In the Chinese lunar calendar, san fu refers to the three 10-day periods that are said to be the hottest days of the year, which are called tou fu, zhong fu and mo fu. San fu is usually between mid-July and mid-August.
When san fu is mentioned, people can’t stop thinking of san futie, which is a bandage(绷带) made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Those who have experienced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that receiving san futie during the hottest summer days is effective for coughs. The treatment is based on the TCM principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of both elements(要素) in the body is important for good health. San futie contains a paste of herbs that are “hot” in nature.
Tou fu is the first stage of san fu. When the hot days come, people tend to lose their appetites. As the weather in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is hot with heavy rainfall in summer people there eat chicken especially a rooster during tou fu. They believe that the rooster is “yang” and can clear the damp(湿气). There is an old saying that goes “A rooster at the start of san fu, a healthy body the whole year.” Another favourite food during this stage is jiaozi, which is thought to refresh people’s feelings toward food. In fact, jiaozi is an all-time classic with 2,000 years of history.
The second stage of san fu is called zhong fu, which traditionally is a time for eating noodles because it is believed to help people sweat and remove internal heat.
When mo fu or the third fu arrives, it is still very hot at noon and the sun is very strong. People feel uncomfortable, so they call this period “Autumn Tiger”. During mo fu, people, especially those living in North China, customarily eat Chinese egg pancakes.
During san fu time when yang energy is at its prime, it’s also beneficial to have food which is “cold” in nature, like watermelon and cucumber, according to Chinese dietary therapy.
12. How does
san futie work to treat coughs?
A.By using a kind of unique bandage. |
B.By using materials for sweating. |
C.By stopping the heat from coming into the body. |
D.By keeping the balance of yin and yang. |
13. What does the saying in the third paragraph prove?
A.San fu is a good time to sell roosters. |
B.Meat from a rooster is delicious. |
C.Eating roosters in San fu is good for health. |
D.People who like eating can avoid catching a cold. |
14. Why do Chinese people eat noodles in
zhong fu?
A.To show the hope for a long life. | B.To let the heat in the body out. |
C.To enjoy the family atmosphere. | D.To feel the moment of excitement. |
15. What’s the best title of the text?
A.Customs of San fu | B.Products Sold in San fu |
C.Ways to Learn About San fu | D.The Magical Medicine in San fu |