Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

夏至 Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

By now you’ve certainly noticed the rising temperatures and humidity outside. This transition into the hottest days of summer can sometimes mean irritability and discomfort.

夏至 Xià Zhì, translated as Summer Solstice (Summer’s Extreme), is the 10th solar term and this year begins on June 21st continuing through July 6th. It starts when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°.

The first day of 夏至 Xià Zhì has the most hours of sunlight during the year, and according to Chinese Medicine it is also considered the culmination of Yang energy.

Just like all things in the Universe, this is balanced with the rebirth and transition into Yin energy.

Outside temperatures continue rising, however, the hottest days of summer are still a few solar terms away, so hang in there! 夏至 Xià Zhì also sees large amounts of rainfall and thunderstorms.

Let’s look at the meaning of 夏至 Xià Zhì:

夏 Xià: summer
至Zhì: extreme

The 3 pentads for 夏至 Xià Zhì are:

1st pentad – deer antlers begin to fall
2nd pentad – cicada heard singing frequently
3rd pentad – medicinal herb ban xia (crow-dipper) flourishes

Summer Solstice Traditions

夏至 Xià Zhì was one of the first solar terms recognized and celebrated by the ancient Chinese. As one of the initial 4 major 节气 Jie Qi (solar terms) established, 夏至 Xià Zhì extends back as early as the Shang Dynasty (1766 – 1046 B.C.).

The Summer Solstice solar term gained popularity during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 A.D.) and was an important annual festival called 夏至节 Xià Zhì Jié, or Summer Solstice Festival. It even became a national holiday and day of rest. People devoted their time to family and celebrated the harvest of whole grains, such as wheat and barley.

In ancient times during 夏至 Xià Zhì, females exchanged fans and sachets with each other. They were used to cool the body down and filled with herbs for driving mosquitoes away while also smelling fragrant.

Ancient Chinese Wisdom

風俗通義 Ying Shao, a Chinese politician, writer, and historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220 A.D.) wrote the manuscript Fengsutong, or Comprehensive Meaning of Customs around 195 A.D. One of the famous stories told was about a man named Du Xuan.

Du was in attendance at a banquet on the day of the Summer Solstice. While sitting at the dining table he mistook the shadow of a crossbow in his cup for a snake. Surprisingly he drank the contents of the cup out of fear!

When the banquet was over, Du felt pain in both his chest and stomach. He continued experiencing these symptoms even after consulting a number of highly skilled physicians until he realized that the snake in his cup was a shadow from a red crossbow on the wall. The moment he realized what had really happened, Du fully recovered.

Du Xuan’s story is now a part of Chinese folklore and is used to remind each other of the consequences of suspicion and fear.

The Lotus Flower

The majestic lotus flower comes into full bloom during the Summer Solstice. This unique flower represents purity, spiritual awakenings and rebirth, holding a special cultural significance in China. The lotus is a sacred symbol of divine perfection and is not only beautiful, but also carries great medicinal value. Each part of the plant has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.

I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained – Zhou Dunyi, a Confucian scholar

For the heart of lotus seed would not die
A thousand springs later
it shall bloom and thrive.

-poem inspired by an archaeological find of a germinated lotus seed buried for longer than 1,000 years!

The Energy of 夏至 Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

The Chinese Summer corresponds with the Fire element and the taste of bitter. It is recommended to add bitter flavors to your meals during this 夏至 Xià Zhì.

Harmonize with summer so that you do not suffer dis-ease during the fall and winter. As we discussed in our previous blog, the heart organ connects to the tongue and therefore speech. Be aware of the words you choose to speak to invigorate the Heart. Avoid mental hyperactivity and overthinking.

Eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice and eat noodles during the Summer Solstice

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into夏至 Xià Zhì. Stay active and enjoy the journey!

Additional Resources

Looking for more information on this time of the year? Try these resources below, and enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out the newest videos on our YouTube Channel

Jammin’ With Jiao Shi

Jammin' with Jiao Shi

And join us for Jammin’ with Jiao Shi, this Saturday at 4:00pm ET for ALL, 4:45pm ET for TypeMe Community Members, and 5:30pm ET on Clubhouse @ohoseminars. See you there!

Máng Zhǒng: Grain in Ear

Mang Zhong - The Grain in Ear

芒种 Máng Zhǒng: Grain in Ear

June 6th through June 20th marks the time of 芒种 Máng Zhòng, translated as Grain in Ear, the 9th term in the Ancient Chinese Solar Calendar. It is also the third solar term of the summer season.

芒种 Máng Zhòng begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 90°.

Each of the 24 solar terms is further divided into 3 pentads. The 芒种 Máng Zhòng pentads are:

1st pentad – mantis start to emerge
2nd pentad – shrikes’ chirping can be heard
3rd pentad – mockingbirds stop tweeting

Let’s look at the meaning of芒种 Máng Zhòng, the Grain in Ear solar term:

芒 Máng: grain / busy
种Zhòng: cultivation

The Land During Máng Zhǒng: Grain in Ear

芒种 Máng Zhòng Land

芒种 Máng Zhòng is one of the busiest and most labor intensive solar terms for the farmers. It is a critical period for harvesting grains like wheat and barley, transplanting rice and planting corn in many parts of China.

Grain in Ear is a time for planting Xian rice. If you don’t plant rice in Grain in Ear, planting will be in vain.

Ancient Chinese Proverb

Crops like wheat and barley must be harvested during a short window right before the rain starts. Every hour of labor in summer is precious. If a farmer misses a whole day in the season of spring, it will not affect his work. Missing an hour in the season of summer can ruin everything for a farmer.

In spring you can count in days but in summer you have to count in hours.

Ancient Chinese Proverb

Meticulously following the science of the 24 solar terms and living in harmony with nature has allowed the Chinese farming community to excel in agriculture and feed its vast population for thousands of years.

An acre of land in the East can feed six times the population of an acre of land in the UK.

British agriculturist praising farmers of the East in the 19th century

Plum Rain & Máng Zhòng

rain-2021-11-08-17-48-04-utc

芒种 Máng Zhòng has abundant rainfall and heavy humidity. During this time of year parts of China enter long periods of continuous rainy or cloudy weather. In Southern China this rainy season is 梅雨 Meiyu, or Plum Rain. Typically during this time there are many tornadoes, hail storms and typhoons.

Fresh Plums

Plum Rain season comes after Grain in Ear and ends after the Summer Solstice.

Chinese Proverb

Plums ripen during this season and it is customary to make and drink plum wine, a beverage popular among the Chinese for thousands of years.

Plop go the plums
Only seven out of every ten
Remain on the tree

All you men who want me
Seize this lucky time

Plop go the plums
Now only three out of every ten
Remain on the tree

All you men who want me
Seize the present moment

Plop go the plums
They have been gathered into baskets

All you men who want me
Speak right up!

Piǎo Yǒu Méi 摽有梅, A song from Southern Shào 召

Cicadas & Máng Zhòng

The 芒种 Máng Zhòng solar term brings cicadas out, an insect of high status. Cicadas are associated with rebirth and immortality in Chinese culture. They are believed to be pure because they exist on dew and settle on high treetops. Ancient Chinese wisdom suggests that a high-ranking official should be just like a cicada: reside high, consume pure foods, and observe with clear eye-sight.

The cicada’s nobility is hidden in the darkest shadows
under the dazzling sunlight of midsummer, it roams the fragrant forest
Not seeking prestige and having few desires, humming with contentment, alone
its calls ring out piercing, lingering, like the unwavering hearts of virtuous men
Benevolent and kind, it does not eat, asking nothing of other creatures
it perches high above all and looks down, only drinking the freshest dew
Hidden among dense mulberry leaves and sheltered from the heat, it sings with joy.

By poet 曹植 Cao Zhi (192 – 232)

The Energy of Summer & Máng Zhǒng: Grain in Ear

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Summer is the most Yang time of the year.  It corresponds with the Fire element which represents the heart, small intestine, and pericardium organs.  During this time you will find growth both in nature as well as in your own life.  The Fire element is associated with the tongue, the emotion joy, the color red, and the sound of laughter. Likewise, the climate is hot, and the taste is bitter.

Do not eat greasy or strongly flavored food during Grain in Ear.

The Great Physician 孙思邈 Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)

The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout our entire bodies.  In TCM it also houses the 神Shen or spirit. When the element of fire is balanced and in harmony with your body, it is strong and healthy, the spirit is calm and you sleep well.  Disharmony within the Fire element may display itself as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, mania, or depression.

Dao Yin exercises and specified breathing techniques such as laughing Qi Gong are great to help calm the spirit.  Drink enough water and most importantly, be joyful and laugh!!!

And that completes our insightful journey through the 9th solar term 芒种 Máng Zhòng, Grain in Ear.

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into芒种 Máng Zhòng, Grain in Ear. Stay active!

Additional Resources

Looking for more information on this time of the year? Try these resources below, and enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out the newest videos on our YouTube Channel

Jammin’ With Jiao Shi

Jammin' with Jiao Shi

And join us for Jammin’ with Jiao Shi, this Saturday at 4:00pm ET for ALL, 4:45pm ET for TypeMe Community Members, and 5:30pm ET on Clubhouse @ohoseminars. See you there!