[Twenty-Four Solar Terms] (Summer) Lesser Heat
Seven days of Lesser Heat
(From around July 7th to July 22nd)
The season of summer heat.
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Warm winds arrive, lotuses begin to bloom, hawks learn to hunt
Warm winds arrive
lotuses begin to bloom
hawks learn to hunt
Warm winds arrive, crickets dwell on walls, hawks begin to strike
Warm winds arrive
crickets dwell on walls
hawks begin to strike
When the warm wind blows,
crickets make sounds on the wall,
and hawks strike birds
* "Shitsushutsu" refers to crickets.
* "Kirigirisu" refers to grasshoppers/katydids.
Because it is before Great Heat, it is called Lesser Heat. It is the solar term of the sixth month.
Warm winds arriving means that the yin energy underground grows, and it creates a wind by interacting with the yang energy above. It is called this because that wind is warm.
Crickets dwell on walls means that crickets are the essence of autumn yin. Their wings have not yet grown, and they cannot fly far. They merely crawl on walls, sensing the coming of autumn energy and chirping.
Hawks begin to strike means that hawks are yin birds. Sensing the metal energy's yin gradually growing, they feel the same energy, and as the killing energy sprouts, they strike various birds. Spring and summer are yang-harmonious and give birth to all things, while autumn and winter are yin-evil and cause all things to die. This is the universal principle of heaven and earth.
Annual Events for Farmers: Lesser Heat
It is good to sow buckwheat, daikon radish, and garlic; harvest indigo; dig up and divide shallots to plant.
Fertilize hoes and paper mulberry; grafting wax trees is good.
Collect lettuce seeds; harvest hemp and ramie and peel the bark; it is good to harvest rushes and sedge.
* "Rakkyo" refers to shallots.
* "I" refers to rushes.
Lilies have a faint fragrance
* "Higurashi" refers to cicadas or evening cicadas.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections 'Shichijuni-ko Shinsen (New Selection of the 72 Micro-seasons)')
* 'Tenka' (甜瓜) is the Chinese name for the Oriental melon (Makuwa-uri).
Meika Gacho (Album of Famous Flowers) - Lesser Heat
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections 'Shichijuni-ko Meika Gacho, Volume 1')
Inzon (Seal Collection) - Lesser Heat
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections 'Shichijuni-ko Inzon')
References: 'Nichiyo Benran (Daily Handbook)', 'Shokanbun Seigi (Essentials of Letter Writing), Vol. 1, 3rd Revised Edition', 'Koji Ruien (Encyclopedia of Ancient Matters), Vol. 2', 'Kojirin (Dictionary), New Revised Edition', 'Jintsu Happi: Kyuten Kyokuchi (Revealing Divine Secrets: Investigating Heaven and Earth)', 'Tenmon Unkijutsu: Ichimei Tenchijin Sando Gokui (Four Seasons Climate)', 'Nihon Kubun Noji-reki: Ichimei Noka Nenchu Gyoji (Japanese Regional Agricultural Calendar: Also Known as Annual Events for Farmers)', 'Manreki Sanseiso: Eidai Zasho (Ten Thousand Year Three-Life Fortune Telling: Perpetual Miscellany)', 'Kiko Annaiki (Guide to Climate)', 'Meiji Sanjikyo: Kani Shogaku (Meiji Three-Character Classic: Simplified Elementary Learning)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
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