Meaning of Soseo (小暑) — the 11th of the 24 solar terms, around July 6-8
Soseo (小暑) is the 11th of the 24 solar terms, occurring around July 6-8, when the sun reaches celestial longitude 105°.
At a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 小暑 |
| Season | ☀️ Summer |
| Gregorian timing | Around July 6-8 |
| Solar celestial longitude | 105° |
| Saju month command | Solar node (節) — from this day, the Mi (未) month begins |
| Key themes | Small heat, monsoon season |
Meaning and origin
Soseo means “small (小) heat (暑),” and it marks the beginning of truly hot weather. Because the monsoon front often stays over the Korean Peninsula around this time, the weather becomes humid and hot.
Customs and foods
People enjoyed wheat-based foods so they would not lose their appetite in the heat — this solar term was considered the right season for noodles and sujebi made from newly harvested wheat. Seasonal fruits such as watermelon and Korean melon also begin to grow sweet around this time.
Saju and solar terms
The calendar used in myeongli moves by solar terms. Soseo is one of the 12 solar nodes (節), and from this day, the month pillar (月柱) in saju changes to the Mi (未) month. This is why solar terms, not lunar calendar dates, are used as the standard when determining the sexagenary sign of the birth month.
Wisdom for this time of year
Set up a rhythm of rest at the beginning of the heat. The strength to endure midsummer comes from the rest taken at Soseo.
Learn more
- View all 24 solar terms: 24 Solar Terms Dictionary
- Today’s daily energy, horoscope, and tarot: Today’s Cosmos (oiyo.net)
- The saju calendar that moves by solar terms: Saju Dictionary
Solar terms are a seasonal calendar that divides the sun’s path into 24 parts. This is a traditional explanation based on the climate of the Korean Peninsula, and the actual date may vary by about one day each year.
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