小满 Xiǎomǎn
Grain Buds
In 2026: 21 May 2026 to 5 June 2026 (Beijing time)
“Small fullness”: summer grain is filling out but not yet ripe. A good image for the practice of not grasping at completion.
- Sun’s longitude
- 60°
- Month (earthly branch)
- 巳month
- Season
- Summer
- Five Phase
- 火Fire
The three pentads
Each term is divided into three five-day pentads, named for what the ancients saw happen in nature.
- First pentad苦菜秀Sow-thistle flowers
- Second pentad靡草死Delicate grasses wither
- Third pentad麦秋至The wheat harvest arrives
Wudang yangsheng for this term
- Breath
- Keep the breath soft through the nose; never force it into a heavy sweat.
- Warm tea and diet
- Cool, light food such as cucumber and bitter melon; little that is greasy or heavy.
- Sleep and daily rhythm
- Dry off and change after practice; do not sit in a draught in damp clothes.
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 巳 month it is 乾, The Creative.