The Mandarin name for this two-week period of the Chinese agricultural calendar 23 July – 7 August means “Big Heat” (大暑 = Dàshǔ). Notice the time of 03:13 in the calendar page below. This is the moment when the Sun crosses 120 degrees on its annual ecliptic journey across our sky – Beijing time, of course! That’s 1/3 of 360 degrees, until we get to Spring Equinox in 2027. For astronomers, it equals eight hours of Right Ascension. Again, eight hours is 1/3 of 24 hours.

The weather is hot, humid and hopefully with plenty of rain as well, although floods, droughts and typhoons happen all the time in such a big country. Having passed the summer solstice on June 21, the days are getting shorter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the exact opposite: it’s wintertime. People are snow skiing in South America and New Zealand!

You can really appreciate its deep significance, since this calendric cadence has been cycling for 5,000 Chinese years!

Below is the page from our Daoist calendar

In the Calendar Library referenced below, read “ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG- Story #25”, which explains in detail the bottom half. Truly fascinating!

Here is the explanation for the top half,

Three children are beating the heat by playing in a pond or lake. Huge lotus flowers and plants are around them. Goldfish are jumping out of the water. There is one girl on the right and two boys on the left. The boy in the middle is wearing a classic 19th century swimsuit. The one on the far left is skinny dipping!

Great Heat (大暑 = Dàshǔ) — Man， it’s HOT!

Let’s start with our Daoist daily almanac calendar, which is so fun and interesting. If you want to learn more about the intricacies of Daoism, check out this article,

Here is what our ever-intriguing Daoist calendar says about Spring Equinox and Zhonghe Festival. 5,000 years of fascinating culture and traditions. Radio Sinoland 260320

https://radiosinoland.com/2026/03/20/here-is-what-our-ever-intriguing-daoist-calendar-says-about-spring-equinox-and-zhonghe-festival-5000-years-of-fascinating-culture-and-traditions-radio-sinoland-260320/

Overall Image Analysis

The vertical couplet to the left and right of the drawing

Left-hand side (top to bottom)

方观竹叶舒鸡爪：fāng guān zhú yè shū jī zhǎo = Watching bamboo leaves open up like chicken feet.

Right-hand side (top to bottom)

四季平安黄犬誉：sì jì píng ān huáng quǎn yù = Yellow dogs’ reputation, are praised for peace and safety throughout the four seasons.

Interpretation of the Couplet’s Meaning in the Context of the “Great Heat” (Dashu) Solar Term and image

This is a couplet from traditional Chinese almanacs for Great Heat (大暑).

“竹叶舒鸡爪” describes the unfolding of bamboo leaves during the hot and humid Great Heat season.

“黄犬” = yellow dogs, symbolize harmony and obedience, wishing for peace all year around.

Do’s and Don’ts, In’s and Outs for Big Heat

The Great (or Big, Major, Greater) Heat, or Dashu, is the 12th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, marking the hottest and most humid period of the year, typically from late July to early August.

Timing and Climate

The Great Heat begins around July 22–23 and lasts until August 6, representing the peak of summer heat in most parts of China. During this period, temperatures soar, humidity is high and rainfall is frequent, creating optimal conditions for crop growth but also increasing the risk of floods, droughts, and typhoons.

It coincides with the “Sanfu” or dog days of summer, a 40-day period of intense heat (3 July – 11 August).

Agricultural Significance

Historically, the Great Heat is crucial for farmers. Crops are growing very fast. Timely harvesting of early rice and irrigation are essential to ensure successful, late-season crops.

The period is divided into three pentads in ancient Chinese tradition: 1) fireflies emerge from rotten grass, 2) the earth becomes damp and sweltering, and 3) sudden downpours provide relief.

Cultural Practices

The Great Heat is rich in cultural traditions. In Zhejiang Province, the folk ritual of Sending the Major Heat Ship involves offering pigs, sheep, chicken, fish, and shrimp in a wooden boat to ensure peace and protection from the summer heat.

Other customs include cricket fighting in rural areas, reflecting the abundance of crickets during this season. People also enjoy leisure activities like sitting on bamboo lounges, listening to cicadas and watching fireflies at night.

Seasonal Foods and Health Practices

Chinese ancestors developed dietary practices to cope with the heat. Popular foods vary by region:

Grassy jelly (herb jelly) in Guangdong, served chilled to cool the body.

Litchi in Fujian, rich in glucose and vitamins, helps relieve summer heat.

Mutton soup in Shandong, believed to promote sweating and eliminate toxins.

Folk customs include drinking “伏茶” (Fu Cha = fu tea), Drying ginger all over the country “伏姜” (Fu Jiang), and eating “仙草” (Xian Cao = grass jelly). People follow the seasons to avoid heat and maintain health, while simultaneously focusing on harvesting and field management.

These foods are not only refreshing but also align with traditional Chinese medicine principles to maintain health during extreme heat.

Cultural Reflections

Poets like Yuan Zhen and Bai Juyi captured the essence of the Great Heat in their writings, emphasizing the importance of inner peace and leisure to counteract the oppressive summer heat.

The period is seen as a time when both nature and human activity reach their peak intensity, blending climatic, agricultural, and cultural significance.

In summary, the Great Heat is a multifaceted period in China, combining extreme summer weather, agricultural guidance, cultural rituals, and seasonal dietary practices that have been observed for millennia.

Conclusion

Talmud-Tanakh West simply cannot compare to Sinoland’s millennial civilization, going back 5,000 years. Chinese take calendar events VERY seriously, day after day, week after week, month after month. They are in harmony with the Sun, Moon and seasons. A few people, especially farmers and gardeners, still use almanacs (more so in Europe than North America). In Judeo-USA, it reached its pinnacle in the early 19th century, with Benjamin Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Almanac”. Other than an occasional, pithy Franklin aphorism here and there, it has all atrophied in Judeo-West. In China, we live and breath it all!

Jeff J. Brown’s many libraries and catalogues EXPANDED and they R-O-C-K with all of humanity – past, present & future! Our Pale Blue Dot’s story all on one page! Radio Sinoland 260531

https://radiosinoland.com/2026/05/31/jeff-j-browns-many-libraries-and-catalogues-expanded-and-they-r-o-c-k-with-all-of-humanity-past-present-future-our-pale-blue-dots-story-all-on-one-page-radio-sinoland-260531/

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