Rain Water
Snow turns to spring rain that nourishes in silence. Wild geese return, and tender shoots rise with the warming breath of the earth.
A good rain knows its season —
with spring itself, it comes to life.
— Du Fu (Tang), “Welcome Rain on a Spring Night”
好雨知时节
当春乃发生
杜甫 · 春夜喜雨
当春乃发生
杜甫 · 春夜喜雨
Sky Misty Blue
Three Pentads
三候The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.
I
一候 獭祭鱼
First pentad — Otters lay out fish as if in offering
II
二候 候雁北
Second pentad — Wild geese fly north
III
三候 草木萌动
Third pentad — Grass and trees begin to sprout
Seasonal Palette
节气色谱One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.
天缥#A9C3BC
tiānpiǎo · Sky Misty Blue
月白#D6ECF0
yuèbái · Moon White
豆绿#9ECCAB
dòulǜ · Pea Green
黛灰#6B7775
dàihuī · Ink Grey
Customs
风物Married daughters return to their parents' home with gifts in gratitude.
回娘屋——出嫁的女儿带礼回门探望父母,感念养育之恩。
Popping glutinous rice to divine the year's harvest from its color.
占稻色——爆炒糯谷观其成色,预卜当年稻获丰歉。