The Great Heat is one of the 24 solar terms in China. The solar terms influence people's production, labor, and life. So what are the three候 (three periods) of the Great Heat? The Chinese cultural website Huayi has prepared a wealth of information about the seventh lunar month. What are the suitable activities in the seventh lunar month of 2018? Please visit Huayi for more details.

What are the three候 of the Great Heat?

First候, the eagles offer birds. From this day on, the eagles sense the autumn's solemn atmosphere and begin to hunt birds in large numbers. They first lay them out as offerings before eating them, which the ancients called "a righteous act."
Second候, the天地 begins to become solemn. After that, all things in heaven and earth start to wither, filled with a bleak and desolate atmosphere. There was an ancient saying of "autumn execution," meaning that executions were carried out to follow the solemn atmosphere of heaven and earth. The "Lüshi Chunqiu" states: "Heaven and earth begin to become solemn; it is not appropriate to be arrogant." This warns people that autumn is a season to avoid arrogance and to be restrained.
Third候, the grains are ripe. The "grains" here refer to the general term for crops such as millet, sorghum, rice, and wheat, and "ripe" means mature. It means that the time for autumn harvest begins.

What are the customs of the Great Heat solar term?

The customs around the Great Heat are mostly related to ancestral worship and welcoming autumn. During the period around the Great Heat, there are folk activities celebrating the Ghost Festival, commonly known as "the 15th day of the seventh lunar month" or "the Zhongyuan Festival." In ancient times, from the first day of the seventh lunar month, there was a ceremony to open the gate of ghosts, and until the end of the month when the gate of ghosts was closed, there would be activities of offering alms and performing rituals.
It is said that the ritual of offering alms starts with opening the gate of ghosts, then setting up lamp poles, releasing river lanterns to attract wandering souls. The main part involves building an altar for the offering, setting up pavilions for the lonely souls, and engaging in events like "抢孤" (capturing the soul), and finally ending with closing the gate of ghosts. To this day, it has become an important time for ancestor worship.
In addition, after the Great Heat, the autumn atmosphere becomes more pronounced, making it a good time for people to enjoy outdoor activities and appreciate the autumn scenery. After the Great Heat, the heat subsides, and even the clouds in the sky appear scattered and free, unlike the thick clouds seen during the summer's Great Heat. The folk have long had the saying "the seventh and eighth months are for watching beautiful clouds," which also implies the idea of "outdoor autumn welcoming."

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