[Twenty-Four Solar Terms] (Summer) Mangzhong (Grain in Ear)
Five days of Mangzhong
(Around June 5th to June 20th)
This is the time to sow (plant) seeds of grain (seedlings).
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Praying mantises are born; Rotten grass becomes fireflies; Plum fruits turn yellow
Kamakiri shōzu
Fusō hotaru to naru
Ume no mi kibamu
Praying mantises are born; Shrikes begin to cry; The mockingbird falls silent
Taurō shōzu
Mozu hajimete naku
Hanzetsu koe nashi
When the |praying mantis| is |born|, the |shrike| also cries, and the |mockingbird| stops its |voice|.
The |shrike| also cries
The |mockingbird| stops its |voice|
* Is the reading of "|mockingbird|" (yoshiharasuzume)? Reference: "Koji Daijiten Vol. 1 (|Shrike| (Yoshiharasuzume))" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
It is called Mangzhong (Grain in Ear) because upon entering the fifth month, all grains with awns are sown. Praying mantises are born: the 'taurō' is known by the Japanese name 'kamakiri' (praying mantis), and also called 'ibonojiri-mushi'. Being the essence of the Yang-bright 'dry metal', it loves slaughter and battle. There is a proverb that says a praying mantis waves its axe at a dragon chariot. A dragon chariot refers to a military chariot.
Now, the energy of spring begins in the eleventh month of winter, and the energy of autumn begins in the fifth month of summer. In the I Ching, the fifth month corresponds to the hexagram 'Tian Feng Gou', where one Yin energy is born within the earth. This is the time when the metal energy of autumn first begins to emerge. Sensing this energy, the slaughter-loving praying mantis is born.
Shrikes begin to cry: the 'peki' is the shrike. This bird is also a Yin bird. Sensing the arrival of autumn energy, it begins to cry as it shares the same energy.
The mockingbird falls silent: 'hanzetsu' is known by the Japanese name 'yoshikiri' (reed warbler). Because this bird is a Yang bird, it emits its voice and sings by sensing the Yang energy from spring through summer, but now that one Yin is born within the earth and the metal energy of autumn is emerging, it stops its voice.
Although it is said that all living things and inanimate objects have no way of knowing the time, because they are born by receiving the energy of heaven and earth's Yin and Yang, they naturally sense that energy, sometimes beginning to cry, and sometimes stopping. This is called the wonder of creation.
Annual Events for Farmers: Mangzhong
It is good to plant late-maturing rice, good to sow barnyard millet, and good to plant sweet potatoes. It is good to sow cotton, and good to plant ginger during this period.
It is good to sow sesame and adzuki beans, and good to plant types of mandarin oranges.
It is good to sow late-maturing chestnuts and perilla, good to sow parsley and Japanese honewort, and bamboo types should be divided and planted.
Plum fruits ripen and fall
* "Tokenka" is the Chinese name for Satsuki azalea. Pronounced tokenka.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "New Selection of the Seventy-Two Pentads"
* "Sanpaku" refers to the lizard's tail plant (Saururus chinensis).
Album of Famous Flowers: Mangzhong
* "Bishinso" refers to the corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas).
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Album of Famous Flowers of the Seventy-Two Pentads, Vol. 1"
Seal Collection: Mangzhong
* "Kin-kin Joshi" refers to Egi Kinki, one of the three great beauties of the Taisho era.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Seal Collection of the Seventy-Two Pentads"
References: "Daily Handbook", "Essentials of Epistolary Style, Vol. 1, Revised 3rd Edition", "Koji Ruien (Encyclopedia of Ancient Matters), Vol. 2", "Kojirin, Newly Revised Edition", "Secret Teachings of Divine Power: Investigating Heaven and Earth", "Astronomical Movement Techniques: Also known as The Ultimate Secrets of the Three Ways of Heaven, Earth, and Man (Seasonal Climate)", "Japanese Agricultural Calendar by Region: Also known as Annual Agricultural Events", "Wanli Three-Life Fortune Telling: Eternal Miscellany", "Climate Guide", "Meiji Three-Character Classic: Simple Elementary Learning" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
● indicates characters that could not be deciphered, and □ indicates characters that cannot be displayed on a computer. I will update this as new characters are deciphered or if I notice any typos or misreadings. For more details, please read the "About/Disclaimer" section. 📖