清明 Qīng Мíng: Clear and Bright

April 4th through April 18th marks the time of 清明 Qīng Míng, which translates as Clear and Bright. 清明 Qīng Мíng is the 5th solar term in the Ancient Chinese solar calendar. Also called Pure Brightness, it always begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 30°.

“The northwest wind blew at the Qingming Festival. It was dry and windy that year.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

清明 Qīng Мíng is often called 踏青 taqing, or tread green.  This implies that the weather is mostly warm and pleasant for going outside and enjoying nature as it thrives. Rapeseed flowers are now in full bloom and the sea of yellow is so bright that it is almost blinding. Lighter clothes are now a necessity and the growth energy of spring abounds.

Let’s now look at the meaning of 清明 Qīng Мíng:

清 Qīng: clear
明Мíng: bright

The 3 pentads of 清明 Qīng Мíng are:

1st pentad – 桐始華/桐始华 tung trees begin to bloom
2nd pentad – 田鼠化為鴽/田鼠化为鴽 voles transform into quails
3rd pentad – 虹始見/虹始见 rainbows begin to appear

“Don’t stop plowing and sowing in the showers of rain around the Pure Brightness Festival.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

明前 Mingqing Tea & Kite Flying

Tea is a fundamental part of Chinese tradition and culture which tells a gradual story of refinement thousands of years long. 明前 Mingqing, also known as  Qingming tea, is a type of tea which is harvested right before the solar term 清明 Qīng Мíng. This type of tea is greatly prized for its lightness, tenderness and subtle yet pleasant aromas. It is of the highest quality and considered quite expensive. 明前 Mingqian tea can be worth 100 times more than the tea harvested in the middle of May.

“On a cold night when a guest came, I served tea as wine The water was boiling when the charcoal in the bamboo stove just turned red Those new plum blossoms were in front of the window Transformed the otherwise usual moonlight.” -Chinese poet Du Lei of the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279)

One of the traditional and popular activities people enjoy during 清明 Qīng Мíng, the Clear and Bright solar term is kite flying. It is maintained that kites were invented by two philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban during the early Warring States Period (475 – 221 B.C.) in China. One of the traditional ways that kites were used in ancient China was for gathering intelligence for military forces. A plaque can be found in the History of Flight pavilion at the National Aeronautics and Space Museum in Washington D.C. that says:

“The earliest aircraft made by man were the kites and missiles of ancient China.”

The Legend of the Qingming Festival

During the Spring and Autumn Period there lived a nobleman and poet by the name of 介之推 Jie Zhitui. 介之推 Jie Zhitui was loyal to his Lord, Prince Chong’er, even after the prince was exiled. On one occasion when his master was on the brink of death from starvation, 介之推 Jie Zhitui cut a piece of his own flesh to save his hungry friend. After duke Chong’er returned from exile and gained his power back, he forgot about 介之推 Jie Zhitui who as a result decided to move to the mountains and live with his aged mother in the forest.

One day the prince remembered his loyal companion and sought but failed to find him. The poet was unwilling to reveal his location or leave his hermitage. The prince then decided to set the forest on fire, expecting his friend to come out of hiding. The plan did not work and instead backfired. After the fire cooled down, bodies of the nobleman and his mother were discovered. The prince became so overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow that he decided to erect a temple in his friend’s honor. In order to commemorate 介之推 Jie Zhitui, the duke ordered that fire not be used in meal preparations. Later this day became known as the Cold Food Festival.

“A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way Where can a wine shop be found to drown his sadness A shepherd points to the apricot blossom village in the distance.” -Chinese poet Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)

In 2006, Qingming festival was listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage events.  In the meantime, farmers are hard at work, ploughing, sowing, fertilizing and nurturing.

“Sow beans and melons around the Pure Brightness Festival.”
– Chinese Proverb

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into 清明 Qīng Мíng. Stay active and maybe explore some kite flying!

“This spring morning in bed I’m lying, 
Not to awake till the birds are crying. 
After one night of wind and showers, 
How many are the fallen flowers?”

-Chinese poet Meng Haoran of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)

春分 Chūn Fēn: Spring Equinox

春分 Chūn Fēn, translated as Spring Equinox, is the 4th solar term in the Ancient Chinese solar calendar. This year it starts on March 20th and continues through April 3rd. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 15°.

During the first day of 春分 Chūn Fēn the Sun is positioned exactly above the Earth’s equator. Both hemispheres receive the Sun’s rays equally during this time, making night and day the same length.

Let’s look at the meaning of Chūn Fēn:

春 Chūn: joyful, spring time
分Fēn: to divide, to distribute

Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere means rising outside temperatures and increasing rainfall.

The whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring.
– Ancient Chinese proverb

The 3 pentads of 春分 Chūn Fēn:

1st pentad – 玄鳥至 dark birds [swallows] arrive
2nd pentad – 雷乃發聲 thunder cracks

3rd pentad –始電 lightning occurs

Rapeseed, plum trees, cherry, peach, apricot and pear trees are all in bloom and willow trees are turning green.

I find the face of the vernal wind in an easy way, myriads of reds and violets reveal only spring
– Ancient Chinese proverb

春分 Chūn Fēn & Chinese Herbology

Wild medicinal herbs are also picked in the mountains during 春分 Chūn Fēn. Many are at their peak potency during this time of year and are ready for harvesting. They spend the entire winter season conserving energy and maturing, much like hibernating animals. As such this solar term is often associated with Chinese medicine.

The medicinal properties of herbs vary in accordance with the season and solar term in which they are harvested, the location in which they are grown, and various other factors such as temperature, rain fall, etc. In the Chinese culture it remains important to be in tune with nature and the seasons.

There are at least 1,000 medicinal herbs that grow in the mountains and hills of Anren, Hunan Province, China. It is known as the capital of medicine. Each year the small town of Anren hosts a legendary herbal fair at the Ganfenshe Market. Nearly 200,000 people from far and wide gather to trade herbal medicine and celebrate its significance in their everyday lives. Both the tradition and market date back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279).

春分 Chūn Fēn Traditions

Traditionally kites are flown during 春分 Chūn Fēn in China. People write wishes and prayers for healing and well being on them. It is also customary to feast on seasonal freshly harvested fruits and vegetables during the 4th solar term of the Spring Equinox.

The ancient Chinese medical classic Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) suggests that people eat seasonal foods in order to preserve health.

“Know the origin or source of your food.”

– Confucius

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into春分 Chūn Fēn. Enjoy the journey!

惊蛰 Jīng Zhé: Awakening of Insects

“Heaven follows Dao and Dao follows nature and man is an integral part of nature” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

驚蟄 Jīng Zhé, translated as Awakening of Insects, is the 3rd solar term in the Ancient Chinese Solar calendar. It starts on March 5th and continues through March 19th of this year. 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 360°.

Let’s look at the meaning of Jīng Zhé:

驚 Jīng: to startle
蟄Zhé: hibernating insects

The 3 pentads of 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé:

1st pentad – 桃始華 peach trees begin to blossom
2nd pentad – 倉庚鳴 orioles sing clearly
3rd pentad – 鷹化為鳩 eagles are transformed into doves

The Weather during 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé: Awakening of Insects

“I think the ancient Chinese had rich inner lives and were very sensitive. They were able to discover nature’s subtle changes and its rules. Man and nature were one and the same.”

– Ma Guanhong of Changting.

With the first thunder of the year the Chinese welcome the 3rd solar term 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé. The weather is now warmer and the spring thunder has awoken hibernating insects from winter’s sleep. Flora and fauna are awakening.

“If the spring thunder occurs before Awakening of Insects, cloudy and chilly weather will persist for 49 days, and the weather of the entire year will shift.”

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

Spring is considered the most precious time of the year for agriculture. Farmers have already prepared the soil, giving crops the best possible environment and more nutrition.

“Spring thunderstorms on the day of the Awakening of Insects bring heavy crops.”

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

As the weather begins to warm up, it is time to stretch the body and exercise. This is a great time to get sunlight and fresh oxygen as well.

The Insects & Land

Farmers are hard at work by now and the farming season is in full swing. During Awakening of Insects the priority in many parts of China is to protect plant life from pests and the potential harm they can do. With insects waking, it is time to protect crops and livestock from diseases. Stir fried soy beans symbolize jumping pests and fuzzy mice. Eating this dish on the day of 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé, or Awakening of Insects symbolizes clearing the fields of all pests and wishing for a fruitful year.

“For half a year I’ve eaten rice in a white-robed person’s house
On an old tree, plums blossom amid snow and frost
Exciting insects, a thunderbolt crashes and roars
Spring colors of the emperor’s country, red peach blossoms.”

-By poet Dogen Zenji (13th century)

If bamboo shoots appear during the 2nd solar term of 雨水Yǔ Shuǐ, or Rain Water, bamboo’s full growth falls during 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé. Bamboo has earned the title of the “fastest growing woody plant on earth!” because from sprouting to full growth it usually takes bamboo trees only 45 days to reach maturity.

Peach trees also begin to bloom during Awakening of Insects and so it is time to go outside and feast with your eyes.

“Peaches and plums do not have to talk, yet the world beats a path to them.”

– Records of the Grand Historian

A Note from Jiao Shi

Focus on freshly grown and harvested seasonal foods during this time.  We have provided a preliminary list that you may find in our 立春 Li Chūn article.

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into 驚蟄 Jīng Zhé. Stay active!

Xie Xie,

Jiao Shi

Looking for more information on the 24 Solar Terms? Try these resources below, and enjoy!

小寒 Xiǎo Hán: Minor Cold

January 5, 2022 marks the beginning of 小寒Xiǎo Hán , or Minor Cold, the 23rd term in the Ancient Chinese solar calendar and the 5th solar term in winter. The weather rapidly reaches its coldest in Northern China. The ground and rivers are frozen. This term begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longititude of 285° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 300°.

According to the ancient Chinese, the coldest winter days, called “Sanjiu,” fall in the period of Xiǎo Hán, or Minor Cold.

“The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days.”

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

A well known folk song called ‘Shujiu’ speaks about the Nines of Winter. Each period is 9 days long and the first period begins on 冬至 Dōng Zhì, or Winter Solstice. After 9 – nine-day periods the weather starts warming up and spring will shortly follow. It goes as follows:

1st nine days, 2nd nine days, don’t take hands out of your pockets.
3rd nine days, 4th nine days, you can walk on ice.
5th nine days, 6th nine days, willows at the river’s edge start to sprout.
7th nine days, ice dissolves and water flows in the river.
8th nine days, wild geese fly back to northern areas.
9th nine days and the following days, farm cattle start to work in the field.

Just like it is mentioned in the song, subtle changes leading up to spring begin happening during this period of Xiǎo Hán, or Minor Cold.

Winter According to The Ancients

“The Book of Rites” dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC – 9 AD) talks about wild geese and the beginning of their journey back north during this time of year.

“In the third month of winter … the wild geese head north, the magpie begin building their nests, the pheasant crows and hens hatch.”

~ 禮記The Book of Rites

Just like nature, people also observe subtle changes in their daily routine during this 23rd solar term. Farmers, for example, begin their gradual preparations for the new farming season. Livestock requires attention during these coldest days of the year. Keeping animals warm is a major priority during this time.

小年Layue, or the last lunar month usually begins around Xiǎo Hán, or Minor Cold which for the Chinese people means getting ready for the 春節 Xīnnián: Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. Herbacies are exceptionally busy during this time of year in their diligent efforts to meet all of the demand for herbal medicine people use for prevention going into the New Year celebrations and festivities.

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into小寒Xiǎo Hán, or Minor Cold. Stay warm!

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