With the arrival of summer comes the goal of keeping cool and comfortable. Ancient Chinese society, for example, did not have access to conveniences like air conditioning. Nonetheless, the Chinese devised several summer cooling strategies to beat the summer heat and keep their homes comfortable.
This article will discuss some cooling strategies the ancient Chinese used to beat the heat and have a pleasant summer.
When does summer begin in China?
The months of June through August are considered summer in China. Summer begins and ends at different times in different parts of China due to the country’s large size and varying climates. The summer in northern China often starts in late May or early June and continues until September. And it can begin as early as April and last as late as October in the South.
In addition, high-altitude places and coastal locales may enjoy more comfortable summer temperatures. For precise information on when summer begins and ends in various parts of China, it is best to consult local weather trends and predictions.
How ancient Chinese cooling strategies beat the summer heat naturally
The people of ancient China could naturally combat the oppressive summer heat by the following methods:
Imperial ice desserts
Ancient Chinese people, like modern ones, sought relief from the sweltering summer heat with ice cream and icy drinks. However, the royal court of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 B.C.) had exclusive access to ice. The Zhou court formed the bingzheng (ice administration), with its 80 servants known as lingren (ice men), as recorded in the Confucian classic Rites of Zhou.
An underground “ice warehouse,” or lingyin, protected from the heat of the surface, was used by the ice administration to store blocks of ice from rivers every December. When the emperor wanted to show appreciation for a particularly distinguished official, he would hand out ice cubes from his supply.
Those who received ice considered it a great privilege; they used it to keep their dwellings cool and their food fresh or frozen. Saltpeter (which was taken from quarries in vast amounts to create gunpowder) was used to chill water and generate ice swiftly, and this technique continued until the late Tang Dynasty. Since then, it has been possible to produce artificial ice even in the summer.
Sushan, a frozen dairy product brought to China by nomadic tribes from the north, experienced a similar surge in popularity during the Tang Dynasty. For the cooling beverage known as sushan, boiled buffalo milk was combined with sugar or honey before being poured into a container in the shape of a mountain peak. Then, it was placed in the lingyin to freeze.
During the Song era (960-1279), fresh fruit drinks served cold became famous all over China. Lychee cream water is one of the most well-known drinks. It’s made of plums and lychees, spiced with cinnamon and cloves.
Weather-appropriate wardrobe
Thin, see-through fabrics helped people stay cool even when bikinis were out of the question. Proofreading in the Northern Qi Dynasty, a painting by Yang Zihua from the 6th century, depicts scribes working in loose-fitting gowns with slip dresses underneath.
In the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha, Hunan Province, archeologists discovered a 95-gram silk robe from the Western Han period (206 BCE – 25 CE) in 1972. The thin yet long-lasting garment was called susha danyi, meaning “plain silk single robe.” Also, the name of the clothing comes from the fact that it is monochromatic and can be worn on its own.
However, most regular people could not afford the silk robes of academics and government officials. Zhuyi (bamboo clothes) were more appropriate, as they wicked away moisture and didn’t cling to the skin. In addition, jingyi, long pants with a drop crotch, were sometimes worn by ladies. The wearer wore a long skirt called a chang to hide their private parts.
Cool architecture
Sometimes, though, it took some strategic building to keep cool. Ancient settlements were frequently arranged around artificial lakes and reservoirs, with flowers and plants added for cooling and humidity.
To beat the summer heat during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the emperor would frequently retreat to his “green cold palace,” producing bamboo, lotus flowers, and other flora. The palace and the emperor’s chamber had dozens of gold basins stocked with ice from the imperial ice storage.
There were even crazier methods of temperature regulation. Tang Emperor Xuanzong once had two live snakes refrigerated and delivered to his fat relative, King Shen, who couldn’t endure the summer heat. So says the Miscellany from Youyang, a collection of literary sketches from the Youyang period. The snakes were a cooling belt that King Shen wore around his waist.
Mechanical fans
Craftsmen during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.220) created an “impeller fan” to help provide cooling. The scholarly treatise Xijing Zaji (Miscellany of the Western Capital), written during the Han Dynasty, introduced a mechanism. This mechanism had seven fans mounted on a wheel and spun at high speed in response to the movement of a single handle.
Only the royal family would be able to buy such luxury items.
Harnessing the secrets of ancient Chinese summer cooling techniques
Learn about the ingenuity and foresight of ancient Chinese civilizations by delving into the mysteries of their summer cooling techniques. By adopting and modifying these time-honored practices, people can combat climate change’s effects while fostering a more sustainable and peaceful relationship with the natural world.
Pursuing a more sustainable and comfortable future for all makes studying old wisdom a vital asset.
