Gǔ Yǔ: Grain Rain

谷雨 Gu Yu: Grain Rain

April 19th through May 4th marks the time of谷雨 Gu Yu, or Grain Rain, the 6th term in the Ancient Chinese solar calendar. It is also the last solar term of the spring season. 谷雨 Gu Yu begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 30° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 45°.

Grain Rain Legend

仓颉 Cāngjié, a legendary figure of ancient China who lived approximately 4,000 years ago was the official historian of 黃帝 Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, and the creator of Chinese characters. Legend has it that when 仓颉 Cāngjié created the first Chinese character, angelic deities exclaimed in adoration and rained millet onto people from the heavens.

“Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

The 3 pentads of 谷雨 Gu Yu are:

1st pentad – 獺祭魚 duckweed begins to sprout
2nd pentad – 鴻雁來 cuckoo shakes off wings.
3rd pentad – 草木萌動 hoopoe perches in mulberry trees.

Grain Rain marks the end of snow and frost in the Northern Hemisphere. Outside temperatures begin rising rapidly in Northern China and rain falls in abundance. It is a peak time for planting corn and rice. Crops grow fast and strong during this solar term. While farmers are busy protecting their crops from pests during 谷雨 Gu Yu, people in China exercise prevention and boost their immune systems.

香椿 Xiāng Chūn (Toona Sinensis)

Harvesting and cooking 香椿 Xiāng Chūn, commonly known as Chinese mahogany and Chinese cedar, is a famous tradition in Northern China during Grain Rain. It is a joyous affair in which friends and family come together.

“Toona Sinensis before the rain is as tender as silk.” -Ancient Chinese Proverb

The 谷雨 Gu Yu, or Grain Rain solar term is also significant to fishing communities in the coastal areas of Northern China. Fishermen celebrate the arrival of Grain Rain at a 2,000 year old 谷雨 Gu Yu Festival. It marks the first time in the annual cycle when fishermen can safely return to sea and resume their fishing voyages.

牡丹 Mǔ Dān (Peony Flower) & 谷雨 Gu Yu: Grain Rain

Mountain Peonies during 谷雨 Gu Yu: Grain Rain

谷雨 Gu Yu is the time of year when the flower of Guyu or peony (牡丹 mǔ dān) comes into full bloom, attracting spectators from far and wide. Peony is the “king of flowers” in China. Its design was often sewn into imperial clothes, it adorned imperial gardens, and it continues to be widely represented in art projects. Chinese people believe that this unique flower can enrich a person’s life as many times as each blossom has petals. Since time immemorial this flower has been a symbol of wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture.

“Moss covered paths between scarlet peonies Pale jade mountains fill your rustic windows I envy you, drunk with flowers Butterflies swirling in your dreams.” -Chinese poet 钱起Qian Qi, 唐朝Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)

“Springtime radiance, gradually, gradually where does it go Again before a wine jar, we take up a goblet All day we’ve questioned the flowers, but the flowers do not speak For whom do they shed their petals and leaves, for whom do they bloom -Peonies at Jixing Temple by隋煬帝 Emperor Yang of the 隋朝 Sui Dynasty (581-618)

Peony fairs are traditional popular events which attract countless spectators who come to appreciate the splendor of the blooming gorgeous peony flowers. Beauty and elegance are not the only characteristics this flower is famous for. The peony plant has valuable medicinal properties and has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Read more about the Legend of Peony and Chinese Physician Hua Tuo here.

 

The Beautiful Ancient Tradition of Gu Yu Tea

Another beautiful ancient Chinese custom is drinking Guyu tea. In ancient China scholars, painters, philosophers, poets and other intellectuals traditionally gathered on the first day of 谷雨 Gu Yu to drink Guyu tea and hold discussions.

“It is a sunny day, neither windy nor rainy Green bamboo grows robustly and stands gracefully A pot of songluo [the finest guyu] tea is prepared and friends arrive in the cool evening I draw several lines on paper and new bamboo leaves and far mountains are portrayed How nice it is that Gu Yu follows right after Tomb-sweeping Day We sit together with our tea on the table” -by calligrapher and painter 鄭板橋\郑板桥 Zheng Banqiao (1693–1765), 大清 Qing Dynasty (1636 – 1912)

Guyu tea is highly prized and rare. It is not available for sale and is harvested locally in small quantities – just enough for family members, friends and honored guests only.

Drink guyu tea to become fearless. – Ancient Chinese Proverb

Authentic guyu tea contains tea leaves hand picked early in the morning, starting at 5 a.m. on the first day of Grain Rain. Guyu tea should only have one sprout and one or two tender leaves. The harvesting should be complete by noon of that day. The tea leaves are then processed using a unique traditional technique of frying, drying and folding the tea leaves by hand and are ready by evening. When the time-honored process is complete, close friends, family members and honored guests gather to brew and enjoy guyu tea together that same day while welcoming this sixth solar term.

谷雨 Gu Yu: The Last Spring Term

Being the last solar term of the spring season 谷雨 Gu Yu, has another important role which is preparing everyone for a smooth transition from spring into summer.

Grass and trees know how soon spring will bid goodbye. A hundred shades of reds and violets will vie for beauty crown. –Ancient Chinese Proverb

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into 谷雨 Gu Yu. Remember to enjoy the journey!

“The first cup caresses my dry lips and throat The second shatters the walls of my lonely sadness The third searches the dry rivulets of my soul to find the series of five thousand scrolls With the fourth the pain of past injustice vanishes through my pores The fifth purifies my flesh and bone With the sixth I am in touch with the immortals The seventh gives such pleasure I can hardly bear The fresh wind blows through my wings As I make my way to Penglai [the mountain of the immortals]” -The Song of Tea by卢仝Lú Tóng (790-835), Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)

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Qīng Míng: Clear and Bright

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)

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