Introduction of solar terms in Quzhou Spring Temple

"beginning of spring" is the first of the 24 solar terms. After beginning of spring, everything is full of vitality, and a new year has begun.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Chinese people had the idea that there was a solstice in the south and a solstice in the north. There are eight solar terms in Lu Chunqiu, including beginning of spring, Spring Equinox, Long Summer, Summer, beginning of autumn, Autumn Equinox, beginning of winter and Winter. When Huainanzi was published, it had exactly the same 24 solar terms as modern times. The formulation of the twenty-four solar terms is an outstanding achievement of Chinese ancestors in astronomy and meteorology, which accurately reflects various climatic characteristics in a year.

"Spring is not as good as spring", and beginning of spring Day is a sacrifice day. According to Quxian Chronicle Customs, there are many activities in Quzhou, such as being blessed during the Spring Festival, whipping spring cattle, dressing up as an awn god, burning incense to welcome worship, serving as a reward god, welcoming the spring, hiking, exploring spring and inserting spring.

Some mountain villages in Quzhou continued the Spring Festival ceremony, and Jiuhua Township near Chunmiao was even more prosperous. Before the turn of spring, the Spring Temple opened its doors to welcome the Spring Festival, and a table was placed in front of it. The table is covered with red paper (brocade), which says "Welcome to Spring". There is a rice retort in the middle of the table and a cup of green tea behind it. Incense burners, candlesticks, green vegetables, plum blossoms, pine and cypress, and bamboo branches are placed on the left and right, symbolizing purity, evergreen and prosperity. At the turn of the spring, firecrackers are set off to offer sacrifices, drums are played in large classes, pavilions and terraces are elevated, local operas are performed, yangko and drum music are loud.