Start of Spring:

This day, falling around February 4th or 5th, marks the arrival of the spring-time, and finds the farmers preparing to plow their fields. In olden times it was customary for the ruler to lead all his military and literary officials outside the eastern wall of the city on the eve of this day to welcome the arrival of the god of spring. Even in modern times, this day is considered very im- portant, and has been officially designated as Farmer's Day, to honor and encourage the farmers of China and in remembrance of China's agricultural roots.

Rain and Water:

This day falls around February 18th or 19th, at which time the mountain snows in northern and central China have gradually started to melt, and heavy precipitation and rains are common; hence it is known as "Rain and Water." This day is not a holiday and is not celebrated by the people with any special activities or festivals.

Waking the Hibernators:

Falling on March 5th or 6th, this day marks the full manifestation of spring, the daily increase of heat and light, and the frequent contact of the Yin and Yang essences of heaven and earth, seen in the especially numerous thunderstorms of this time. The explosive sound of thunder is thought to wake the hiber- nating insects from their slumber, giving this day its name, which exemplifies the intimate relation between the life-cycle of the insects and the passage of the four seasons. Around this time farmers are busy planting and plow- ing their fields.

The Spring Divide:

This day, the 20th or 21st day of March, marks the halfway point of the passage of spring; it signifies that ex- actly half of the 90 days between the Start of Spring and the Start of Summer have elaps- ed. On this day, the sun is situated exactly over the equator, and hence rises from due east and sets due west; on this day the in- tensity of sunlight received by the northern hemisphere is exactly equal to that received by the southern, and the night is exactly as long as the day; hence the common Chinese saying, "At the Spring Divide, day and night are even." This is a day of great astronomical significance.

Clear Luminosity:

Around this time, April 4th or 5th. the whole earth seems full of an especially bright and clear feeling, an at- mosphere of purity and illumination embrac- ing and emanating from all things; from this impression this day gets its poetic name. The Tomb-sweeping Festival is also celebrated on this day, a time when the entire family old and young gathers together and proceeds as one to the gravesite of the ancestors to pay respects and sweep away any unwelcome accumulations. This practice exemplifies the traditional Chinese virtue of filial piety, regard- ed as the root of all virtues, which calls on man to "think of the source when drinking from the stream," and to "tend carefully the funeral rites of parents, and pursue this line of feeling back to the distant past." This day has been declared an official national holiday by the government of the Republic of China.

Grains and Rains:

This day, falling around April 20th or 21st, signifies the sproutingof the various grains under the salutary influence of the rain. At this time the farmers have just finished their spring plan- ting, and the rice seedlings are in need of abundant rainfall to nurture their flourishing growth. The weather during this time however is unpredictable and unstable, sometimes rainy and sometimes clear, sometimes hot and sometimes cold. Hence the common saying goes, "Around the time of Clear Luminosity and Grains and Rains, it still gets cold enough to kill a tiger." This indicates that although it can be warm and mild at this time it can change suddenly to bitter cold.