Summer in Ancient Paintings - How Did the Ancients Enjoy Summer?

The air-conditioning, cold drinks and ice cream seem to be the standard of modern summer. But in ancient times, how did people spend the long summer? In this article, we will peek at the ancient summer time through a large number of ancient paintings.

 

Summer Festival

July 4 is the sixth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, which has been officially designated as Tian Kuang Festival (天贶节) since the Song Dynasty, with the custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors and prohibiting slaughtering.

At this time of the year, ancient people would expose grain, clothes and books to the sun to prevent them from getting moldy and being moth-eaten, so the sixth day of the sixth month was also called the Shai Xi Festival (晒洗节).

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, people would take their pets to the river to give them a bath, officials would conduct bathing ceremonies for pets owned by the imperial family, such as elephants brought in from other countries. They are often performed during grand celebrations to show the royal majesty.

During the Tian Kuang Festival, ancient people also used to store some well water for brewing sauce and vinegar, and for soaking fruits and vegetables.

 

Clothing in ancient summer

The ancients did not have air conditioning available, so using a fan was the most common way to keep cool.

The light material of the big sleeve shirt is certainly one of the most popular hanfu style at that time.

But if in the outdoor, various styles of hats and umbrellas used for shade were essential.

The more light and breathable the clothing and pants, the better. The sandals were one of the necessities of the common people in ancient times.

 

Food in ancient summer

The ancients did not have refrigerators, but ice trays are the standard for the rich families to avoid the summer heat. The ice saved from winter to summer, is definitely considered a scarce item in ancient times.

July 7 is Xiaoshu in the traditional 24 solar terms, and eating lotus root is the custom since ancient times. However, the status of watermelon in Chinese summer remains unshakeable from ancient times.

In addition to watermelon, peaches and grapes are also seasonal fruits in July.

Early lychee has been available before July, but there are still some still hanging on the branch brewing sweet.

July lychee, shelled and frozen, the juice are condensed into a ball, white jade general, sweet taste is also more suitable for summer.

After July 16, summer enters its hottest phase. In such weather, the ancients would eat some hot noodles in soup to improve their appetite.

July 23 is the Dashu, which means that one of the hottest periods begins. It is customary in northern China to eat lotus seed soup, while in the south, it is customary to eat grass jelly, both are perfect foods to dissipate the heat.

 

Leisure activities in ancient summer

Unlike modern cities, ancient times have almost perfect air and nature.

Forests, ponds, willows and bamboo forests were the favorite places for the ancient people to cool off.

In July, the lotus flowers are in full bloom, together with friends, riding a boat on the lake, enjoying the lotus flowers to avoid the summer heat.

Then pick a few lotus flowers and put them in a vase in the room, and bring home the romance of July. The life of the ancients was so elegant and leisurely that makes people yearn for it.

And how are you going to enjoy July? Join the hanfu group and share with us.