https://flv1.gmw.cn/soby/sobey/20210504/1620122436797 High.mp4
In early May, comes the solar term Start of Summer, which signals the transition of seasons. Characteristic scenes of this solar term are essentially captured in an ancient poem: （Written by Yang Wanli (1127-1206), Trans. by Li 2021） “Emerging from water, the tender lotus sprouts have just come into sight; When on their tips, the dragonflies already alight.”
This solar term was described in a compendium of Chinese historical documents Yi Zhou Shu, the majority of which date to about fourth century B.C. or perhaps earlier. According to this ancient book, on the day of Start of Summer, the chirping of ‘louguo’ can be heard, in which ‘louguo’ has been explained by later scholars as frog species or mole crickets; then five days later, earthworms can be seen; after another five days, the vines of gourds begin to grow.