立秋是二十四节气中的第十三个节气
Start of Autumn is the 13th solar term among the 24 Solar Terms.
也是秋季的开端
It also marks the beginning of autumn.
一般在每年公历8月7—9日
It generally falls between August 7th and 9th of the Gregorian calendar every year.
“立”为开始
The character"Li" means commencement
“秋”指禾谷成熟
the character"Qiu" refers to ripe grains.
古人认为自此万物
Ancient Chinese believed that from this time on, all living things
从繁茂生长
shift from luxuriant growth
转向收敛成熟
to restrained ripeness.
很多人误以为立秋就会立刻降温
Many people mistakenly think temperatures will drop sharply right after Start of Autumn,
其实并非如此
yet this is not the case.
立秋仍处在三伏尾声
Start of Autumn still comes in the final phase of the three fu periods of intense heat,
暑气并未完全消退
and summer heat has not faded away completely.
民间所说的“秋老虎”
The folkly known"Autumn Tiger"
会带来一段持续的晴热天气
brings a stretch of persistent sunny sweltering weather.
昼夜温差慢慢拉大
The temperature gap between day and night widens gradually.
白天依旧闷热
Days remain muggy and hot,
早晚已能感受到微凉的秋风
while a faint cool autumn breeze can be felt in the morning and evening.
古人将立秋分为三候
The ancients divided Start of Autumn into three pentads:
一候凉风至
The first pentad sees cool winds arrive.
偏北风渐起
Northerly winds spring up little by little,
驱散夏日燥热
chasing away the swelter of summer.
二候白露生
The second pentad witnesses white dews form.
昼夜温差凝结水汽
The temperature difference between day and night condenses water vapor,
清晨草木间生出晶莹露珠
forming crystal clear dewdrops on plants at dawn.
三候寒蝉鸣
The third pentad hears cold cicadas chirp.
蝉鸣渐渐变得凄切
The cicadas’chirps turn plaintive,
宣告盛夏即将落幕
heralding the end of midsummer.
时节流转
As seasons cycle onward,
阳气渐收
yang energy gradually recedes,
阴气渐长
and yin energy grows steadily.
立秋既是暑热与清凉的交界
Start of Autumn stands as the dividing line between lingering summer heat and refreshing coolness,
也是沉淀与收获的起点
as well as the starting point of accumulation and harvest.
褪去夏日浮躁
Cast off the restlessness of summer,
顺应时节调养身心
nurture body and mind in line with seasonal rhythms,
在渐凉的秋风里
and amid the gradually cooling autumn winds,
静待万物成熟
wait quietly for all things to ripen,
收获安稳顺遂
and embrace peace and good fortune.
（Zhang Yujia, Wu Xuyang）
