All 24 solar terms · 12/24
Major Heat 大暑 · Dàshǔ
Usually the hottest weeks. Herbal 'dog-days tea' (伏茶) is shared, and in Taizhou (Zhejiang) the 'Great Heat boat' (送大暑船) is sent out to sea, a custom listed as national intangible heritage.
- Longitude of the Sun120°
- Jie / ZhongqiZhongqi (中气), a principal term: it fixes the months of the lunar calendar
- Sekki大暑 taisho
Major Heat: when it begins, 2026 to 2031
| 2026 | 23 July 2026, 03:13 | 22 July, 19:13 UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 23 July 2027, 09:05 | 23 July, 01:05 UTC |
| 2028 | 22 July 2028, 14:54 | 22 July, 06:54 UTC |
| 2029 | 22 July 2029, 20:42 | 22 July, 12:42 UTC |
| 2030 | 23 July 2030, 02:25 | 22 July, 18:25 UTC |
| 2031 | 23 July 2031, 08:10 | 23 July, 00:10 UTC |
Its three kō in Japan
- 桐始結花 kiri hajimete hana o musubu: Paulownia trees set buds · 23 July 2027
- 土潤溽暑 tsuchi uruōte mushiatsushi: Damp earth, humid heat · 28 July 2027
- 大雨時行 taiu tokidoki ni furu: Great rains sometimes fall · 2 August 2027
Calculated from the Sun's apparent position (PyEphem), to about a minute. Names, meanings and customs after the Hong Kong Observatory, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and UNESCO.