中國的端午及西方的仲夏節（聖約翰節）都有以驅邪植物及水來驅邪禳災的習俗，連驅邪植物的種類都很相似。二者之間可資比較的類似習俗，並非巧合，而是因為它們都源自於與夏至相關的太陽崇拜。本文將比對端午及仲夏節的相似習俗，並從太陽與人間行事的對應角度來說明習俗的目的。藉著參考西方仲夏節的驅邪植物研究成果，本文將討論聚焦於仲夏時分太陽給驅邪植物及水帶來的特殊能量。由於太陽與眼睛之間的聯想關係，此時的驅邪植物及水的搭配，被視為對預防及治療眼疾有特殊的功效。由於夏至日是太陽勢力消長的關鍵點，人們以種種競賽將白天與黑夜、陰與陽、寒與暑的爭鬥予以戲劇化的呈現，因此此時的許多傳說及習俗均隱含軍武性質。端午節的兵災傳說，即以戰事來隱喻上述爭鬥關係，並以懸掛驅邪物品作為禳災媒介。本文將說明軍武主題在逐疫傳統中的運用，以及兵災傳說中個別驅邪物的民俗意涵。

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and the Midsummer Festival in the West both feature customs that make use of plants and water with exorcistic properties to expel evil. The plants that are used are even species of the same genus. The similarities arise not from coincidence, but from customs related to the summer solstice. In this article, I shall compare similar Eastern and Western summer solstice customs and elucidate their meanings with regard to the correlation between the sun and worldly affairs. With the help of research into the use of water and plants in Western summer solstice customs, this article will focus on discussing the special powers endowed by the midsummer sun on water and particular kinds of plants. Because of an association between the sun and eyes, this combination of plants and water that have been endowed with the ability to expel evil at this time of year is considered an especially efficacious remedy for eye diseases. Due to the summer solstice being the time of year at which the power of the sun peaks, people stage various competitions to mimic the struggle between night and day, yin 陰 and yang 陽, and summer and winter, rendering it in a dramatic fashion. Several legends and customs connected with this time allude to a martial theme. Legends relating to the Dragon Boat Festival, for example, serve as metaphors for the aforementioned fight. Objects hung on the door to ward off evil spirits are actually used as a medium to avoid disaster and misfortune. I shall describe the use of martial themes in the exorcistic tradition, and also explain the folkloristic connotations embedded in the exorcistic objects featuring in such martial legends.