🔥 Trending Understanding Liqiu: The Start of Autumn in Chinese Tradition

Liqiu (立秋), also known as the Beginning of Autumn, is one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar. It signifies the official start of autumn and the end of the scorching summer heat ⁵⁹. This solar term typically begins around August 7th and concludes around August 23rd in the Gregorian calendar, specifically when the Sun reaches a celestial longitude of 135° ⁹. In 2026, Liqiu falls on August 8th ⁸.

Significance of Liqiu

Liqiu holds deep cultural and agricultural significance in East Asian societies, particularly in China.

• Seasonal Transition: While it marks the beginning of autumn, it doesn't necessarily mean an immediate drop in temperature. The heat often lingers, a period sometimes referred to as "autumn tiger" ⁵.
• Harvest Season: Liqiu also heralds the approaching harvest season, making it a crucial time for farmers ⁸.

Traditional Customs and Practices of Liqiu

Over centuries, Liqiu has evolved into a festival rich with traditions that reflect ancient wisdom and agricultural rhythms ⁷. Many of these customs revolve around food, health, and preparing for the cooler months.

Food-Related Traditions

A significant portion of Liqiu traditions centers on eating specific foods to nourish the body and celebrate the season.

• "Fleshing Out in Autumn" (Tie Qiu Biao - 贴秋膘): This custom involves eating meat, particularly pork, beef, or chicken, to gain weight after the summer's heat-induced appetite loss ⁵. It's believed that people lose weight in summer due to sweating and poor appetite, so autumn is the time to "fatten up" for winter ².
• "Chew Autumn" (Ken Qiu - 啃秋): This tradition involves eating watermelons, especially in the northern parts of China ⁵. People believe that eating watermelon on Liqiu can prevent autumn dysentery ².
• Eating Peaches: In some regions, people eat peaches on Liqiu and then keep the peach pits. It's believed that if the pits don't rot by New Year's Eve, the person who ate the peach will remain healthy in the coming year ².
• Liqiu Rice: In the Yangtze River Delta area, people make Liqiu rice by mixing five different grains or ingredients, symbolizing a bountiful harvest and good fortune ².
• Lotus Seed Picking: In the Yangtze River Delta Area, it has been a tradition for farmers to pick lotus seeds every year after Liqiu ⁸.

Other Customs

Beyond food, other practices are observed during Liqiu:

• Weighing People: In some areas, people weigh themselves on Liqiu to compare their weight with that taken at the beginning of summer. This practice is linked to the "fleshing out" tradition, encouraging people to regain any weight lost during the summer ².
• Predicting Weather: Farmers often observe the weather on Liqiu to predict the coming autumn and winter. For instance, if Liqiu is sunny, it might indicate a dry autumn ².
• Worshipping the God of Land: In ancient times, people would hold ceremonies to worship the God of Land, praying for a good harvest ⁷.

These traditions highlight the deep connection between Chinese culture, agriculture, and the natural world, emphasizing the importance of seasonal changes and communal well-being.