Grain Rain

谷雨

According to legend

相傳

before the Chinese characters came into being

漢字出現(xiàn)之前

our ancestors were using knotted ropes to record their lives

我們的祖先結(jié)繩記事

It was such an inefficient way to document events

這種記事方法效率太低

that Yellow Emperor ordered Cangjie

于是黃帝命他的史官倉(cāng)頡

the historian, to find a better way

尋找更好的方法

Cangjie, inspired by footprints of birds and animals

倉(cāng)頡受鳥(niǎo)獸足跡的啟迪

created characters

創(chuàng)造了文字

It was written in Huai Nanzi that

據(jù)《淮南子》記載

"when Cangjie invented characters, grain fell like rain"

“昔者倉(cāng)頡作書，而天雨粟”

The Heaven, moved by Cangjie’s efforts and his creation

上天被倉(cāng)頡造字的辛苦付出所感動(dòng)

ordered that grain fall like rain from the sky to award Cangjie

命令天降谷雨予以嘉獎(jiǎng)

So the day was called Grain Rain or Gu Yu in Chinese

于是 這一天被稱為“谷雨”

in honor of Cangjie who successfully created Chinese characters

來(lái)紀(jì)念倉(cāng)頡造字成功

Gu Yu is the sixth solar term in the 24 solar terms of China

谷雨 是二十四節(jié)氣的第六個(gè)

It is also the last solar term in spring

也是春季的最后一個(gè)節(jié)氣

and usually falls on April 20 or 21 every year

通常在每年的4月20日或21日

Gu Yu signals the end of cold weather

谷雨的到來(lái)意味著寒潮天氣基本結(jié)束

and a rapid rise in temperature

氣溫回升加快

which is crucial for the growth of crops

有利于谷類農(nóng)作物的生長(zhǎng)

In north China

中國(guó)北方

people have the custom of eating vegetable toona sinensis

有食香椿的習(xí)俗

Gu Yu is the best time in a year to try the fresh toona sinensis

谷雨正好是香椿上市的最佳時(shí)節(jié)

which is fragrant, tasty

此時(shí)的香椿香醇爽口

and good for one’s immune system

可以提高免疫力

In the south

南方

people have the tradition of picking tea leaves on the day of Gu Yu

有谷雨摘茶習(xí)俗

It is said that drinking Gu Yu Tea

據(jù)說(shuō)谷雨這天的茶

can help reduce inflammation

喝了可以清火

and improve eyesight, among other benefits.

明目

As a saying goes

俗語(yǔ)云

the best time to watch the peonies is the three days after Gu Yu

“谷雨三朝看牡丹”

Since peonies will usually

谷雨后的三天

be in full bloom around the time of Gu Yu

正是牡丹花盛開(kāi)的時(shí)節(jié)

peony is also called Gu Yu Flower in China

因此 牡丹花又被稱為“谷雨花”

Thus, watching peonies become an important pastime

谷雨賞牡丹

for the people during this time of the year

也就成為了人們一項(xiàng)休閑娛樂(lè)活動(dòng)

The Chinese 24 Solar Terms is based on

中國(guó)的二十四節(jié)氣

astronomical, meteorological and climatic knowledge

綜合了天文 氣象 物候等多方面的知識(shí)

As the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation

是中華民族數(shù)千年的智慧結(jié)晶

it provides the people a lens

它讓人們?nèi)ビ?/p>

through which they can observe and feel the world around them

觀察 體味世界

have a touch of the beauty of the folk culture

感受民俗文化的趣味

and enjoy the most genuine and fantastic nature

和自然風(fēng)物的至真至美