Xiaoman, or Grain Buds, is the eighth of the twenty-four solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar and the second of the summer season. It falls between May 20th and 22nd each year when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 60 degrees.

The name has two meanings. The first is related to climate and rainfall. During the period, heavy rains start to increase in southern China. A common saying goes, "rivers gradually fill up in Xiaoman". Here, "man" refers to the abundance of rainwater. The second meaning is related to agriculture, specifically wheat. In northern China, rainfall is sparse or nonexistent during this period. In this context, "man" refers to the plumpness of the wheat grains.

In Chinese agricultural culture, men typically plow fields and plant crops, while women spin and weave. Cotton is predominant in the north, while silk production is more common in the south. In ancient times, silkworms were considered a gift from heaven. To pray for a silkworm harvest, people hold the silkworm festival in the fourth lunar month.

With the spring breeze, common sowthistle grows, turning barren land into a food source. Common sowthistle is one of the earliest wild vegetables consumed by Chinese people. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, "Regular consumption of common sowthistle calms the mind, boosts energy, lightens the body and delays aging". Medically, it is often used to treat heat-related illnesses.

In the Yellow River basin, farmers are busy harvesting wheat in the fourth lunar month. In the Pearl River basin, autumn rice is sown, while in the northeast, it is the season for planting cotton, wheat and soybeans. Sorghum is just sprouting, requiring weeding and thinning. Xiaoman is a particularly busy time in agriculture.