End of Heat: The Scorching Heat of July Brings a Solemn Atmosphere

Late Tang literature master Li Shangyin (李商隱，812-858) was a knowledgeable and talented individual, skilled in poetry and prose, and particularly fond of using allusions. For this, he was often likened to the sight of "otters hunting fish "(獺祭鱼). The original meaning of this allusion is as follows: during early spring, when the gentle breeze brings warmth and the frozen surface of the river starts to melt, fish rise to the surface. River otters then begin to hunt and devour them in large quantities. These captured fish are often arranged on the riverbank, resembling a lineup of sacrificial offerings. This situation bears a resemblance to writers’ affinity for consulting books, accumulating, and showcasing numerous allusions within their works.

According to the Book of Rites: Monthly Ordinances 《禮記・月令》, “otters hunting fish " is one of the manifestations of the second solar term of early spring, "Rain Water." (雨水) Correspondingly, the primary manifestation of the second solar term of early autumn, "End of Heat” (處暑) is " Eagles Hunting Birds.” (鷹乃祭鳥) In the understanding of today, eagles have always been recognized for their skills for hunting other birds, so why did ancients make specific reference to it during the "End of Heat" solar term? Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin-Gioro Hongli (乾隆帝 愛新覺羅・弘歷, 1711-1799), raised this question during his reign. In Chapter 40 entitled “Eagles Hunting Birds” of his writing Seventy-Two Solar Terms of the Monthly Ordinances: Three Manifestations in Midsummer (〈月令七十二候詩・七月處暑中三候〉), he mentioned that historically there had been few scholars who genuinely studied the Classic of Ornithology (《禽經》), resulting in even classical works like the Book of Rites: Monthly Ordinances being prone to errors. They had mistakenly believed that the springtime cuckoos transformed into eagles during autumn, hence the term "Eagles hunting birds" during the solar term of "End of Heat."

The doubts casted by Emperor Qianlong, though reasonable, does not entirely discredit the philosophical and conceptual implications derived from the idea of "Eagles Hunting Birds" in the book The Records of Ritual and the Monthly Ordinances. Regardless of whether eagles, when hunting and killing other birds, do so as a gesture of paying ritual homage (like humans), the association of the characteristics of autumn with the fierce nature of eagles is nonetheless worth contemplating.  According to Ouyang Xiu (歐陽修，1007-1072)'s Ode to the Autumn Sounds (〈秋聲賦〉), autumn is described as having a clear and bright appearance, with the sky being exceptionally transparent. This clarity facilitates the eagles to soar and detect targets of prey. Furthermore, autumn not only carries the residual heat of summer but also embodies the righteousness of heaven and earth and is often associated with the symbol of "justice" and possesses formidable strength to wipe away the weak and the decayed. In ancient times, there was even the "official of autumn" (秋官) which in charge of sentence and penalty, the executions were also arranged in autumn. The first solar term mentioned in The Monthly Ordinances for the end of summer, "Eagles Hunting Birds," may indeed imply similar cultural and ideological significance. Later writings often connect eagles with autumn, revealing a spirit of righteousness and dignity. For instance, in Du Fu (杜甫，712-770)'s Drawing of an Eagle (〈畫鷹〉): "Having trained against wind and frost, the eagle's portrayal is exceptional... When should it strike ordinary birds, causing feathers and blood to scatter through the wasteland?" (素練風霜起，蒼鷹畫作殊⋯⋯何當擊凡鳥，毛血灑平蕪。) Although the poem does not explicitly mention autumn as its background, it undeniably conveys a chilling atmosphere akin to autumn frost. Huang Jingren (黃景仁，1749-1783)'s Poem on the Autumn Eagle Painting (〈題馬氏齋頭秋鷹圖〉) is inspired by Du Fu's poetry, with the first line specifically stating, "Autumn's height generates the cold atmosphere at Jiangguan" (秋高江館寒生稜). In relation to this, the term "autumn eagle" (秋鷹) has been coined, as seen in Du Fu's Song of Drunkenness Dedicated to Yan Shaofu Requesting Eight Inscriptions on the Wall: "Heavenly horses neigh in anticipation of being ridden, autumn eagles spread their wings towards the clouds." (天馬長鳴待駕馭，秋鷹整翮當雲霄。) Additionally, the fifth part of Yuan Zhen (元稹，779-831)'s poem Twenty Chapters on Birds includes the verse: "Autumn eagles chase after distant frosty falcons, herons protect their nests and sing during the day." (秋鷹迸逐霜鶻遠，鵩鳥護巢當晝啼。) In this sense, during the time of "Eagles Hunting Birds" in the End of Heat, it actually signifies the The Beginning of Autumn (立秋) when warm winds gradually subside, and cool winds emerge. During the "End of Heat" solar term, the solemn atmosphere intensifies, and all things gradually enter a period of decline. As Song Yu (宋玉，B.C. 298-222) wrote at the beginning of Nine Discourses (〈九辯〉): "Alas, the melancholy nature of autumn! The rustling sound accompanies the withering and falling of grass and trees, signifying their diminishing vitality." (悲哉秋之為氣也！蕭瑟兮草木搖落而變衰。) This established the tradition of "melancholic autumn" (悲秋) in ancient Chinese literature, and this atmosphere of "withering and falling" (草木搖落) is closely related to the solar term of "End of Heat," as its second indicator is "the beginning of shrinking of heaven and earth." (天地始肅)

From the perspective of climatology, "End of Heat" has entered the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and the scorchers in summer are about to come to an end, dissipating the summer heat. This is the original meaning of "End of Heat" (處暑): "shu" (暑) refers to the heat, and "chu" (處) refers to the concept of "stopping" as explained in the Shuowen Jiezi (《說文解字》), indicating the gradual cessation of the summer heat. In the Book of Songs, there is a famous long poem about agricultural activities called Qi Yue (七月，July), with the first sentence being "Qi Yue liu huo" (七月流火), which describes the early autumn celestial phenomenon. "Huo" (火，Fire) refers to the constellation of Antares which appears in the south in the sixth month of the lunar calendar. In the seventh month of the lunar calendar and with the coming of autum, Antares begins to sink towards the west, hence the term "liu huo" (流火) or running fire. In the poem Feng He Chuqiu (〈奉和初秋〉) by Yu Xin (庾信，513-581), it is stated, "starry showers initiate the first fu of fire, autumn frost sets the clock in motion." This vividly portrays the cool weather of early autumn, describing the characteristics of celestial phenomena such as the first appearance of falling stars and the movement of autumn frost.

The third sign of the end of summer is called " Beginning of the Fall Harvest " "禾乃登". According to the book Guangya Shicao (《廣雅・釋草》), it states that "grains are considered to be harvestable when they are mature, and the ears are formed and is considered to be of good quality." (蓋凡穀皆以成實為費，禾象穗成，故為嘉谷之通名。) The term "He" (禾) refers to various types of crops including millet, sorghum, rice, and maize, while "Deng" (登) signifies maturity and a bountiful harvest. Therefore, the seasonal period of "End of Heat” is also a busy time for agricultural activities. During this time, most regions in China witness the maturation of fruits and grains, and there is a saying that during the End of Heat, “the fields turn golden, and households repair their barns” (处暑满田黄，家家修廪仓), vividly depicting the abundance of harvest during this season.

The "End of Heat " often falls in the middle or second half of the seventh month of the lunar calendar and is usually associated with two festivals: one is on the seventh day of the seventh month, and Zhongyuan Festival (中元节) on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. These festivals add a touch of relaxation and romance to the busy life on farms. This year, the "End of Heat " day of the year of Gui-Mao (癸卯) falls on the eighth day of the seventh month (August 23rd in the Gregorian calendar), with the previous day being Qi Xi (七夕节), the day when the legendary Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet. During certain years, the “End of Heat” day coincides with the day of the celestial alignment of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, as described in the verse "The twin stars unite in the sky, while on Earth, the heat of summer diminishes." (天上雙星合，人間處暑秋。) In addition, the Zhongyuan Festival, which falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, is a traditional and significant festival. Zhang Dai, a famous Ming dynasty writer (张岱，1597-1679) depicted the scene of various people enjoying the night moon of West Lake in Hangzhou in his renowned essay Seventh Month at West Lake (〈西湖七月半〉). In the long river of Chinese traditional culture, agricultural solar terms and festive holidays often intertwine, enriching life with joy and adding vibrancy to existence.

Reference

Journal Article

1. 江霞：〈中國的節氣與氣候〉，《華夏文化》，第2期（2003年）。

2. 梅晶：〈上古節氣詞的演變及二十四節氣名的形成〉，《懷化學院學報》，第30卷第3期（2011年）。

News or Magazine Article

1. 于文靜：〈處暑：最好新秋時〉，《新華每日電訊》，2022 年8 月23 日，第3版。