Wu Guanzhong Pond | Spring Willow
The Spring Equinox /3.20
On March 20th, we welcome the Spring Equinox solar term. This year's vernal equinox happens to be on the second day of February, when the dragon heads up, the spring and scenery are bright, and good luck rises. It's a good day. There is a saying in folk culture: "When the dragon heads up and meets the vernal equinox, poverty can become wealth, and hardship can become sweetness." It is also said: "When the dragon heads up at the vernal equinox, good fortune is not sought." When the dragon heads up, the giant dragon raises its head, and the spring thunder strikes, the spring plowing begins, marking the day of good luck. The two meet on the same day, once every 19 years - commonly known as the "gathering of two dragons".
The Spring Equinox, like a spring movement played by nature, divides day and night equally with spring. The vernal equinox has two meanings: "dividing seasons equally" and "dividing day and night equally". The vernal equinox falls between the beginning of spring and the beginning of summer, dividing spring equally. On this day, the sun shines directly on the equator, with equal length of day and night, each lasting 12 hours, and day and night evenly divided.
The vernal equinox is the fourth solar term of spring, and it is already mid spring. Thousands of flowers and hundreds of flowers compete for brightness. After the vernal equinox, the severe cold has passed and the temperature is starting to rise. Spring is warm, flowers bloom, and swallows fly back. Spring returns to the earth, and at this time, the frozen soil is completely melted, and the "earth atmosphere is connected", which is the good season for sowing. There are agricultural proverbs such as "Awaken the Insects until the Spring Equinox, don't relax when planting" and "When the wheat stands up at the Spring Equinox, it's worth a thousand gold in a moment", indicating that the busy season of spring plowing has begun.
The Spring Equinox · Three Seasons
Yihou | mysterious bird arrives
'Xuanniao' refers to swallows. In ancient times, during the Spring Equinox season, the emperor would not only offer sacrifices to the sun, but also personally welcome the swallows, the spring god, with extremely high treatment. The subtle influence of ancient culture has always protected this lovely creature.
Er Hou | Lei spoke up
Although the Awakening of Insects often reminds people of spring thunder, the vernal equinox is the solar term when "thunder speaks". The initial thunder often has loud thunder and small raindrops, and does not bring effective precipitation. In the spring of March, thunderstorms become more frequent and intense.
San Hou | Shi Dian
During the Spring Equinox season, the initial thunder and lightning appear more prominent, and the lightning feels like just a "lighting master" accompanying Lei Gong on stage. But in a few days, it will be different. Cloud ground lightning will have what is called "landing lightning", which may strike people and cause casualties; It may strike trees and cause a fire.
Spring Equinox · Customs
/Vertical Egg/
Spring warms the earth, and "vertical egg" is endowed with beautiful meanings by people, such as "adding children" and "adding blessings", which means that everyone is prosperous and passed down from generation to generation. As early as 4000 years ago, the Chinese nation had this tradition, which symbolizes people's reverence and blessings for life and childbirth. On the day of the Spring Equinox, people of all ages and genders will enthusiastically participate in the egg laying game.
/Sending Spring Cattle/
Spring cows refer to the "Spring Cow Picture". Print patterns of farmers plowing fields on red or yellow paper, and have folk singers deliver them to every household, saying auspicious words about spring plowing.
/Fly a kite/
Children come back early from school, busy taking advantage of the east wind to fly paper kites. During the Spring Equinox, colorful kites dance in the sky, becoming a beautiful scenery. The custom of flying kites was originally to pray for blessings and dispel disasters. People wrote their troubles and illnesses on the kite, and after the kite was flown high into the sky, they cut off the kite string to let their troubles go with the wind.
Spring Equinox · Health Preservation
On the day of the vernal equinox, the time of day and night are exactly equal. After the vernal equinox, it gradually lengthens and the night gradually shortens. The yang energy in the human body undergoes winter convergence and closure, and begins to radiate and diverge in spring. This upward yang heat promotes the growth and development of all things.
/Diet/
At the vernal equinox, dietary adjustments should be balanced, and even people with a calm constitution should choose a balanced diet with a combination of cold and hot foods, as well as meat and vegetables. The combination of cold and hot foods during the vernal equinox can balance the effects of sexual taste and promote mutual assistance between yin and yang, avoiding the occurrence of yin-yang imbalance.
/Daily life/
Spring is bright and beautiful, with lush vegetation. It is advisable to engage in outdoor activities and breathe fresh air to promote liver qi circulation, which can have a protective and nourishing effect on the liver. During the vernal equinox, one can engage in moderate activities under the sun, such as walking, jogging, cycling in forests, parks, or by the river, or practicing Tai Chi, Eight Section Brocade, Five Animal Play, Yi Jin Jing, etc.
At the same time, we should also pay attention to "spring cover". Due to frequent exposure to the "late spring cold", the temperature fluctuates greatly, so it is important to keep warm.
Spring Equinox is the season for the revival of all things and a good time for health preservation. The plan for a year lies in spring, and the vernal equinox brings us not only beautiful scenery, but also upward vitality. Bring a spring rain to revive all things; Shine a little spring sunshine, let the spring atmosphere be strong; Play a spring song, let hope sprout.
24 Solar Terms
It is a specific festival in the Chinese lunar calendar that represents changes in natural rhythms and establishes the concept of "building in December". It was originally formulated based on the rotation of the Big Dipper and the movement of the stars. The Big Dipper rotates in a circular motion, with the handle rotating one circle to the east, south, west, and north, forming a cycle known as a "year". Each rotation cycle begins at the beginning of spring and ends at the end of the Great Cold. The "24 solar terms" is an important part of the long history and culture of the Chinese nation, which embodies the essence of the history and culture of Chinese civilization. Through historical development, the lunar calendar has incorporated the solar terms of the dry branch calendar as a supplement to the calendar, and adjusted it to conform to the tropical year through the "leap method", forming a yin-yang combined calendar. The "24 solar terms" have become an important part of the lunar calendar. In the international meteorological community, the 24 solar terms are known as "China's fifth great invention". On November 30, 2016, the 24 solar terms were officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
