4 / 24 / 72 Seasons in Japan

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.

=====================================

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

=====================================

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

=====================================

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

=====================================

《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

=====================================

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

http://www.kurashikata.com/72seasons

Share:
youseeaandiseeb
Written by youseeaandiseeb
東京在住のグラフィック&デジタルデザイナー。 ものづくり、文化芸術、旅、そしてたまに宇宙についてのブログです。 私の視点を通して、この豊かな世界を紹介していきたいと思います。英語でも書いてます。