Beginning of Summer: days grow long, nights grow short
Lixia, the seventh of the twenty-four solar terms and the first solar term of summer. Falling on May 5-7 each year when the sun reaches 45° of ecliptic longitude, Lixia marks "summer arrival." The ancients observed that "At Lixia, all things display their finery," meaning grasses and trees flourish and grow luxuriant. Agricultural work transitions from spring planting to summer management, and the season begins to shift toward warmth and heat.
Lixia does not mean that oppressive heat arrives immediately. Many regions still find themselves in a transitional phase between warm and hot weather. Convective rainfall increases in the south with frequent thunderstorms, while the north experiences stronger winds and still maintains significant day-night temperature differences. The farming saying goes "Lixia and Xiaoman closely follow," reminding us that field management and seeding arrangements are particularly critical at this time.
First Aspect - Mole Crickets Begin to Sing: Singing insects underground begin their voices; temperature gradually rises and moisture becomes more apparent.
Second Aspect - Earthworms Emerge: With moist soil, earthworms surface to loosen the earth, which aids in crop root respiration.
Third Aspect - Bryony Begins to Grow: Bryony vines send out shoots and stems; vine-like plants grow rapidly.
Rest: Days are long and nights short; favor late sleep and early rising with appropriate midday rest. Ensure proper ventilation and moisture control while guarding against heat and dampness.
Diet: Focus on light, easily digestible foods with minimal oil and spice. Favor leafy greens, melons, Job's tears, azuki beans, winter melon, and ophiopogon and lotus seeds; minimize fried foods and high-sugar items.
Exercise: Choose early morning or evening for gentle aerobic activity such as walking, tai chi, Eight Pieces of Brocade, and swimming, keeping intensity moderate to guard against heat-related injury.
Emotions: Align with the vigor of the heart qi during summer and focus on clearing the heart and settling the spirit. Sitting meditation, breathing exercises, and short countryside outings can help maintain emotional equilibrium.
Weighing at Lixia: Using a scale to weigh people captures their weight, symbolizing bodily and spiritual stability and safe entry into summer, also called "being satisfied" with one's condition.
Egg-Knocking Game: Eggs are tapped together to see which breaks, praying for robust health and freedom from illness throughout the summer.
Tasting Seasonal Delicacies: Sampling fresh seasonal bamboo shoots, beans, and cherries celebrates the flourishing of all things and auspicious agricultural prospects.
Summer Welcome Rites: Some regions prepare "Lixia rice," hang colorful eggs, perform sacrifices, and offer prayers, symbolizing the elimination of illness and the reception of good fortune.
Lixia marks the beginning of summer, following Guyu and preceding Xiaoman. Its seasonal characteristics include the development of convection, increased thunderstorms, intensified heat and moisture in the south, and continued alternation of strong winds and dry heat in the north.
Astronomical Significance: At Lixia, the sun reaches 45° of ecliptic longitude. As the sun's direct rays continue northward, light in the Northern Hemisphere intensifies, days grow longer and nights shorter, and near-ground convection becomes vigorous.
Agricultural Guidance: In the middle and lower Yangtze River region, intensify early rice transplanting and field management; in north China, winter wheat enters the jointing and flowering stage, requiring fertilizer application, irrigation, and pest prevention; the south must watch for strong convection and rainstorm flooding, while the north guards against dry-hot winds and late-spring cold disturbances.
