Start of Autumn:

This day falls around the 7th or 8th of August, marking the immi- nent end of the great heat, the ushering out of the blistering heat of summer and the welcoming of the cool comfort of autumn. In olden times, this day was celebrated with many festivities, such as worship of the ancestors and the eating of newly harvested rice.

Stop of the Heat:

The name of this day, falling around August 23rd or 24th, has also been interpreted to mean, "Curbing and put- ting aside of the heat." After this day the heat of summer gradually diminishes and the footsteps of autumn. are heard approaching. In olden times criminals condemned to death would be executed on this day, in what was known as "the Autumn Judgment." After the Stop of the Heat and the arrival of White Dew, the weather becomes genuinely temperate and cool.

White Dew:

This day, falling around September 7th or 8th, marks the passage from the heat of summer to the cool of autumn. At this time objects heated during the day cool off quickly at night, so that on the night following a warm day the mist and moisture in the atmosphere to pass the point of saturation and condense into dewdrops on the trees, plants and flowers of the earth. These crystalline pearls of dew inspired the name of this day. At about this time farmers are finishing up their work for the year, the grains all having been harvested and stored away. Thus they have the leisure to capture crickets on this day for cricket fights, known in popular parlance as "The Autumn Excite- ment."

The Autumn Divide:

This day, fallina on September 22nd or 23rd, is marked, like the Spring Divide, by the fact that the sun is directly over the equator, making the inten- sity of the sun's rays equal in the northern and southern hemispheres and the night and day of equal length. It is given its name because on this day exactly half of Autumn has already passed. At this time the birds and insects are busily preparing for hibernation, while the plants which manifested their relentless im- pulse of life in the springtime new begin to wither and fade. Rainfall during this time makes for quite chilly weather.

Cold Dew:

By this day, falling around the 8th or 9th of October, autumn is already in full swing, with its cool temperature, hanging mists and abundant dew; saturated in this en- vironment, the ancient people felt the col- dness of the season in their hearts and thus assigned this day its name. Subtropical regions like Taiwan are still susceptible to special meterological conditions at this time, for example the so-called "OctoberHeat," also known as "Post-autumn Heat" or "The Autumn Tiger." This short gust of warm air following in the wake of the typhoon season might be considered the last gasp of the dying autumn.

Descent of the Frost:

This day falls around October 23rd or 24th. When the temperature falls low enough for the conden- sation of water, we have the formation of dew on the earth and clumping of clouds in the sky; when the temperature falls below the freezing point, the frost appears. Hence the common saying, "The dew freezes into frost." Since the sun shines more directly on the southern hemisphere at this time, the northern hemisphere gets increasingly cold, and is visited by the frost. The maple leaves turn red after the first frost, and a visit to the country to view the red maple leaves was refined recreation often enjoyed by the ancient during this season.