Start of Summer:

This day, falling on May 5th or 6th, is given its name, despite the fact that summer proper does not start for some time afterwards, because the seeds planted in the spring have already grown up enough to be visible by this time. Moreover, the warm weather has arrived and the temperature is on a steady gradual rise, making most crops enter their most rapid and prosperous period of growth around this time.

Small Fullness:

By this day, falling around May 21 st or 22nd, most of the crops are just at the verge of coming to fruition, almost but not quite at their full maturity; hence it is called Small Fullness, indicating that development,although quite advanced, has not yet reached the utmost. Farmers monitor the rainfall on this day carefully, believing that it gives an indication of how much rain will fall during the Ripe Plum season in early summer. Hence the saying, "If no rain falls on Small Fullness, there will be little early summer plum rain."

Awned Crops:

This day, falling on June 5th or 6th, is the best time of the year for grains with awns or beards, e.g. barley and oats. This is also the time of the warm, humid early summer plum rains. It is believed that the plum rain season will start on the firstjen day (one of the ten Celestial Stems in the tradi- tional Chinese calendar) after Awned Crops day.

Summer Solstice:

On this day, around the 21 st or 22nd of June, the sun's rays shine on the northern hemisphere more directly and intensely than on any other day. The precise time of the solstice is the moment when the earth is farthest from the sun, which is known as "the moment of the distant sun." At this time of intense sunlight, all crops have reached the point of utmost maturity, and the true heat of summer has arrived. This is the longest day of the year, and the shortest night, after which the days begin to get shorter and the nights longer. From this day forward, the southern winds begin to blow, the cicadas and crickets begin to sing on the Dranches, the mantises jump from the grasses, and the whole earth is filled with the booming flourishing feel of summer.

Small Heat:

This day usually falls on the 7th or 8th of July, and is so named because at this time the summer heat is already well under way, but still has not reached its ultimate. In the time since the Summer Solstice, the direct rays of the sun have been shining on the northernmost portion of the earth, and for the longest time each day, resulting in a considerable accumulation of heat in the atmosphere. It is only after Small Heat that this accumulation approaches its zenith.

Great heat:

This day, usually falling on July 23rd or 24th, marks the hottest time of the year. The intolerable extent of heat possi- ble on this day can be gauged by the ancient saying, "Cold can be gotten through, but heat cannot be gotten through." Another saying states, "In the swelter of the Small and Great Heat, there is the benefit of thundershowers." This indicates that the on- ly mitigating factor to the oppressive heat of this time is the frequent thundershowers which cool the air somewhat and offer a bit of relief.