Awakening of Insects

惊蛰 · JīngzhéGregorian Mar 5–7Solar longitude 345°

The first spring thunder startles hibernating creatures awake. Peach trees bloom, orioles sing — the world bursts into sound and color.

Fine rain — and every flower freshens;

one thunderclap, and the awakening begins.

— Wei Yingwu (Tang), “Watching the Farmers”

微雨众卉新
一雷惊蛰始
韦应物 · 观田家

Peach Blossom

Three Pentads

三候

The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.

一候桃始华

First pentad — Peach trees begin to blossom

二候仓庚鸣

Second pentad — Orioles sing

III

三候鹰化为鸠

Third pentad — Hawks seem to turn into doves

节气色谱

One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.

桃夭#E0A7B0

táoyāo · Peach Blossom

杏子衫#E8B583

xìngzǐshān · Apricot Robe

青梅#9CB58B

qīngméi · Green Plum

绾色#A98175

wǎnsè · Coiled Russet

风物

Eating pears — a homophone for “parting” from pests, and a remedy for spring dryness.

吃梨——惊蛰食梨,寓意与害虫分离,亦润肺防春燥。

Re-skinning drums, echoing the thunder god's drumming in the sky.

蒙鼓皮——古人以为雷神击天鼓,此日蒙鼓应天时。