Grain in Ear
Bearded grains must be sown; wheat is reaped and rice transplanted in the same breath. The plum rains begin — green plums simmer in wine, gardenias bloom.
Seasonal rains arrive with Grain in Ear;
in every field, the rice is being set.
— Lu You (Song), “Seasonal Rain”
时雨及芒种
四野皆插秧
陆游 · 时雨
四野皆插秧
陆游 · 时雨
Green Plum Celadon
Three Pentads
三候The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.
I
一候 螳螂生
First pentad — Mantises hatch
II
二候 鵙始鸣
Second pentad — Shrikes begin to cry
III
三候 反舌无声
Third pentad — Mockingbirds fall silent
Seasonal Palette
节气色谱One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.
梅子青#9EBE8F
méizǐqīng · Green Plum Celadon
秧绿#6F9F58
yānglǜ · Seedling Green
梅雨灰#8E9B9B
méiyǔhuī · Plum-Rain Grey
栀子白#F4F1E3
zhīzibái · Gardenia White
Customs
风物Bidding farewell to the flower goddess as blossoms fade, until next year.
送花神——百花将谢,饯送花神归位,盼来年再会。
Simmering green plums in wine — the taste of early summer south of the Yangtze.
煮青梅——青梅煮酒,酸涩转为温润,正是江南初夏味。