Summer

Lesser Heat

Jul 7–22

Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) is the eleventh solar term of the twenty‑four solar terms, and the fifth solar term of summer. The sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105°, and the name means "lesser heat," marking the beginning of late summer. This article explains its climatic characteristics (frequent thunderstorms, the onset of the dog days with humid heat), its impact on farming (the simultaneous heat and rain benefit crops), and folk customs across the north and south such as "eating the new harvest" (tasting newly harvested rice), eating dumplings on the first day of the dog days, and eating mutton during the dog days. It is a prelude solar term to the approaching scorching heat.