[Twenty-Four Solar Terms] (Autumn) Autumnal Equinox
Autumnal Equinox, 23rd day
(Around September 22nd to October 7th)
The midpoint of autumn, the day when day and night are of equal length.
* This year, it is September 23rd.
◇
Thunder ceases to sound; insects hide and seal their doors; water begins to dry up.
Thunder's voice subsides
Insects hide and seal their doors
Water begins to dry up
Thunder begins to cease its sound; insects seal their doors; water begins to dry up.
Thunder begins to quiet its voice
Insects emerge from their doors
Water begins to dry up
When the sound of thunder ceases,
Every insect hides in its winter nest,
And the water dries up.
* "Chitchu" (insects) refers to insects that burrow into the ground to overwinter.
During the eighth month, the sun is on the equator, so there is no difference in the length of day and night. Therefore, it is called the 'Autumnal Equinox'.
The phrase 'Thunder begins to cease its sound' means that at this time, the Yang energy wanes and the Yin energy becomes strong. The Yang energy cannot oppose the Yin. Therefore, thunder does not sound.
Thunder is something that occurs when Yin and Yang clash and produce a sound; it is not that it 'rings' on its own.
The phrase 'Insects seal their doors' means that various types of insects, fearing the Yin energy, hide in the ground in winter nests, and the act of gradually sealing the mouth of their holes is called 'sealing'.
The phrase 'Water begins to dry up' means that water is something created by the primal energy; when the energy of spring and summer arrives, it overflows, but now, meeting the metal energy of autumn, it shrinks and dries up.
* 'Jūya' means day and night.
Annual Events for Farmers: Autumnal Equinox
From the time you start sowing wheat, it is a good time to cut bamboo. It is good to sow pickled greens, turnips, rapeseed, mustard greens, and lettuce.
It is good to sow garland chrysanthemum, spinach, poppies, peas, and broad beans. Burdock should be sown at this time to serve as food for spring.
It is good to transplant seedlings of paulownia seeds. Tea seeds should be harvested and buried in the soil.
* 'Tōkō' refers to garland chrysanthemum. Reference: 'Nōgei Kyōkasho Engei-hen Shūseiban' (National Diet Library Digital Collections).
* 'Endō' refers to peas.
* 'Soramame' refers to broad beans.
Wagtails fluttering
* 'Henpen' describes the appearance of fluttering lightly.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "New Selection of the Seventy-Two Seasons"
Illustrated Book of Famous Flowers: Autumnal Equinox
* "Sekisan" refers to the |cluster amaryllis (Higanbana)|.
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Illustrated Book of Famous Flowers of the Seventy-Two Seasons, Volume 2"
* "Gankei" refers to the |sweet osmanthus (Mokusei)|.
Seal Collection: Autumnal Equinox
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Seventy-Two Seasons Seal Collection"
Reference: "Daily Handbook", "Essentials of Letter Writing, Volume 1, 3rd Revised Edition", "Koji Ruien (Encyclopedia of Ancient Matters), Volume 2", "Kojirin, Newly Revised Edition", "Jintsu Happi: Exploring Heaven and Earth", "Tenmon Unkijutsu: Also known as The Ultimate Secrets of the Three Ways of Heaven, Earth, and Man (Four Seasons Climate)", "Japanese Agricultural Calendar by Region: Also known as Annual Events for Farmers", "Manreki Sanseiso: Eternal Miscellany", "Climate Guide", "Meiji Three-Character Classic: Simplified Elementary School Text", "Sowing Guide: Brief Explanation of Calendar Days", "Climate Guide" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)