End of Heat

处暑 · ChǔshǔGregorian Aug 22–24Solar longitude 150°

“Chu” means to halt — here the heat ends. Towering summer clouds disperse, the air turns crisp, and grain comes to the threshing floor.

The massed clouds of summer drift apart;

a curling, gentle coolness starts to rise.

— Bai Juyi (Tang), “Early Autumn Feelings at Qujiang”

离离暑云散
袅袅凉风起
白居易 · 早秋曲江感怀

Fading Red

Three Pentads

三候

The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.

一候鹰乃祭鸟

First pentad — Hawks lay out their catch like offerings

二候天地始肃

Second pentad — Heaven and earth turn stern and clear

III

三候禾乃登

Third pentad — Grain is brought to harvest

节气色谱

One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.

退红#D9A8A0

tuìhóng · Fading Red

稻禾黄#D3B66E

dàohéhuáng · Rice Stalk Gold

秋水碧#8FB7AD

qiūshuǐbì · Autumn Water Jade

云峰白#EFF2EF

yúnfēngbái · Cloud Peak White

风物

Floating river lanterns around the Ghost Festival to light the way for departed souls.

放河灯——中元前后放灯于水,照亮幽冥来路与归途。

Fishing season reopens on the coast — a festival of a thousand sails.

开渔节——沿海休渔结束,千帆竞发,庆贺出海。