Lixia 立夏 — Start of Summer
Overview
Lixia falls around 5 May. As with the other three 'li' terms (Lichun, Liqiu, Lidong), it marks a beginning rather than a peak: the season starts here, and its middle and end are named separately.
Meaning
The first summer term — the point at which the season is declared to have turned.
Traditional Interpretation
The four 'li' terms are the season-openers and are structurally paired with the four cardinal terms. The classical sources treat the pair together — a season opens, peaks and closes.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What is lixia 立夏 — start of summer in the Chinese calendar?
The first summer term — the point at which the season is declared to have turned. Lixia falls around 5 May. As with the other three 'li' terms (Lichun, Liqiu, Lidong), it marks a beginning rather than a peak: the season starts here, and its middle and end are named separately.
Is lixia 立夏 — start of summer a festival or a calendar date?
It is a solar term — a date fixed by the sun's position, not by the moon. The first summer term — the point at which the season is declared to have turned. The 'li' / cardinal / closing structure is what makes the twenty-four a system rather than a list: each season has an opener, a midpoint and a close.
How is lixia 立夏 — start of summer read in Chinese tradition?
The four 'li' terms are the season-openers and are structurally paired with the four cardinal terms. The classical sources treat the pair together — a season opens, peaks and closes. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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