Solar Terms 101: Heat, Plums & the Changing of Energy for Xiazhi

Original Zeus Zou theBeijinger

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The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 节气 jiéqì solar terms based on seasonal changes and natural phenomenon. They play an important role in guiding agricultural activities, even to this day. But even city-dwellers like us can enjoy them. Each solar term has its own associated customs, traditions, and even recipes. In Solar Terms 101, we delve into what makes each one special...

Name of the solar term: 夏至 xiàzhì lit. “The zenith of the summer” AKA summer solstice
Gregorian date: Jun 21 +/- a day (Jun 21, 2020)

What is xiazhi all about

Some scholars believe that among all 24 solar terms, it was the summer and winter solstices that were first established –presumably with the help of a solar dial – followed by spring and autumn equinox and later the creation of the agricultural calendar as it stands today. On xiazhi, better known as summer solstice in the West, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its fullest extent, making it the longest day of the year.

There's a reason why it's called plum rain

Weather-wise, this is when Beijing really starts to heat up as well as encounter increased humidity that leads to its short, but occasionally deadly rainy season. In southern China, cold and warm fronts often lead to prolonged periods of low pressure that linger during the solar term and lead to heavy rain and flooding. It also happens to be the time when plums come into season, which is why you sometimes see it referred to as 梅雨季节 méiyǔ jìjié, the "plum rain season."

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The micro seasons of xiazhi

In traditional Taoist belief, the 阳 yáng energy reaches its zenith as well as its descent, while the 阴 yīn energy starts to increase and grow, representing the reversing of these two energies. The micro seasons within xiazhi also make for a good demonstration of how ancient Chinese associated the flow of energy among creatures and thus reflected in their biology.

During the first micro season of xiazhi, ancient Chinese astrologists posited that this was when deer shed their antlers because they grow forward, a trait of the yang energy, while elk, despite being a relative of deer, have antlers that grow backward on account of the yin energy, which explains why they shed during winter instead. However, today we know that deer usually shed their antlers following mating season, which is usually nowhere near summer solstice. So how to explain this discrepancy? It is thought perhaps the climate in ancient China was quite different from what it is like today, or those that these rules pertained to have since died out. (On an aside, Nanhaizi Park in the south of Beijing is home to milu deer, a species of deer that narrowly avoided extinction.)

In xiazhi's second micro season, male cicadas take to the stage and create the cacophonous background of mid-summer. During the final micro season, the plant and popular TCM ingredient, Pinellia ternata, begins to grow in China's paddy fields and swamps, which explains why its Chinese name is 半夏 bàn xià, "half summer."

Party in the summertime, and a song to put on your to-do list

Summer wheat would usually have been completed before the arrival of xiazhi, allowing for a little downtime for China's hard-working farmers. Fetes in honor of ancestors as well as the harvests would usually be held at this time and women would often gift fans and blusher as gifts not purely for aesthetic value but to help avoid heat rash and other ailments in the heat.

The summer downtime allowed for a little more frivolity than the rest of the year

To keep abreast of the changes in weather, the ancient Chinese created a song for both summer and winter solstice that acted as a mnemonic for what was to come. Each line of the song reflected the typical weather for every nine days of the season, with nine lines in total, summarizing the 81 days following summer solstice. Below is an example of such a song (note that the exact lyrics would likely vary from region to region):

In the first nine days, hold the fan in your hand;
In the second nine days, wear a headband instead of a hat;
In the third nine days, you will be sweaty as soon as you step outside;
In the fourth nine days, soaked in sweat;
In the fifth nine days, the heat is still like a tiger in autumn;
In the sixth nine days, enter temples to seek the cool of their shade;
In the seventh nine days, time to fetch your sheet for the bed;
In the eighth nine days, you will look for a quilt in the middle of the night;
In the ninth nine days, open the closet and retrieve your coat.

What to eat for xiazhi

A bowl of noodles – hot or cold – never goes amiss

When it comes to what to eat during xiazhi, grandmother used to tell me, "Dumplings for the first nine days, noodles for the second nine days, and pancake with eggs for the third nine days," (头伏饺子二伏面，三伏烙饼摊鸡蛋 tóufú jiǎozi èr fú miàn, sānfú làobǐng tān jīdàn). Just like diet fads today, the ancient Chinese believed that eating specific foods according to the calendar would benefit your health. Not all of the sayings are superstitious though, given that the wheat was freshly harvested, making the dumplings and noodles during this time especially nutritious while the soup helps to detox and keep one hydrated. Ginger and garlic puree are also added as toppings to stimulate appetites lost in the heat and also act as a natural antibiotic.

Additionally, in TCM theory, the yin energy starts to grow from a person's core after summer solstice, so it is crucial to release toxic heat during this time by eating light, bitter food, and to reduce the consumption of meat and heavily seasoned dishes.