and territorial declaration, and an increase in temperature significantly increases their activity frequency. The calls of frogs are also related to their breeding season, and the warm and humid environment during the beginning of summer is the ideal condition for their reproduction.
Er Hou, earthworms grow
Earthworms emerge "refers to the phenomenon where earthworms begin to appear in large numbers on the surface of the earth. Earthworms are important decomposers in soil ecosystems, and their activities are closely related to soil temperature and humidity. During the beginning of summer, as the ground temperature rises and precipitation increases, earthworms migrate from deeper soil layers to the surface to obtain more organic matter. This phenomenon still holds significant importance in modern agriculture.
San Hou, Wang Guasheng
The term 'Wuguasheng' refers to the rapid growth of various types of fruits and vegetables. The term 'five melons' here does not specifically refer to the five types of melons, but rather to the fruits, vegetables, and fruits that begin to flourish during the beginning of summer. From a modern agricultural perspective, the light and temperature conditions during the beginning of summer are very suitable for the growth of melon crops. For example, crops such as cucumber, pumpkin, and loofah enter a period of rapid growth at this time, which is highly consistent with the plant's demand for photoperiod and temperature.
Beginning of summer · Customs
/ See Three Things/
In the customs of the beginning of summer in Jiangnan, there is a so-called "seeing three new things", which means eating fresh and tender things that grow during this season. There is a custom of "trying new things in the beginning of summer" in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. There is a saying in Suzhou that goes, 'In the beginning of summer, you will see three new things.'. 'Sanxin' refers to newly ripe cherries, green plums, and wheat. People first worship their ancestors with these "three new", and then they taste the food.
/ Weighing Man/
After having lunch at the beginning of summer, there is a custom of weighing people. People hang a large wooden scale at the village entrance or platform door, with a stool hanging from the scale hook, and take turns sitting on the stool to weigh people. The weighbridge operator struck the scale flower while speaking auspicious words. The people of Lixia will bring good luck to Adou, and they also pray to the heavens for good luck.
/ Eating rice/
On this day, according to the traditional customs of the Chinese people, five colored beans such as red beans, soybeans, black beans, green beans, and mung beans are mixed with white glutinous rice to make "five colored rice". Later, it evolved into glutinous rice cooked with Japanese bean meat, known as "Eating rice".
/ Eating eggs/
Eating eggs during the beginning of summer is not a hot summer. The weather gradually becomes hot, and people are prone to limb weakness and decreased appetite, which is called "hot summer". Eating eggs during the beginning of summer can prevent these symptoms of bitter summer and avoid heatstroke. Therefore, the custom of eating eggs during the beginning of summer has continued to this day.
Beginning of summer· Health Preservation
The ancient saying goes: "April is called early summer, with clear and peaceful qi, long days, and people feeling tired." The fourth month of the lunar calendar is called the month of weariness, which refers to people's fatigue and laziness; It also refers to the scarcity of food, with no shortage of resources. According to the ancient saying, after the beginning of summer, it is "Zhurong Commander in Chief Following Fangchun", and the god of fire Zhurong begins to control the seasons, with the weather beginning to reflect the word "fire".
/ Nurture and protect the heart/
The key to nourishing the heart during the beginning of summer is to calm down and reduce restlessness. Summer is a time of intense heat, with the summer heat disturbing the mind and causing anxiety and depression that consume the most effort. Take a nap in the afternoon, take a walk in the morning, relax your qi and blood, and think less and worry less. Not relying on supplements, only seeking peace of mind. A peaceful mindset leads to the stability of qi and blood. When the heart is stable, the body naturally becomes calm - this is the most transparent summer health wisdom.
/ Nourish the spleen and stomach, dispel dampness and heat/
In summer, dampness and heat envelop the body, and the spleen and stomach are most easily affected. Drinking cold excessively can damage the spleen yang, causing dampness accumulation, physical weakness, and discomfort. It is suitable to eat seasonal ingredients such as lotus seeds, yam, winter melon, mung beans, etc., which can invigorate the spleen, dispel dampness, clear the heart, and reduce internal heat. Three meals are 70% full, with less oil and less cold. Harmony of spleen and stomach, self dispersing of dampness, smooth circulation of qi and blood, and reduced incidence of diseases throughout the year.
/ Sleeping at night and waking up early in spring and summer/
During the beginning of summer, the days are long and the nights are short. It is advisable to stay up late and wake up early, but it is important to avoid staying up late and damaging blood and energy. Start slowly in the morning to stretch your muscles and bones, take a nap at noon to calm your mind and replenish your energy for the day. In addition, simple health maintenance can be done at home: massage the internal organs to calm the mind, push and wipe the spleen meridian to remove dampness and heat, and apply moxibustion to strengthen the spleen and stomach in the Zusanli area. Adapting to the weather and living a regular life is the simplest way to promote health and wellness.
Early summer has arrived, and everything is facing the sun. May we live up to the season and time, catch the tenderness and expectations of the beginning of summer, enjoy the weather, be at ease, and calm our minds. In the daily hustle and bustle of life, we can take care of our bodies, settle our emotions, feel refreshed and at ease, and travel peacefully throughout the summer.
24 Solar Terms
It is a specific festival in the Chinese lunar calendar that represents changes in natural rhythms and establishes the concept of "building in December". It was originally formulated based on the rotation of the Big Dipper and the movement of the stars. The Big Dipper rotates in a circular motion, with the handle rotating one circle to the east, south, west, and north, forming a cycle known as a "year". Each rotation cycle begins at the beginning of spring and ends at the end of the Great Cold. The "24 solar terms" is an important part of the long history and culture of the Chinese nation, which embodies the essence of the history and culture of Chinese civilization. Through historical development, the lunar calendar has incorporated the solar terms of the dry branch calendar as a supplement to the calendar, and adjusted it to conform to the tropical year through the "leap method", forming a yin-yang combined calendar. The "24 solar terms" have become an important part of the lunar calendar. In the international meteorological community, the 24 solar terms are known as "China's fifth great invention". On November 30, 2016, the 24 solar terms were officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
