Chinanews client, Beijing, July 22 (Reporter Shangguanyun) "Hot, hot, hot!" This is probably one of the most intuitive feelings about the weather after entering the "three-volt". Compared to Xiaoshu, the summer season is even hotter.
Many folk customs during this period are related to "relieving heat". In terms of diet, there is a habit of "drinking summer sheep" in some places. Great heat is also the last solar term in summer, after which the weather will slowly transition to autumn.
Great heat, the last solar term of summer
"The third autumn of the great summer season is approaching, and Lin Zhongjiu has moved in the summer." The great summer season is the 12th solar term in the twenty-four solar terms and the last solar term in summer. As far as the start time is concerned, it is generally around July 23 of the Gregorian calendar each year.
Data map: July 23, 2019 is a big heat in the twenty-four solar terms, and hot weather is ushered in everywhere. The people on the streets of Nanjing blocked the hot sun with fans. Photo by Tuobo
According to the folklore expert Xiao Fang, the "Huainanzi" compiled by Liu An in the Han Dynasty has a complete record of the twenty-four solar terms, including the Great Heat.
The "Monthly Order Seventy-two Hou Jijie" records: "Big heat, mid-June. Heat and heat are divided into big and small according to the heat. The beginning of the month is small, the middle of the month is big, and the heat is now Judas."
"Sweet" means "hot". Dashu means "extremely hot". In terms of time, it overlaps with "Dogtian". It is also said that the summer heat is the hottest solar term of the year, and the "steaming hot and humid" reaches its peak at this time.
For many places in China, the summer sun is strong and the rain is relatively abundant. Although some heat and humidity are difficult to tolerate, it is conducive to the growth of crops. At the same time, attention should also be paid to preventing various meteorological disasters such as drought, waterlogging, and wind.
The solar terms on the tip of the tongue: what to eat during the summer
As the so-called "hot in the summer", the folks have the custom of drinking herbal tea (fucha) during the summer months. It is said that the tea made from such Chinese herbs has the effect of cooling and expelling heat.
In the summer season, in some places in Guangdong, the custom of "eating immortal grass" is circulating. Public information shows that immortal grass, also known as jelly grass and immortal grass, is an important medicinal and edible plant resource. It is very popular in summer due to its heat-reducing effect. It can also be made into "burning immortal grass", which is a dessert for relieving heat.
Data map: At the time of "Great Heat", the scent of peppercorns in the mountains of Wudu overflowed. Photo by Yan Jiao
And every year on the day of the summer heat, people in Putian, Fujian have a habit of eating lychees, mutton in warm soup, and glutinous rice. Needless to say, the lychee is sweet and delicious, the lamb in warm soup is also a nutritious delicacy.
There is a custom of "drinking summer sheep" in some places in Shandong. "Drinking Shuyang" means drinking mutton soup. According to previous media reports, in Zaozhuang City, citizens will go to the local mutton soup restaurant on this day to "drink Shuyang".
What are the customs of Dashu?
In addition to eating, Dashu has some more interesting customs.
Xiao Fang said that in ancient times, there was a ceremony for awarding ice on the sun, from the Tang and Song Dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Song Dynasty court started from Chufu Day, "giving close to the minister ice every day, four boxes of people". The Ming Dynasty would also give ice to the ministers of civil and military affairs in Li Xia.
At that time, there were hawkers in the capital who beat ice cups and sold cold ice along the street until the Qing Dynasty. Xiao Fang introduced that the sound made by Bingzhan was crisp and sweet, and historical materials described it as "cold and audible, and peaceful sound."
In addition, the weather is hot and there are more crickets in the countryside. People in some places will fight crickets after eating and drinking to kill time. In the past, "Summer Moon Cruise" and lotus viewing were also popular customs.
How did the ancients spend their summer safely?
"Small heat and great heat, steam up and down." Facing the hot weather during the little heat and great heat, some people were also curious: How did the ancients spend the hot summer safely?
Data map: The beautiful lotus in the lotus pond attracts tourists to take pictures. Photo by Tang Yanjun
In the past, people did have some ways to deal with the hot weather. When building houses, they will adapt to local conditions. For example, in the courtyards in Beijing in the past, most of the houses were "herringbone roof", and a ceiling was hung underneath, which has better heat insulation effect.
Ice is also an "artifact" for preventing heatstroke and cooling. If conditions permit, people can put a large copper basin in the house in summer, which contains ice cubes, which can also bring the slightest coolness.
"Xijing Miscellaneous Notes" also mentioned that a craftsman named Ding Chan invented a seven-wheeled fan, "mostly all diameters, continuous, one person transported, full of chills", full use of mechanical principles, no need Too much manpower can bring a cool breeze to the room.
Ancient literati and inkmen used to escape the summer heat more literary and casual. Li Yu, a literati in the Ming Dynasty, wrote "Xian Qing Ou Ji", mentioning that he planted lotus in summer: "The fragrance of lotus leaves, the strange smell of lotus, you can retreat from the summer heat, and you can enjoy the cold while you live." (End)