Start of Summer

In early May, comes the solar term Start of Summer, which signals the transition of seasons. Characteristic scenes of this solar term are essentially captured in an ancient poem: （Written by Yang Wanli (1127-1206), Trans. by Li 2021） “Emerging from water, the tender lotus sprouts have just come into sight; When on their tips, the dragonflies already alight.”

This solar term was described in a compendium of Chinese historical documents Yi Zhou Shu, the majority of which date to about fourth century B.C. or perhaps earlier. According to this ancient book, on the day of Start of Summer, the chirping of ‘louguo’ can be heard, in which ‘louguo’ has been explained by later scholars as frog species or mole crickets; then five days later, earthworms can be seen; after another five days, the vines of gourds begin to grow.

Throughout thousands of years, Chinese literati have been inspired by the solar term Start of Summer, creating a large number of poems. For instance, Fan Chengda (1127-1206), known as one of the “four masters” of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) poetry, once presented rural life during early summer： “All hills and fields are clad in green and streams in white; Cuckoos shed tears while rain drizzles like vapor light. The peasants in the fourth moon are busy farm hand; Having just fed the silkworms, they should till the land.” (Trans. by Xu & Xu 2018).

A Tang Dynasty poet and philosopher Liu Yuxi (772-842), once wrote a poem titled Tune of Early Summer: “The once vibrant spring blossoms are all gone; […] Tree branches, with the growing fruits, slightly bow down. A butterfly is still fluttering around the yard, Quite lonely, as finding a late spring flower is so hard.” (Trans. by Li 2021)

Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, also known as his original name Li Shimin, presented dynamic early summer scenes in his poem: “Overnight, comes the season of summer; Growing fast, are the different flora and fauna. Emerging, is the color green of various shades; In sunset, vapory smoke rises and fades.” (Trans. by Li 2021)

Another master of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yang Wanli (1127-1206), once wrote on an early summer day: “Grain crops dress the fields in golden and green;[…] Scarlet roses are ladies wearing blusher, radiant and keen.” (Trans. by Li 2021) Just as what the German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) said -“Poetry builds up the very nature of dwelling” (Heidegger, 2001, p.225)- all the above ancient Chinese verses not only depict scenes of early summer days, but also reflect the writers’ poetic way of living during the solar term Start of Summer.

References: Golden treasury of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Poetry (Translated by Xu Yuanchong & Frank M. Xu). China Intercontinental Press 2018. Heidegger, M. (2001). Poetry, language, thought [Trans. by A. Hofstader]. New York: Harper Perennial.