Rain Water

——Rain nourishes mountains and rivers, spring begins anew

Today marks Rain Water, coinciding with the second day of the first lunar month. The spring air of the Year of the Horse quietly spreads with the gentle rain. As its name suggests, Rain Water marks the beginning of rainfall and the gradual increase in precipitation. Falling between February 18th and 20th in the Gregorian calendar, this second solar term of spring gently washes away the gloom and miasma from heaven and earth with its silent nourishment. It awakens mountains, rivers, and all living things, ushering in a new chapter of life. It holds the diverse spring landscapes across the land and the wisdom of living in harmony with the seasons.

The folk saying “Spring rain is as precious as oil” offers the most vivid commentary on this season. While the Jiangnan region is already enveloped in lingering drizzles, the countryside of northwest Jiangxi presents a picture of pristine beauty: the Nine Ridges Mountains rise shrouded in pure mist, villages below bathed in a hazy glow, streams flowing crystal-clear through the fields, and vibrant life hidden in every inch of moist soil. While northern regions still await spring's warmth, Lingnan basks in full-blown spring splendor—a scene where “spring sunshine rivals the sun's glow, and apricot blossoms perfume the mountain town's winding paths.” With the arrival of the Rain Water solar term, the farming season quietly begins. Flower farmers in Shunde's Chen Village seize the moisture after the rain to loosen soil and fertilize their bonsai and orchids, while farmers across the Pearl River Delta clear ditches, drain fields, and till the earth, preparing for early rice seedling cultivation. The ancient text Book of Yi Zhou's description—“Wild geese arrive, plants begin to sprout”—perfectly mirrors this seasonal landscape.

Ancient Chinese divided the Rain Water period into three phases: the first phase sees otters offering fish sacrifices, the second phase welcomes the arrival of wild geese, and the third phase witnesses plants sprouting. The three phases of blossoms also hold spring surprises: the first phase brings mustard flowers, golden fields unfolding like brocade, bearing witness to the cycle of life; the second phase sees apricot blossoms, delicate white flowers adorning the branches—the word “apricot” (杏) sounding like “happiness” (幸), carrying wishes for joy; The third phase sees plum blossoms bloom, pure and abundant like the first snow, carrying the essence of innocence. Farmers cultivate their fields according to the solar terms, while ordinary households live in harmony with the seasons, embodying the most unadorned philosophy of life.

Rain nourishes all things; spring brings forth myriad signs of life. The rain washes away the lingering chill of winter, reviving dormant trees and awakening seeds. It is both the origin of nature's splendor and the nurturing force of human warmth. These seasonal markers are never mere symbols. They embody farmers' steadfast diligence, the diverse spring landscapes across north and south, and most profoundly, a reverent guide to living in harmony with nature's rhythms. When spring chill lingers, embrace the wisdom of “spring bundling”—a practice that balances warmth with health. Following nature's pace, neither hurried nor rushed, is the truest form of slow living and the deepest reverence for the natural world. — ❈ —

With the end of the Rain Water solar term, the growth of all things begins to accelerate; this change is particularly evident in Jingzhe: When Spring Thunder Wakes the Earth—and the Body  — ❈ — Following the nourishment of Rain Water — Rain nourishes mountains and rivers, spring begins anew, the rhythms of spring, amidst the tremors of Jingzhe: When Spring Thunder Wakes the Earth—and the Body, the rhythm of spring finally shifts from stillness to movement, completing the full awakening of life.