[Twenty-Four Solar Terms] (Spring) Grain Rain
Grain Rain, 20th day
(Around April 20th to May 4th)
The rain at this time
helps the germination of the hundred grains.
◇
Reeds begin to grow, frost stops and seedlings emerge, peonies bloom
Reeds begin to grow
Frost stops and seedlings emerge
Peonies bloom
Duckweed begins to grow, the hoopoe flaps its wings, the hoopoe descends to the mulberry tree
Duckweed begins to grow
The hoopoe flaps its wings
The hoopoe descends to the mulberry tree
When the |duckweed| grows,
the dove also sings and flies,
and the |hoopoe| comes to the mulberry branches
* The "|hoopoe|" is a bird of the order Bucerotiformes, family Upupidae. Hoopoe. Reference: "Gu's Natural History Dictionary" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Grain Rain is the |middle| of the third month. Because spring rain helps the hundred |grains| grow, it is called Grain Rain.
Duckweed begins to grow means that duckweed grows in yin water and is a yang object. Yin seeks yang. |At this time|, because the yang energy is strong, |in the water| |naturally| |duckweed| grows.
The hoopoe flaps its wings means the dove is the |essence| of lesser yang. At this time, it feels the energy of lesser yang and emits a |voice| and flies with joy. Flapping its wings means |flapping| its |wings| to |fly|.
The hoopoe descends to the mulberry tree means the |hoopoe| is a |Chinese bird|, and it has feathers like a chrysanthemum on its head. |Therefore|, its Japanese name is "|chrysanthemum crest|". |At this time|, it comes to peck at the |sprouts| of the |mulberry| |growing|.
Annual Events for Farmers: Grain Rain
It is good to start sowing cotton. It is good to start planting potatoes. It is good to sow hemp. It is good to plant cedar seedlings.
It is good to sow corn, cowpeas, hyacinth beans, sword beans, and kidney beans. Plant taro and [●]. Plant tobacco in the fields.
It is good to sow late-maturing rice. It is good to sow millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, early-maturing large and small beans, sesame, burdock, sword beans, mung beans, and cowpeas. It is good to start tapping lacquer.
Swallows begin to fly across
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "New Selection of the Seventy-Two Seasons"
* "Tadpole" is another name for a polliwog. It is said there is a phrase "Tadpole formation." Reference: "Modern Comprehensive Great Haiku Collection" "Travels and Poetry" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Famous Flower Picture Book: Grain Rain
* "Teito" is the Chinese name for |Yamabuki (Japanese rose)|.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collection "Picture Book of Famous Flowers of the Seventy-Two Micro-seasons, Volume 1"
Seal Collection: Grain Rain
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collection "Seal Collection of the Seventy-Two Micro-seasons"
References: "Daily Handbook", "Essentials of Letter Writing, Volume 1, 3rd Revised Edition", "Koji Ruien (Encyclopedia of Ancient Matters), Volume 2", "Kōjirin, New Revised Edition", "Jintsū Happi: Kyūten Kyokuchi", "Tenmon Unkijutsu: Ichimei Tenchijin Sandō Gokui (Four Seasons Climate)", "Japanese Regional Agricultural Calendar: Also Known as Agricultural Annual Events", "Wanli Three-Life Physiognomy: Eternal Miscellany", "Climate Guide" (National Diet Library Digital Collection)
● indicates characters that could not be deciphered, and □ indicates characters that cannot be displayed on a computer. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer". 📖