Today is about seasons.
“Trees turn the colors into deep green, and feels like beginning of early summer, how are doing?” It is good season to greet so. I heard that these are Japanese-specific expressions that talking about seasons when you meet someone. Today, I explore a little deeply about the culture that the seasons have been incorporated into their lives.
There are three types of seasons to divide; 4 macro-seasons, 24 seasons and 72 micro-seasons. They are sensitive of changing seasons and take advantage of the wisdoms from nature.
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《SPRING》
【First Spring】
New Season – Spring Winds Thaw the Ice
Next Season – The Nightingale Sings
Latter Season – Fish Rise from the Ice
【Rain Water】
New Season – The Earth Becomes Damp
Next Season – Haze First Covers the Sky
Latter Season – Plants Show Their First Buds
【Awakening of Insects】
New Season – Hibernating Creatures Open their Doors
Next Season – The First Peach Blossoms
Latter Season – Leaf Insects Turn into Butterflies
【Spring Equinox】
New Season – The Sparrow Builds Her Nest
Next Season – The First Cherry Blossoms
Latter Season – Thunder Raises Its Voice
【Clear and Bright】
New Season – The Swallows Arrive
Next Season – Geese Fly North
Latter Season – The First Rainbow Appears
【Grain Rain】
New Season – The First Reeds Grow
Next Season – The Frost Stops The Rice Grows
Latter Season – The Tree Peony Flowers
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《SUMMER》
【First Summer】
New Season – The First Frogs Call
Next Season – The Earth Worms Rise
Latter Season – Bamboo Shoots Appear
【Grain Full】
New Season – The Silk Worm Awakes and Eats the Mulberry
Next Season – The Safflower Blossoms
Latter Season – The Time for Wheat
【Grain in Ear】
New Season – The Praying Mantis Hatches
Next Season – Fireflies Rise from the Rotten Grass
Latter Season – The Plums Turn Yellow
【Summer Soltice】
New Season – The Common Self-Heal Dries
Next Season – The Iris Flowers
Latter Season – The Crow-dipper Sprouts
【Minor Heat】
New Season – Hot Winds Blow
Next Season – The First Lotus Blooms
Latter Season – The Young Hawk Learns to Fly
【Major Heat】
New Season – The First Paulownia Fruit Ripen
Next Season – Damp Earth Humid Heat
Latter Season – Heavy Rain Showers
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《AUTUMN》
【First Autumn】
New Season – A Cool Wind Blows
Next Season – The Evening Cicada Sings
Latter Season – Thick Fog Blankets the Sky
【Limit of Heat】
New Season – The Cotton Lint Opens
Next Season – Earth and Sky Begin to Cool
Latter Season – The Rice Ripens
【White Dew】
New Season – White Dew on the Grass
Next Season – The Wagtail Calls
Latter Season – The Swallows Leave
【Autumn Equinox】
New Season – Thunder Lowers its Voice
Next Season – Hibernating Creatures Close their Doors
Latter Season – The Paddy Water is First Drained
【Cold Dew】
New Season – The Geese Arrive
Next Season – The Chrysanthemum Flowers
Latter Season – The Grasshopper Sings
【Frost Descent】
New Season – The First Frost Falls
Next Season – Light Rain Showers
Latter Season – The Maple and the Ivy Turn Yellow
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《冬》
【First Winter】
New Season – The First Camellia Blossoms
Next Season – The Earth First Freezes
Latter Season – The Daffodil Flowers
【Minor Snow】
New Season – The Rainbow Hides Unseen
Next Season – The North Wind Brushes the Leaves
Latter Season – The Tachibana First Turns Yellow
【Major Snow】
New Season – The Sky Is Cold, Winter Comes
Next Season – The Bear Retreats to its Den
Latter Season – The Salmon Gather to Spawn
【Winter Solstice】
New Season – The Common Self-Heal Sprouts
Next Season – The Elk Sheds its Horns
Latter Season – Beneath the Snow the Wheat Sprouts
【Minor Cold】
New Season – The Water Dropwort Flourishes
Next Season – The Springwater Holds Warmth
Latter Season – The Pheasant First Calls
【Major Cold】
New Season – The Giant Butterbur Flowers
Next Season – The Mountain Stream Freezes Over
Latter Season – The Chicken Lays Her First Eggs
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Each seasons have names, especially I love 72 micro-seasons. The names are well expressed the nature and very poetry, I feel like I would like to make some stories with them.
The season changes every five days, and there are other seasonal events in Japan. I think we can celebrate something every day!
I will introduce each season another time.
*This is beautiful app to learn about the seasons
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