Xiaoshu 小暑 — Minor Heat
Overview
Xiaoshu falls around 7 July. It opens the hot part of summer, with the peak term Dashu to follow.
Meaning
The onset of the hot season — heat that is present but not yet at its peak.
Traditional Interpretation
The paired minor/major terms — Xiaoshu and Dashu, Xiaoxue and Daxue, Xiaohan and Dahan — are the calendar's way of expressing degree rather than kind: the same condition, lighter and heavier.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What is xiaoshu 小暑 — minor heat in the Chinese calendar?
The onset of the hot season — heat that is present but not yet at its peak. Xiaoshu falls around 7 July. It opens the hot part of summer, with the peak term Dashu to follow.
Is xiaoshu 小暑 — minor heat a festival or a calendar date?
It is a solar term — a date fixed by the sun's position, not by the moon. The onset of the hot season — heat that is present but not yet at its peak. The minor/major pairings are the clearest structural device in the twenty-four: twelve pairs, each a condition stated twice at different intensities.
How is xiaoshu 小暑 — minor heat read in Chinese tradition?
The paired minor/major terms — Xiaoshu and Dashu, Xiaoxue and Daxue, Xiaohan and Dahan — are the calendar's way of expressing degree rather than kind: the same condition, lighter and heavier. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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