Dashu 大暑 — Major Heat
Overview
Dashu falls around 23 July. It is the peak of heat and the closing term of the summer season.
Meaning
The hottest term of the year, and the last of summer.
Traditional Interpretation
As the season's closing term, it is read as the end of the growth phase. The almanacs treat the period after it as the turn toward harvest rather than toward more heat.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What is dashu 大暑 — major heat in the Chinese calendar?
The hottest term of the year, and the last of summer. Dashu falls around 23 July. It is the peak of heat and the closing term of the summer season.
Is dashu 大暑 — major heat a festival or a calendar date?
It is a solar term — a date fixed by the sun's position, not by the moon. The hottest term of the year, and the last of summer. That the hottest point of the year is also described as the season's close is the calendar's most consistent observation: the peak and the turn are the same date.
How is dashu 大暑 — major heat read in Chinese tradition?
As the season's closing term, it is read as the end of the growth phase. The almanacs treat the period after it as the turn toward harvest rather than toward more heat. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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