Minor Heat

小暑 · XiǎoshǔGregorian Jul 6–8Solar longitude 105°

Warm winds announce Minor Heat. The steam of summer rises but has not yet peaked; lotus fills the ponds while crickets shelter in cool walls.

Suddenly the warm wind arrives —

and in its train, the Minor Heat.

— Yuan Zhen (Tang), “Verses on the 24 Qi · Minor Heat”

倏忽温风至
因循小暑来
元稹 · 咏廿四气诗 · 小暑六月节

Lotus Pink

Three Pentads

三候

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

一候温风至

First pentad — Warm winds arrive

二候蟋蟀居壁

Second pentad — Crickets move to the walls

III

三候鹰始击

Third pentad — Young hawks learn to strike

节气色谱

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

莲红#CC7B8B

liánhóng · Lotus Pink

藕荷#B49BC8

ǒuhé · Lotus-Root Mauve

苇绿#86A879

wěilǜ · Reed Green

凉月白#E8EEF1

liángyuèbái · Cool Moon White

风物

Sunning books and clothes in the fierce light to banish damp and moths.

晒伏——六月六晒书晒衣,借烈日驱潮防蛀。

Tasting the new rice and new wine, in thanks for nature's gifts.

食新——尝新米、饮新酒,感谢自然馈赠。