“春雨惊春清谷天，夏满芒夏暑相连；秋处露秋寒霜降，冬雪雪冬小大寒。”

China has 24 Solar Terms: Start of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain, Start of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Start of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent, Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold and Major Cold.

二十四节气不仅反映天体运行规律、体现季节变化、指导农事，更重要的是，几千年来，它深深影响着中国人生活的方方面面，早已成为中华传统文化的一部分。

The 24 Solar Terms reflect the movement of celestial bodies and seasonal change, as well as guide agricultural arrangements. More importantly, for thousands of years, they have become part of traditional Chinese culture, penetrating into every aspect of Chinese life.

2016年，中国文化译研网将与您一起关注节气变化，感受节气交替中深沉的文化内涵，敬请关注。

In 2016, CCTSS (China Cultural Translation and Studies Support) will share with you solar term changes and its deep cultural connotations. Please stay tuned.

大暑是农历二十四节气的第十二个节气，夏天的第六个节气；7月22日，即太阳到达黄经120°之时为“大暑”节气。与小暑一样，大暑也是反映夏季炎热程度的节令，表示炎热至极。这时正值“中伏”前后，全国大部分地区进入一年中最热时期，也是喜温作物生长最快的时期。

Major Heat is the 12^th solar term and the 6^th summer solar terms. It begins on 22^nd July, when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 120°. Both Minor Heat and Major Heat are indicators of heat level, and the latter reflects maximum heat. Major Heat coincides with the second ten days of Sanfu, i.e., the hottest days of the year in most parts of China, during which warm season crops grow fastest.

1.气候特点 Climatic features

大暑一般处在三伏里的中伏阶段。这时在中国大部分地区都处在一年中最热的阶段，而且全国各地温差也不大。刚好与谚语：“冷在三九，热在中伏”相吻合。而大暑之后便是立秋，正好符合了物极必反规律，可见大暑的炎热程度了。此时，我国除青藏高原及东北北部外，35℃的高温已是司空见惯，40℃的酷热也不鲜见。著名的三大火炉——南京、武汉、重庆，在大暑前后也是炉火最旺。比“三大火炉”更热的地方还有很多，如安庆、九江等。

Major Heat coincides with the second ten days of Sanfu, i.e., the hottest days of the year. For most part of China, this is the hottest time of the year, and temperature varies little. This feature can be found in a Chinese proverb: It is the coldest in the third ten days in Sanjiu (the coldest time of the year), and the hottest in the second ten days of Sanfu. Following Major Heat is the Start of Autumn, which fit the philosophy of “extremes meet”. This contrast also reflects the heat level of Major Heat. Except for the Tibetan Plateau and the northeast, 35℃ is commonplace in China, even 40℃ is not rare. For Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing, which are known as “Three Furnaces”, their “heat fire” burns highest around Major Heat. Actually many other places are even hotter than the “Three Furnaces”, such as Anqing and Jiujiang.

这期间，北方地区时常湿热难当，只有当北方冷空气与南方或东部海上输送来的暖湿气流配合默契时，出现一两场像样的暴雨，才可一解暑气。暴雨往往给这些地区的农作物补充急需的水分，但若同时出现强对流天气以及过量的雨水，往往形成局地洪涝和泥石流灾害。

During Major Heat, the north of China is extremely sultry. It only becomes cooler when the cold air from the north meets the warm and humid air from the southern or eastern coast, bringing heavy rainstorms. This supplies water to the thirsty crops, but strong convection and excessive rainfall is likely to cause floods and mudflows in some areas.

2.节气习俗 Folk Customs during Major Heat

“喝暑羊”

山东南部地区有在大暑到来这一天“喝暑羊”（即喝羊肉汤）的习俗。在枣庄市，不少市民大暑这天到当地的羊肉汤馆“喝暑羊”。

Drinking Mutton Soup

In the south of Shandong Province, people drink mutton soup on the first day of Major Heat. In the city of Zaozhuang, many citizens drink mutton soup in local mutton restaurants.

送“大暑船”

大暑送“大暑船”活动在浙江台州沿海已有几百年的历史。“大暑船”完全按照旧时的三桅帆船缩小比例后建造，长8米、宽2米、重约1.5吨，船内载各种祭品。活动开始后，50多名渔民轮流抬着“大暑船”在街道上行进，鼓号喧天，鞭炮齐鸣，街道两旁站满祈福人群。“大暑船”最终被运送至码头，进行一系列祈福仪式。随后，这艘“大暑船”被渔船拉出渔港，然后在大海上点燃，任其沉浮，以此祝福人们五谷丰登，生活安康。

Sending the Major Heat Ship

Sending the Major Heat ship is a centuries-old tradition in Taizhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang Province. The ship is a miniature of the traditional three-masted sailing vessel. With 8 meters in length, 2 meters in width and 1.5 tons in weight, it carries different kinds of offerings. When the ceremony begins, more than 50 fishermen take turns to carry the ship along the street, accompanied by roaring drumbeat and firecrackers. The street is lined with people praying for blessing. Finally, the ship will be carried to the dock and praying ceremonies will be held. After that, people tow it to the sea and set it on fire, leaving its fate to itself. In so doing, people pray for a bumper harvest, good health and a peaceful life.

吃仙草

广东很多地方在大暑时节有“吃仙草”的习俗。仙草又名凉粉草、仙人草，唇形科仙草属草本植物，是重要的药食两用植物资源。由于其神奇的消暑功效，被誉为“仙草”。茎叶晒干后可以做成烧仙草，广东一带叫凉粉，是一种消暑的甜品。

Eating Grass Jelly (Chinese Mesona)

Many places in Guangdong Province have the tradition of eating grass jelly made of Chinese mesona during Major Heat. Labiatae mesona belongs to the herbal genus. It is called “leung fun” (Cantonese), and it can be both food and medicine. Since it is very effective for relieving summer heat, it is renowned as “magic grass”. Its sun-dried stems and leaves can be made into grass jelly as a dessert to relieve summer heat.

（注：本段前部分已经说明leung fun 是广东的叫法，故“广东一带叫凉粉”省略不译。另外，“仙草”在文中出现了两次，为避免重复，仅在第二次出现时译出。）

吃凤梨

大暑期间，台湾有吃凤梨的习俗。民间百姓认为这个时节的凤梨最好吃，加上凤梨的闽南语发音和“旺来”相同，所以也被用来作为祈求平安吉祥、生意兴隆的象征。

Eating Pineapple

Taiwanese have the tradition of eating pineapple during Major Heat because people think it is the best season. Besides, it is called “feng li” in southern Fujian dialect, which shares the same pronunciation with “good fortune” in the same dialect. Therefore, it is a symbol of safety, good luck and thriving business.

3.大暑养生 Health Tips During Major Heat

大暑时天气往往闷热、潮湿，即使大汗淋漓也不能解热，很容易中暑。因此大暑养生首先要避开桑拿天，闷热天气尽量少出门、少活动，即使出门也不能长时间暴露在露天里。为了让体内的湿气散发出来，应尽量在早晚温度稍低时进行散步等强度不大的活动。

People may suffer heatstroke because of the stuffy and sultry weather during Major Heat, which makes it impossible to relieve summer heat even when sweating profusely. As a result, the first health tip is to spend less time outdoors; even if you are outside, do not stay for too long. To get the humidity out of your body, it is better to do some moderate exercises in the morning or evening when it is cooler.

三伏天里有慢性病史的病人，特别是中老年人发生心、脑血管意外的可能性远远大于年轻人。因此中老年人在盛夏高温中健身要避免体力消耗过大的运动项目。

Those with chronic diseases, particularly the middle-aged and elderly, are more prone to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents than young people. They need to avoid too physically consuming activities when working out at the height of summer.

正确的饮食可以帮助人体抵御暑湿的侵袭，可以多吃些冬瓜、薏米、茯苓、山药等食物，可以用来熬粥或煮汤。如果已经感觉到头晕，也可以用新鲜的藿香叶、薄荷叶、佩兰来煮汤或熬粥，也可以选择藿香叶。

Proper diet helps to fend off heat and humidity. Winter melon, the seed of Job’s tears, Poria cocos and Chinese yam are recommended; they can be cooked for porridge or soup. If you feel dizzy, use fresh agastache rugosa leaves, mint leaves and eupatorium to cook soup or porridge.

新鲜藿香叶的主要功效是芳香化浊、祛暑解表；薄荷的主要功效是疏散风热，利咽透疹，舒肝泻热。夏季以湿热为主，服用藿香鲜叶保健是可行的，但要注意不能过度，也不能把这作为治疗疾病的方法。而且，藿香和薄荷均不宜久煎，以藿香为例，煮的时间长了其芳香之气会消失，就起不到原有的效果了，因此最好最后放。

The scent of fresh agastache rugosa leaves help to remove the humidity and unhealthy stuff from the body and relieve the summer heat. Mint helps to drive away wind-heat, clear the throat, bring out skin rash to unleash the virus, sooth the liver and release heat. Because of the sultry weather in summer, taking fresh agastache rugosa leaves is good for health, but only in moderate amount, and this cannot be used as medical treatment. Agastache rugosa and mint should not be boiled for too long, or the scent of agastache rugosa will disappear and be less effective. Therefore, it is best to boil them at last.

（注：在传统中医理论里，风热翻作wind-heat，风寒翻作wind-cold。）

4.相关诗词（欢迎试译）

六月十八日夜大暑

（宋）司马光

老柳蜩螗噪，荒庭熠燿流。

人情正苦暑，物怎已惊秋。

月下濯寒水，风前梳白头。

如何夜半客，束带谒公侯。

骤雨

钱钟书

　　大暑陵人酷吏尊，来苏失喜对翻盆。

　　雷嗔斗醒诸天梦，电笑登开八表昏。

　　忽噫雄风收雨脚，渐蜷雌霓接云根。

       苍苍似为归舟地，试让前滩水涨痕。