[Twenty-Four Solar Terms] (Spring) Rain Water

The middle of the first month is called Rain Water because, due to the yang energy, snow and ice melt into water, and the water vapor rises to the heavens and falls as rain water, hence it is called Rain Water.

As for 'Otter sacrifices fish,' the otter is a beast known by the Japanese name 'oso.' There are actually two types: the sea otter and the river otter. The 'fish otter' is the fur seal. The 'water otter' is the river otter. Both types always catch fish to eat. When they catch fish at the beginning of spring, they first offer them to heaven, repaying the heavenly grace that grants them food. Even beasts think of such heavenly grace; how much more so, then, is a person who does not know heavenly grace, goes against the way of heaven, and does evil, inferior even to an otter.

As for 'Wild geese fly north,' the 'kou' is a large type of goose, known by the Japanese name 'hishikui' (bean goose). Geese are yang birds and delight in the yin. Since this land is now warming with yang energy, they depart for the yin lands of the north. This is called 'returning geese'.

'Plants and trees sprout and move' refers to plants and trees putting forth buds due to the yang energy.

It is good to transplant kaya and fir. It is good to transplant currants, mulberry, cuttings, and trees. It is good to transplant early-blooming spring plants and trees. It is good to transplant willows and cherry trees.
It is good to transplant plum, apricot, and pear trees. It is also good to begin grafting.
Frost-protection straw and the like should be removed gradually. Wheat should be fertilized. Rapeseed should be thinned.