There is a popular nursery rhyme among Chinese folk called “A Rhyme of the 24 Solar Terms” and within this rhyme there is a line that can be understood to express “Spring rain awakens the spring, the rains after Qing Ming bring forth grains.” This refers to six of the 24 solar terms of spring: “Li Chun (Start of Spring),” “Yu Shui (Rain Water) ,” “Jing Zhe (The Awakening of Insects)”,” “Chun Fen (Spring Equinox),” “Qing Ming,” and “Gu Yu (Grain Rain).”
Today’s date of April 19th typically signifies the start of “Gu Yu (Grain Rain),” a period of abundant rainfall and growth that ends around May 4th. The original meaning of “ Gu (grain)” refers specifically to shelled grains, which remain an essential part of Chinese agricultural production until now. Therefore, the “Gu Yu (Grain Rain)” is not only the last solar term of spring，but also a special time that reflects on the importance of springtime for Chinese people and agricultural tradition.
The period of “Gu Yu (Grain Rain)” is not only a good season for planting crops, but also a great opportunity to go out with family to enjoy the scenery that spring provides. Here are some tips that the Grain Rain solar term carries:
Appreciating Spring – Observing Peony Flowers
The Peony flower has long been an auspicious symbol of wealth since ancient times and is usually in full bloom during Gu Yu (Grain Rain), making it a perfect time to go out with family and enjoy the blooming flowers and lush spring scenery.
Taste Spring –Enjoying Tea
As the old Chinese saying goes, “See sprouting during Qing Ming, see tea during Gu Yu (Grain Rain).” The healthy rains produce a tea that is more delicate and fragrant, so gathering, brewing, and sipping from a cup of tea is a way to ‘taste’ the essence of spring.
Reflect on Spring – Eating Chinese mahogany
Chinese mahogany is a nutritious vegetable that is even more tender and delicious after exposure to the generous Gu Yu (Grain Rain). The pronunciation of ‘mahogany’ in Chinese sounds similar to “missing or longing for spring,” so many people express their love for the springtime by eating mahogany as their way to commemorate the end of spring.
As spring comes to an end and the seasons make way for the hotter temperatures of summer, we hope you might find your own inspiration from Gu Yu (Grain Rain) and celebrate spring in your own way.
在中國民間經常傳唱《二十四節氣歌》，其中有一句歌詞是“春雨驚春清穀天”，這分別代指春天的六個節氣“立春”、“雨水”、“驚蟄”、“春分”、“清明”、“穀雨”。
今天是4月19日，正是“穀雨”節氣的開始，將會在5月4日結束。此時萬物生長，雨水充沛。“穀”的中文意思是指有殼的糧食，是中國農產的重要部分。所以“穀雨”不僅是春季的最後一個節氣，也是體現農業傳統文明的特別節氣。
穀雨不僅是春耕春播的好時節，也是和家人外出賞春的好時機。以下是一些穀雨時節的文化小貼士：
賞春－看牡丹
牡丹自古以來有富貴吉祥的花語，在穀雨前後正值牡丹盛開，是時候和家人一起外出欣賞錦花羞草、滿園春色。
品春－採春茶
老話常說“清明見芽，穀雨見茶”。此刻的茶更加細膩清香，能夠親自去茶園採新茶並飲上一杯，也是感受春味的好方法。
想春 - 食香椿
香椿是一種很有營養價值的蔬菜，在穀雨前後被雨水滋潤過的香椿更加鮮嫩美味。中文“香椿”和“想春”的發音相似，所以很多人會透過吃香椿來表達自己對春天的喜歡，這也代表著結束對春季的思念。
春將盡，夏將來。祝福大家能抓住春天的尾巴，在穀雨的好時節好好享受最後一絲春意，期待初夏的到來。