As spring draws to a close, rain nourishes all grains.

Rain Gives Rise to All Grains

We’ve now reached Guyu, the last solar term of spring. The Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen described Guyu thus: “At dawn in the spring of Guyu, mountains and rivers wear a verdant hue.” At the turn of spring and summer, temperatures gradually rise, and rainfall becomes more abundant. All grains thrive vigorously under the nourishment of natural sunlight and rainwater, while mountains and rivers, bathed in the spring rains, take on a fresh, emerald-green glow.

[Three Signs of Guyu]

The first period marks the emergence of duckweed; the second, the cooing of the cuckoo as it fluffs its feathers; and the third, the arrival of the oriole, which alights upon the mulberry trees. The first period, when duckweed begins to grow, signifies that as temperatures rise and rainfall increases during the Grain Rain season, duckweed starts to appear in ponds. The second period, with the cuckoo’s call, reminds people not to miss the right time for farming. The third period, when the oriole descends upon the mulberry trees, depicts this bird perching gracefully on the mulberry branches. The birds portrayed by Bada Shanren are particularly charming. In his “Lotus and Kingfisher,” a kingfisher with a long beak and soft plumage stands atop a lotus stem, its round eyes wide open as it gazes upward toward the lofty clusters of lotus flowers. The lotus blossoms and leaves are arranged at varying heights, their colors complementing each other beautifully; the long stems stretch far into the distance, while the distant lotus leaves are rendered in light ink, giving them the appearance of dissolving into mist and clouds.

Qing Dynasty, Zhu Da—Lotus and Kingfisher Painting—Currently housed in the Eight Great Masters of the Jiangnan Memorial Hall.

[Guyu Customs]

The gentle spring breeze softly caresses the branches, and Guyu—the Grain Rain—is also an ideal time for people to fly kites. In ancient times, the 20th day of the third lunar month was regarded as Kite Festival. Among folk traditions, there’s also the custom of worshipping Cangjie during the Grain Rain period. Cangjie is credited with creating the pictographic writing system in Chinese civilization. Legend has it that on the day Cangjie completed his work on characters, millet grains fell from the sky like rain. Later generations built the Temple of Cangjie to commemorate his great achievements, and every Grain Rain season, a grand temple fair is held there. Peonies bloom during the Grain Rain, earning them the nickname “Grain Rain Flowers.” In ancient times, appreciating peonies was often referred to by elegant terms such as “Gathering of Ten Thousand Flowers” or “Peony Festival.”

[Poetry Appreciation]

Ode to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Grain Rain in the Third Month of Spring

Tang Yuanzhen

At the dawn of Guyu, spring light shines bright; mountains and rivers wear a verdant, dark hue.

Among the leaves, the hoopoe sings; on the marsh waters, duckweed floats endlessly.

Warm houses nurture silkworm larvae, and bustling winds beckon the wheat spikes.

The cuckoo merely flaps its wings—truly, it’s unbearable to hear.

Seven-character poem: "Neither wind nor rain—just a serene and sunny day"

Qing Dynasty, Zheng Banqiao

Neither wind nor rain—just perfect clarity and calm; the emerald bamboo stands tall and graceful, its branches beautifully poised.

My favorite time is when the evening chill brings cherished guests, and a pot of fresh tea steeped with pine moss is brewed.

A few new leaves rustle in the bamboo; a few brushstrokes lightly outline the faint mountains.

Just as Qingming coincides with Guyu, I sit here sipping a fragrant cup of tea.

[References]

[1] Song Zhaolin. The Twenty-Four Solar Terms [M]. Chongqing: Chongqing Publishing House, 2021.

[2] Jiao You-tian. The Twenty-Four Solar Terms [M]. Jinan: Jinan Publishing House, 2018.