Beginning of Autumn

(One of the twenty-four solar terms in China)

The beginning of autumn is the 13th solar term in the twenty-four solar terms. The change of the whole nature is a gradual process. The beginning of autumn is a turning point when the yang qi gradually withdraws, the yin qi gradually grows, and gradually changes from yang to yin. In nature, everything begins to grow from flourishing to desolate maturity.

The beginning of autumn does not mean the end of the hot weather. The beginning of autumn is still in the hot period, and the summer has not yet come out. The second solar term in autumn (the end of summer) is the beginning of summer, and the weather is still very hot during the early autumn. The so-called “heat is in the three volts”, and there is a saying of “one volt after the autumn”, and there will be at least “one volt” of extremely hot weather after the beginning of autumn. According to the calculation method of “San Fu”, the “Liqiu” day is often still in the middle period, that is to say, the hot summer is not over, and the real coolness usually comes after the Bailu solar term. The hot and cool watershed is not the beginning of autumn.

After entering autumn, it transitions from the rainy, humid and hot summer to the drier and dry climate in the autumn. In nature, the yin and yang qi begins to change, and all things gradually decline as the yang qi sinks. The most obvious change in autumn is when the foliage goes from lush green to yellow and begins to drop leaves and the crops begin to mature. The beginning of autumn is one of the “four seasons and eight festivals” in ancient times. There is a custom among the people to worship the gods of the land and celebrate the harvest. There are also customs such as “sticking autumn fat” and “biting autumn”.