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Major Heat
The fierce sun crosses the sky; summer heat lingers deep in the woods.
Solar term date
Dates follow the Hong Kong Observatory’s calendar. They are civil dates, rather than precise astronomical times.
About this solar term
Major Heat begins at solar longitude 120°. It often falls in a hot, humid part of the year in China, but it does not predict the hottest day everywhere.
Traditional signs describe moist heat and heavy rain. The saying that rotting grass becomes fireflies is historical lore; fireflies are insects with their own life cycle.
Regional customs include cooling teas and seasonal gatherings. Summer weather can also bring heavy rain and storms, making local forecasts more useful than the term's name for daily planning.
Seasonal signs
Old lore speaks of grass becoming fireflies; humid heat and heavy rain follow.
Traditional seasonal signs combine observation with historical imagination. Weather and wildlife vary by region and year.
A reading of the poem
Major Heat draws nearer to autumn as summer's musical season passes. The moon rises at midnight and fireflies light the air. Seasonal fruit welcomes learned guests; water plants grow beside the ink-dark pond. Red gauze curtains are rolled up, leaving classics and histories waiting for a breeze.
Tang dynasty · Traditionally attributed to Yuan Zhen
咏廿四气诗·大暑六月中
Poem source