The Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou is a comprehensive cultural venue built to commemorate Tang Xianzu, one of the world’s hundred great cultural figures and a master of Ming‑dynasty drama in China. It is also one of Jiangxi Province’s ten major memorial halls dedicated to historical luminaries.
The Twenty-Four Solar Terms at the Soup House | Summer Solstice
Author:
Source:
Time:
2023-06-26
The Summer Solstice is the tenth of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. On this day, the point where the sun’s rays strike the Earth reaches its northernmost position, nearly directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, and the daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere are at their longest of the year.
The steadily rising temperatures herald the arrival of midsummer. Daylight hours have reached their peak, and the night’s watchful tolling grows ever longer. In this season, the croaking of frogs and the chirping of cicadas fill the air; rice blossoms gleam like white ribbons, while lotus flowers blaze in a distinctive crimson.
Summer Solstice / Origin
The summer solstice typically occurs around June 22, when the Earth reaches a solar longitude of 90 degrees. As the ancients observed: “When the sun reaches its northernmost point, the day is at its longest, and the shadow is at its shortest; hence it is called the summer solstice.”
On the summer solstice, the Sun shines directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N), which passes through Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other regions of China. After this point, the Sun begins its southward journey. At the North Pole, the period of continuous daylight reaches its peak, with the Sun never setting and climbing to its highest altitude; meanwhile, the Antarctic polar night has already passed its midpoint. The summer solstice marks the time when the Sun’s rays strike the Northern Hemisphere most intensely, resulting in the longest days and strongest solar radiation—but it is not the hottest time of year. This is because the atmosphere surrounding Earth absorbs and releases heat gradually. The peak warmth in the Northern Hemisphere occurs during the “Sanfu” period, which begins three “Geng” days after the summer solstice, hence the folk sayings: “The first phase of the dog days starts on the third Geng day after the summer solstice,” and “Cold peaks in the “Sanjiu” period, while heat reaches its height in the “Zhongfu.””
The Summer Solstice is not only one of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms but also a traditional festival within the ancient folk calendar of “Four Seasons and Eight Festivals.” Since time immemorial, it has been customary to worship the gods and honor one’s ancestors on this day. As the saying goes, “Heaven and Earth are the foundation of life; one’s ancestors are the root of the human race.” Heaven and Earth constitute the very basis of existence, while one’s forebears represent the essence of humanity; thus, ancestral rites serve as a practice that carries forward filial piety. In addition, folk traditions associated with the Summer Solstice include “warding off the summer heat” and “tonifying and nourishing” customs.
Summer Solstice / Three Hou 
From this moment on, the night’s watch grows longer, and a faint shade begins to rise from the depths of the earth. At the summer solstice, yang energy reaches its peak; as yang attains its utmost height, yin energy starts to emerge, giving rise to the three hou of the summer solstice:
First period: the antlers of deer begin to shed.
The second hou: the cicadas begin to sing;
The third hou: Pinellia arises.
First Hou: The antlers fall off—meaning the deer shed their antlers. Deer are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. Observers have noted that around the Summer Solstice, deer begin to lose their antlers; accordingly, this phenomenon has been included among the Seventy-two Hous, with the shedding of antlers designated as the first Hou of the Summer Solstice and a symbolic herald of its arrival. It is important to note that the loss of antlers does not signify decline or an end, but rather marks growth and a fresh beginning. Deer antlers are used in traditional medicine, reputed to tonify the kidneys and invigorate yang, generate fluids and replenish blood, strengthen the body, and promote circulation to reduce swelling.
The second hou, “the cicadas begin to sing,” refers to the onset of cicada song. The cicada—large and dark—is what we call the “zhile” in Chinese. As recorded in the Book of Songs, “July”: “In April, the wild grasses bloom; in May, the cicadas sing.” June on the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Cicadas are among the most sensitive creatures to seasonal changes; when temperature and humidity reach their peak, they produce a loud, resonant call. Thus, the chirping of cicadas marks the height of yang energy and serves as a symbol of midsummer. The cicada’s nymph stage is spent underground, subsisting by feeding on the sap of tree roots—lasting anywhere from seven to eight years at the shortest, up to fourteen or fifteen years at the longest. Upon emerging from the ground, it undergoes its final molt and ascends to the treetops. The discarded skin from this last molt is known as “chan tui”; it is used in traditional medicine for its effects of dispersing wind‑heat, opening the lungs, and relieving convulsions. Moreover, the nymphs just before their final molt are edible and exceptionally nutritious.
Third hou: “Banxia Sheng” — the time when pinellia is at its peak growth. The name “banxia” reflects that it thrives when summer is more than halfway through. Pinellia is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Araceae family, widely distributed across China. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine, with Rǔ Banxia (produced in Pingyu, Runan) being regarded as the most authentic medicinal material. It is toxic but possesses properties that resolve phlegm and relieve cough, stop vomiting, astringe, and exert antibacterial effects.
Summer Solstice /
Customs
Like the winter solstice, the summer solstice is an important folk festival, known as “Summer Solstice Festival.” In some regions, the festivities of the Summer Solstice Festival are no less lively than those of the Dragon Boat Festival.
According to the Song‑dynasty text “Wenchang Zalu,” officialdom at the time observed a three‑day holiday, allowing all officials to return home to rest and indulge in bathing and leisure. The “Liao History: Rituals” records: “On the Summer Solstice, known as the ‘Morning Festival,’ women present colorful fans and exchange scented sachets.” Colorful fans were used for cooling, while fragrant sachets helped dispel body odor. On this day, farmers across the land busied themselves with rituals to honor Heaven—praying for rain in the north and for clear skies in the south. As early as the Zhou dynasty, ceremonies dedicated to the gods were already held on the Summer Solstice; by the Qing dynasty, these rites were still regarded as major state ceremonies. Among the common people, it was customary to eat noodles on this occasion, and in some regions, they also enjoyed pancakes or steamed buns made from newly harvested wheat, a practice known as “tasting the new.”
Copyright © Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall of Fuzhou City (Fuzhou Tang Xianzu Culture and Art Center) Technical Support:China Enterprise Dynamics-Nanchangvertical strokeSEO
