What
Chushu is the fourteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms in China, usually falling on August 22 or 23 every year. The "chu" in "chushu" means "stop" or "stop". Chushu means: the heat has ended here. For the Chinese, the end of heat is the day to "say goodbye to summer" - from this day on, the weather starts to really get cooler.
Why
Why is heat relief so important?
- Climate reasons: During the summer season, the sun continues to move southward, and the solar radiation received by the northern hemisphere decreases. "It's still hot in the summer, just like a tiger in autumn" - In the summer season, it's still hot during the day, but it starts to get cooler in the morning and evening. This kind of climate with "large temperature difference" is when Chinese people are "most likely to catch colds".
- Agricultural reasons: During the summer season, soybeans and sorghum in the north begin to mature, and rice in the south begins to "head". "It's too hot to grow, so cut it and feed it to the old cows." - If the crops haven't grown well during the hot season, there will be no hope for this year's harvest. The end of summer heat is the "last check point" for farmers.
- Physical reasons: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that to treat summer heat, one must "nourishing yin and moistening the lungs." During the summer heat, the air begins to become dry, and people's skin and respiratory tract are easily damaged. Chinese people eat "pears", "lilies" and "tremella" to "moisten their lungs" - these foods are like "natural moisturizers", moisturizing the body from within.
How
Three major customs for coping with summer heat:
- Eat duck: "Send duck as a gift during the summer heat, and everyone will be free of illness." On this day of summer, Chinese people eat duck - duck meat is cool in nature and can "clear away heat and moisturize dryness". There are "lily ducks for summer heat" in Beijing and "salt water ducks for summer heat" in Nanjing. Duck is the "protagonist" of summer heat - the summer heat has not completely dissipated, so duck meat is used to "balance" it.
- Putting out river lanterns: During the summer season, some places have the custom of "setting up river lanterns". Place the paper lantern in the river and let it float away. This custom means "sending away the summer heat" - saying goodbye to summer like an old friend.
- Fishing Festival: On this summer day along the coast of China, the "fishing season" begins - after the summer fishing moratorium ends, fishermen begin to go out to sea to fish. Fishing starts in the summer because the sea water temperature is suitable and fish schools are active at this time. This is the "most anticipated" moment for fishermen - they can finally go to sea.
When
The best scene to end the summer heat: the seaside in the evening. The sun begins to set, and the sea breeze blows coolly. Fishermen prepare their boats and inspect their nets at the pier. The women stood on the shore and watched the men go out to sea. This is the moment of "farewell" - farewell to summer, farewell to fishing moratorium, farewell to waiting.
Where
At Giaokz.com in Florence, we prepare "roasted duck" on this day of summer. The Italian guest said: "Isn't this our anatra all'arancia?" I said: "Yes, but our duck has 'end of heat' - the summer heat ends here. Eating duck is not 'eating', it is 'farewell to summer'."
One Word
stop(zhǐ)
The core of "Ending Heat" is "stopping". The "stop" is not "stop", but the "stop" of "stop here". Summer begins with the beginning of summer and ends with summer—a full four months. The summer season tells us: everything must come to an end. The heat of summer, the busyness of summer, the waiting of summer - it’s time to stop on this day. The Chinese "stop" is not "giving up", but "letting go" - letting go of the past and preparing for a new beginning.
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> 💡 One sentence to remember the summer heat: The summer heat ends here - bid farewell to summer and welcome the beginning of autumn.