奇速英语

立夏称重能避病？揭秘千年节气里的奇异风俗

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Summer, the 7th solar term, usually begins on May 5, 6 or 7. The term Start of Summer originated at the end of the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). As it marked an important time for harvesting summer crops such as wheat and rapeseed (油菜籽), ancient Chinese emperors paid great attention to this day. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, the emperor led officials in a welcome ceremony where decorations, clothing, horses and flags were all arranged in red. This was done to show respect for the god of summer and pray for a good harvest.

The custom of weighing people on Start of Summer dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280) and is still practiced in parts of southern China today. After lunch, a stool or basket is hung from a beam (梁), and people take turns being weighed while someone records the weight and offers words of blessing. It is believed that being weighed brings good health in the hot summer, while those who are not weighed may suffer from illness.

In ancient China, a round egg was considered a symbol of a happy life, and eating eggs on Start of Summer was seen as a prayer for good health. People boiled eggs together with used tea leaves, creating the earliest “tea egg.” Later, spices were added to improve the taste, and tea eggs eventually became a traditional Chinese snack.

An old saying goes that hanging an egg on a child’s chest can protect them from summer diseases. Therefore, parents often put boiled eggs in knitted bags and hang them around their children’s necks. At school, children gather in pairs to compete by colliding their eggs. The child whose egg remains unbroken wins.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, Start of Summer is a key time to nourish the heart. As the weather gets hotter, dampness and heat can affect people’s health. Therefore, foods that are rich in vitamins and cool in nature are highly recommended. Top choices include vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, watercress and celery, as well as fruits such as watermelons, pears and strawberries.