立秋 Lìqiū
Start of Autumn
In 2026: 7 August 2026 to 23 August 2026 (Beijing time)
Autumn is “established”. The heat lingers, but the year has turned toward gathering in.
- Sun’s longitude
- 135°
- Month (earthly branch)
- 申month
- Season
- Autumn
- Five Phase
- 金Metal
The three pentads
Each term is divided into three five-day pentads, named for what the ancients saw happen in nature.
- First pentad凉风至Cool winds arrive
- Second pentad白露降White dew forms
- Third pentad寒蝉鸣The autumn cicada sings
Wudang yangsheng for this term
- Breath
- Tradition gives autumn to the lungs: deep, slow breathing into the belly.
- Warm tea and diet
- Moistening food such as pear and lily bulb; start cutting back on cold drinks.
- Sleep and daily rhythm
- Early to bed and early to rise, “with the rooster”, as the Huangdi Neijing puts it.
Traditional guidance, not medical advice. The terms follow the seasons of central China.
In the Book of Changes
Each month has a sovereign hexagram (消息卦) that shows how far yin or yang has grown. For the 申 month it is 否, Standstill.