Collected Explanations of the Seventy-Two Pentads:

“Lixia, the festival of the fourth month. The meaning of ‘Li’ is explained under spring.

‘Xia’ means ‘to grow large’; all things at this time grow large.”

Spring quietly hides away, summer sunlight begins to lengthen.

Blossoms have not all fallen, wild wheat and barley are fresh green.

If spring is romance and gentleness,

Then summer is innocence and enthusiasm.

Three Pentads of Lixia

First Pentad | The mole cricket sings

The mole cricket is a burrowing insect. At Lixia, people hear mole crickets chirping tirelessly in the fields, as if urging summer to make its grand appearance.

Second Pentad | Earthworms emerge

With the nourishment of summer rains, earthworms that have lain dormant deep in the soil all winter can no longer contain their excitement. They break through the earth, poke out their heads, and joyfully welcome the arrival of summer.

Third Pentad | Wild melon vines grow

The wild melon (or cucumber) grows among sparse trees on mountain slopes or in thickets; generally refers to creeping plants. The arrival of Lixia brings them ample sunshine and rain. Before long, these vines and tendrils will form stretches of green shade, adding layers of greenery to the summer landscape.

Lixia Customs

Seeing off Spring, Welcoming Summer

In ancient times, people placed great importance on the rituals of Lixia. On this day, the emperor would lead civil and military officials to the southern suburbs of the capital to hold a ceremony welcoming summer.

All officials wore vermilion robes and vermilion jade pendants; even horses and chariot flags were vermilion, expressing prayers for a bountiful harvest and good fortune.

The Lixia Weighing Custom

Weighing people is an interesting Lixia custom, said to be related to Liu Shan (A Dou), the son of Liu Bei, ruler of Shu Han.

Before Zhuge Liang’s death, he instructed Meng Huo to visit the ruler of Shu once a year. The day he gave this instruction happened to be Lixia. Thereafter, every year, Meng Huo kept his promise and came to Shu to pay respects. Later, when Emperor Wu of Jin conquered Shu and captured A Dou, Meng Huo still came to visit every Lixia. To verify whether A Dou was being mistreated by the Jin emperor, Meng Huo weighed A Dou each time he came. Consequently, A Dou’s days remained peaceful and carefree.

Because weighing on Lixia brought good fortune to A Dou, from then on, people would perform this custom on this day to pray for good luck.

When weighing an elder, one would say: “The scale reads eighty-seven, you will live to ninety-one.” When weighing a child, one would say: “The scale reads twenty-three, this young master will make his way in the world when he grows up.”

Egg Tapping Game

“Lixia eggs, smashed all over the street.” On Lixia, every household boils eggs, cools them in cold water, then puts them into small nets woven from colored silk or wool thread, which children hang around their necks. The children gather in small groups to play the egg tapping game.

The rules are simple: each child holds an egg; the pointed end is the head, the round end is the tail. Head hits head, tail hits tail, one egg against another. Whoever’s shell cracks loses, then eats the egg – that is the Lixia custom of “strengthening the heart” by eating eggs. The last unbroken egg is the “egg king.”

Spring has a hundred flowers, autumn the moon,

Summer has cool breezes, winter snow.

Each season has its own beauty,

Each day its own fine view.