The Three Dog Days: Ancient Wisdom for the Scorching Summer

The Three Dog Days: Ancient Wisdom for the Scorching SummerThe Three Dog Days, the hottest period of the year, is not only a division of natural seasons but also embodies the crystallization of ancient wisdom that profoundly influences people's customs, dietary culture, and health concepts. This article will delve into this special period from its origins, cultural implications, customs, and health preservation, guiding you through a deeper understanding and sharing practical tips to help you safely navigate the scorching summer

The Three Dog Days: Ancient Wisdom for the Scorching Summer

The Three Dog Days, the hottest period of the year, is not only a division of natural seasons but also embodies the crystallization of ancient wisdom that profoundly influences people's customs, dietary culture, and health concepts. This article will delve into this special period from its origins, cultural implications, customs, and health preservation, guiding you through a deeper understanding and sharing practical tips to help you safely navigate the scorching summer.

I. Origin of the Three Dog Days: A Testament to Ancient Wisdom

The naming of the Three Dog Days stems from ancient China's meticulous division of seasons and climate changes. As early as the Zhou Dynasty, the "Zhou Li" (Rites of Zhou) documented the 24 solar terms, reflecting ancient people's profound understanding of natural laws and mastery of astronomy and calendrical systems.

Specifically, the Three Dog Days start on the third "geng" day after the Summer Solstice and continue until the end of the last "fu," lasting 30 or 40 days. During this period, the sun's direct rays approach the Tropic of Cancer, maximizing the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives, making it the hottest period of the year.

II. Cultural Implications of the Three Dog Days: Scorching Summer in Poetry and Literature

In traditional Chinese culture, the Three Dog Days are not merely a meteorological concept but also infused with profound cultural significance. Ancient people often linked the scorching heat of the Three Dog Days with the warmth and coldness of life, the changing tides of events, expressing their emotions through poetry, reflecting their insights on nature and life.

Bai Juyi, a Tang Dynasty poet, in his poem "Hearing the Cicada on the Night of June 3rd," depicts the tranquility of the summer night and the chirping of cicadas, expressing his yearning and insight into the beauty of nature: "On the night of June 3rd, the bright moon shines on the tall building. Cicadas sing high on the willow trees, and the wind stirs the green window, making it secluded."

Besides this, there are numerous poems and prose that depict the Three Dog Days, such as:

• "Green trees densely shade the long summer day, the reflection of the pavilion and terrace falls into the pond. The crystal curtain moves with the gentle breeze, a full frame of roses fills the courtyard with fragrance." (Song Dynasty Yang Wanli "Summer Day Quatrain")

• "The scorching heat steams people like in a cauldron, a wisp of cool breeze blows through the window screen. Desiring to find a cool place to escape the heat, only lotus flowers accompany the green lotus leaves." (Song Dynasty Fan Chengda "Summer Day")

These poems not only showcase the scorching scenery of the Three Dog Days but also encapsulate ancient people's reflections on nature and life, as well as their pursuit of a better life.

III. Customs of the Three Dog Days: Passing Down Traditional Wisdom

The Three Dog Days are also closely related to people's customs, many of which have been passed down to this day, reflecting the accumulation of ancient people's wisdom regarding health and life.

1. "Dumplings on the First Dog Day, Noodles on the Second Dog Day, Pancakes with Eggs on the Third Dog Day": This folk saying reflects people's preferences for different foods during different phases, adapting to the hot weather.

• Dumplings: With diverse fillings and rich nutrition, dumplings symbolize the beginning of summer when eaten on the first Dog Day, also providing energy for the hot weather.

• Noodles: During the second Dog Day, people tend to favor light and easily digestible foods, making noodles a suitable choice.

• Pancakes and Eggs: On the third Dog Day, when the temperature is at its peak, people's appetites decline, and pancakes and eggs provide energy and nutrients.

2. "Treating Winter Illnesses in the Summer": Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the Three Dog Days are an excellent time to nourish the body, eliminate moisture, and detoxify. Therefore, the concept of "treating winter illnesses in the summer" was introduced, utilizing the period when summer Yang Qi is most abundant to enhance physical fitness and prevent diseases through therapies like moxibustion, cupping, etc.

3. Other Customs: Besides dietary customs, the Three Dog Days have other customs, such as:

• Drinking mung bean soup: Mung beans are cold in nature and have the effect of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, promoting urination, and reducing swelling, making them an ideal beverage for relieving summer heat and quenching thirst during the Three Dog Days.

• Eating watermelon: Watermelon is abundant in water, sweet and refreshing, a must-have fruit for relieving summer heat and cooling down in the summer.

• Drinking herbal tea: Herbal teas come in various types and have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, generating saliva, and quenching thirst. You can choose different types of herbal teas based on your individual constitution.

IV. Health Preservation during the Three Dog Days: Safely Navigating the Scorching Summer

The scorching heat of the Three Dog Days significantly affects human health, so it is crucial to take preventive measures against heatstroke, regulate diet, adjust sleep schedules, and prioritize health preservation in various aspects.

1. Preventing Heatstroke:

• "Avoiding Exposure": Minimize outdoor activities during the midday hours when the sun is strongest, from noon to afternoon, to prevent heatstroke and sunburns.

• Sun Protection: Wear hats, sunglasses, apply sunscreen with high SPF, and choose light, breathable clothing when going outside.

• Maintain Indoor Ventilation: Use air conditioners or fans to adjust the indoor temperature and create a comfortable living environment.

• Replenish Fluids: Drink warm water or diluted saline to prevent dehydration.

• Light Diet: Favor vegetables and fruits, limit oily and spicy foods.

2. Sleep Regulation:

• "Not Sleeping with Wet Hair": Ensure your hair is dry before going to bed to prevent scalp discomfort or sleep quality issues.

• "Not Going to Bed Angry": Maintain a peaceful mind before going to bed. Engage in deep breathing, meditation, or reading to relax and enter a peaceful sleep.

3. Dietary Regulation:

• "Eating Dumplings": Dumplings are excellent for replenishing energy and nutrients during the summer. Their diverse fillings cater to different tastes.

• "Eating Summer Fruits": Summer fruits are abundant, with watermelons, peaches, plums, and other seasonal fruits rich in water, sweet and refreshing, quickly replenishing lost fluids.

• "Eating Chicken": Chicken meat is high in protein and easily digestible, suitable for summer consumption.

4. Precautions:

• "Not Prolonged Air Conditioning Exposure": Avoid prolonged exposure to air conditioning, maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, and open windows for ventilation regularly.

• "Not Strenuous Exercise": Choose light to moderate exercise in the cooler hours of the morning or evening to avoid discomfort caused by high temperatures.

• "Not Taking Cold Showers": Avoid taking cold showers directly after sweating profusely. Use warm water to bathe, gradually helping the body cool down.

• "Not Eating Spicy Foods in Large Quantities": Avoid excessive consumption of spicy foods in the summer to prevent adding burden to your body.

V. Conclusion

The Three Dog Days are a test of scorching heat but also a prime time for health preservation. Following the wisdom of our ancestors, adopting preventive measures against heatstroke, regulating diet, and adjusting sleep schedules can help us navigate this unique period safely. Hopefully, this article will contribute to your understanding of the Three Dog Days and enable you to embrace the scorching summer healthily!

Here are some additional points you can incorporate based on your needs:

• Dietary recipes for the Three Dog Days: Provide some recipes suitable for the Three Dog Days, such as mung bean soup, watermelon juice, cold cucumber salad, steamed chicken, etc.

• Traditional Chinese medicine health preservation during the Three Dog Days: Introduce traditional Chinese medicine health preservation methods, such as moxibustion, cupping, acupuncture point massage, etc., to enhance your physical fitness and prevent diseases.

• Folklore about the Three Dog Days: Introduce folklore related to the Three Dog Days, such as the legend of "thunder in the Dog Days," etc.

• Historical and cultural aspects of the Three Dog Days: Introduce historical and cultural knowledge related to the Three Dog Days, such as the origin of the Three Dog Days, poetry and prose about the Three Dog Days, etc.

Our hope is that this article can help you better understand the Three Dog Days and embrace the scorching summer healthily!

Disclaimer: The content of this article is sourced from the internet. The copyright of the text, images, and other materials belongs to the original author. The platform reprints the materials for the purpose of conveying more information. The content of the article is for reference and learning only, and should not be used for commercial purposes. If it infringes on your legitimate rights and interests, please contact us promptly and we will handle it as soon as possible! We respect copyright and are committed to protecting it. Thank you for sharing.(Email:[email protected])