MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Beginning of Summer

Here all things grow great

Introduction

Summer begins; crops grow fast and the summer harvest takes shape

The Beginning of Summer is the first solar term of summer, beginning when the sun reaches 45° of ecliptic longitude, around 5–7 May. Temperatures rise markedly and thunderstorms increase. Its three pentads are mole crickets chirping, earthworms emerging, and snake gourds sprouting. Winter wheat flowers and fills, rapeseed nears ripeness and the summer harvest outlook is largely settled, while rice transplanting and the care of spring crops become busy; customs include weighing people and hanging or knocking 'Lixia eggs'.

Timeline

Late Warring States period to present
239 BCE · OriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Mengxia ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month summer is established'; the king was told in advance and led his officials to greet summer in the southern suburb.104 BCE · EvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Beginning of Summer became a fixed term in it.2021 · ImpactIn 2021 the Banshan Beginning-of-Summer customs of Gongshu, Hangzhou, were added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item.
  1. 239 BCEOriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Mengxia ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month summer is established'; the king was told in advance and led his officials to greet summer in the southern suburb.
  2. 104 BCEEvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Beginning of Summer became a fixed term in it.
  3. 2021ImpactIn 2021 the Banshan Beginning-of-Summer customs of Gongshu, Hangzhou, were added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item.

Heritage Listings

  1. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms of the Lunar Calendar · nominated by the China Agricultural Museum · collective item
  2. 2016UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityThe Twenty-Four Solar Terms · knowledge in China of time and practices developed through observation of the sun's annual motion · collective inscription
  3. 2021National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item5th batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Banshan Beginning-of-Summer Customs