Pure Brightness

清明 · QīngmíngGregorian Apr 4–6Solar longitude 15°

Air clear, scenery bright. In drizzling rain, families sweep ancestral tombs and walk among spring greenery — remembrance and renewal entwined.

At Qingming, the rain falls thick and fast;

travelers on the road, hearts nearly breaking.

— Du Mu (Tang), “Qingming”

清明时节雨纷纷
路上行人欲断魂
杜牧 · 清明

Mugwort Green

Three Pentads

三候

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

一候桐始华

First pentad — Paulownia trees blossom

二候田鼠化为鴽

Second pentad — Voles give way to quails in the fields

III

三候虹始见

Third pentad — Rainbows first appear

节气色谱

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

艾绿#A4CAB6

àilǜ · Mugwort Green

青粲#BFCB7B

qīngcàn · Fresh Sprout

烟雨灰#9FA8A3

yānyǔhuī · Misty Rain Grey

乳白#F0F2EB

rǔbái · Milk White

风物

Tomb-sweeping: tending graves and offering food in memory of ancestors.

扫墓祭祖——清扫坟茔、供奉时馐,寄托对先人的追思。

Eating qingtuan — mugwort-tinted glutinous rice balls with sweet bean paste.

吃青团——以艾草汁和糯米,裹豆沙,清香软糯。