Why did the ancients call the third season "autumn"?

How to write the earliest word "autumn"?

The author of this article is Ni.

(beginning of autumn custom map)

Today is the "beginning of autumn" solar term.

As the old saying goes, "crisp autumn" means that the hot summer is about to leave. Beginning of autumn is one of the four solar terms, and beginning of autumn is very important in chronological order. So why did the ancients call the third season of the year "autumn"? The answer can be found in the changes and differences of the word "autumn" in ancient and modern times.

To say "beginning of autumn", we must first understand the word "autumn". Autumn, like spring, is the earliest season defined by the ancients. The earliest word "autumn" was found in Oracle Bone Inscriptions of Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan.

On the premise of being interpreted as "autumn", some scholars think that the reason why "autumn" is pronounced as qiū may be that it is transferred from the "chirping" sound of autumn insects ―― I am afraid many university professors can't figure it out! If it really belongs to autumn insects, it makes sense to interpret it as autumn, but it is not appropriate to interpret it as summer, and vice versa. But the problem is that some insects exist in summer and autumn, and they all have outstanding performances.

For example, cicadas appear in summer solstice, and "cicadas begin to sing" is one of the three periods from summer solstice. There are also cicadas in autumn, the so-called "chilling cicada", which is more characteristic than summer. Similarly, cricket is one of the three phases in summer, but it is more active in the whole autumn, and it was not until October of the lunar calendar that it "entered my bed" (The Book of Songs? July of the wind). Therefore, the explanation of "autumn" and "summer" has some truth, and summer and autumn are difficult to distinguish.

(Oracle Bone Inscriptions is not easy to fight, the article is sent in pictures)

("Autumn" ancient words)