Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - The 24 Solar Terms - The origin and custom of solar terms in Grain Rain

The origin and custom of solar terms in Grain Rain

Grain Rain is the sixth solar term among the 24 solar terms and the last solar term in spring. Combat refers to Chen; The meridian of the sun is 30; Celebrate every April 19-2 1 in Gregorian calendar. The following is the origin and custom activities of Grain Rain solar terms that I arranged for you, hoping to help you.

The origin of solar terms in Grain Rain

Grain Rain is the sixth of the 24 solar terms. Every year from April 19 to April 2 1 day, when the sun reaches 30 degrees of the yellow meridian, it is Grain Rain, which comes from the old saying "Rain gives birth to hundreds of valleys". At the same time, it is also the best time for sowing, transplanting and ordering beans. "Qingming Snow Rest, Grain Rain Frost Rest". Grain Rain is the last solar term in spring, and the temperature rises rapidly, which is very beneficial to the growth of cereal crops.

Why use the word Grain Rain as the name of solar terms? We have to start with the word formation of Cang Xie. Since the existence of the world, human beings have gone through hundreds of thousands of years without words. In the era of the Yellow Emperor, an able man Cang Xie appeared in North Korea. He is determined to get rid of the suffering of the world without Chinese characters, quit his job, travel around Kyushu, return to his hometown of Wu Yang Village, and live alone in a deserted ditch to create Chinese characters. It has been built for three years, and there are so many words in a bucket of rapeseed. The Jade Emperor was very moved and decided to reward Cang Xie. What is the prize? I won a gold medal.

That night, Cang Xie was sleeping soundly when he suddenly heard someone calling him. "Cang Xie, come and receive the prize." Cang Xie broke his eyes in a daze, only to see that the room was full of bright light. He didn't know why, so he quickly sat up and looked around. It doesn't matter at first sight, but I saw a golden man standing on the ground. He muttered: What's wrong with this? Where did you get this gold man? Is it a dream? Just thinking, the rooster in the east neighbor crowed, and soon it was dawn, and Jin people were still standing firmly on the ground. He remembered the shouts he heard in his dream and understood that this golden man was a prize given to him by the gods in heaven. On second thought, I just did what I should do, and I don't deserve such a reward. So, he made three obeisances in the air, which was a thank-you to the gods. The next day, he called the boys in the village and sent the gold man to the palace of the Yellow Emperor. When the Yellow Emperor asked about the origin of the Jin people, he only said that he found it by accident and said it was a thing in the world. It should be used by people all over the world. I found it by accident, but I dare not take it for personal use. I'm here to present the award. The Yellow Emperor knew his noble personality and accepted it with a smile. However, after four or five days, just as the Yellow Emperor and his ministers were looking at the Golden Man, suddenly a light came and the Golden Man disappeared. The Yellow Emperor felt very uncomfortable, but he didn't know where the Golden Man was, so he sent someone to inform Cang Xie.

It is said that Cang Xie was sleeping soundly. In his dream, he heard someone shouting, "Cang Xie, you don't want the golden man who was given by the Jade Emperor. What do you want? " Cang Xie said in his dream, "I want a bumper harvest of grain, so that all people in the world can have food." The man said, "OK, I'll report to the Jade Emperor and ask him to take back the gold man and send you some millet." Hearing this, Cang Xie woke up, looked out of the window and saw the stars all over the sky. Knowing that he was dreaming, he didn't think much and fell asleep again.

The next day, the weather was fine and there were no clouds in Wan Li. Cang Xie was about to go out when he saw the falling grain in the sky. Particles are denser than raindrops. It rained for half an hour, and the ground accumulated more than a foot before stopping. Cang Xie was pleasantly surprised, and hurried out to see that the village was covered with grains and mountains. The villagers were also surprised. Everyone wanted millet at home.

At this moment, Cang Xie suddenly remembered the scene in his dream. Knowing that this was the jade emperor's reward for himself, he quickly reported it to the Yellow Emperor. On the way, I met people sent by the Yellow Emperor, explained the situation to each other and went to see the Yellow Emperor together. After listening to Cang Xie's report, Huangdi deeply felt that Cang Xie's contribution was worthy of great praise. So he took Grain Rain Day as a festival, called Grain Rain Day, and ordered people all over the world to sing and dance crazily on this day every year, thanking God. Since then, Grain Rain Festival has continued. People in Baishui Town regard this day as a festival to worship Cang Xie.

What are the customs and activities in Grain Rain?

1, picking grain rain tea

There is a custom of picking tea in Grain Rain in the south, and Grain Rain tea is also called tea before rain. It is spring tea picked in Grain Rain season, also called spring catechu. The moderate temperature and abundant rainfall in spring, coupled with the recuperation of tea trees in winter for half a year, make the buds and leaves of spring shoots plump, green in color, soft in leaves, rich in vitamins and amino acids, and make the taste of spring tea fresh. It is said that Grain Rain tea on this day can clear fire, ward off evil spirits and improve eyesight. So no matter what the weather is in Grain Rain, people will go to Chashan to pick some new tea and come back to soak in water.

Step 2 offer sacrifices to the sea

The custom of worshipping the sea. Grain Rain Festival is also known as the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing. In Grain Rain season, the sea gets warmer, and hundreds of fish go to the shallow sea, which is a good day to go fishing. As the saying goes, "Go online by Grain Rain." In order to go to sea safely and return home with a full load, fishermen will hold a sea sacrifice in the Grain Rain on this day and pray for Poseidon's blessing. Therefore, the Grain Rain Festival is also called the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing. In the past, every village had a temple of the sea or mother. When it's time for sacrifice, fishermen carry their offerings to the front of the temple for sacrifice, while others carry them to the seaside, beating gongs and drums, setting off firecrackers and offering sacrifices to the sea. The scene is very grand.

3. Take Grain Rain for example.

There was a custom of "going to Grain Rain" in ancient times. On this day, young women in Grain Rain visited relatives in the village, and some people came back after walking in the wild. The implication is to integrate with nature and keep fit.

4. Eat spring

Before and after Grain Rain, Toona sinensis was mellow and refreshing with high nutritional value, so it was said that Toona sinensis was tender as silk before the rain. People say that picking and eating Toona sinensis in spring is "eating spring". Toona sinensis is generally divided into purple Toona sinensis buds and green Toona sinensis buds, especially purple Toona sinensis buds.

Step 5 enjoy peony

Grain Rain is an important period of peony flowering. So peony flower is also called Grain Rain flower, and it is rich and beautiful. "Grain Rain sees the peony in three dynasties", and the peony appreciation in Grain Rain has lasted for thousands of years.

6. Prohibition of killing five poisons

After Grain Rain, the temperature rose, and pests and diseases entered a high breeding period. In order to reduce the harm of pests and diseases to crops and people, farmers put up grain rain stickers and prayed to drive away evil spirits. This custom is very popular in Shandong, Shanxi and Shaanxi. In the old days, a Japanese Grain Rain painting, Zhang Tianshi, was posted on the door in Linfen, Shanxi, named "Forbidden Scorpion". Shaanxi Fengxiang Scorpion Curse is woodcut, which shows that there is a great demand. It was printed with the words: "In Grain Rain, in mid-March, scorpions showed off their bravado. God chicken bites, poisonous insects turn into water ... "In the center of the picture, the rooster holds the insect with a big scorpion under his paw. This painting is printed with a spell. The saying that the rooster cures the scorpion has been circulating among the people for a long time. Scorpions are also forbidden in Shandong folk customs. Xiajin county annals in the sixth year of Qing Qianlong: "Grain Rain, cinnabar forbids scorpions." The folk custom of "banning scorpions" reflects people's feelings of expelling pests and longing for harvest and peace.

How to keep healthy in Grain Rain's solar terms?

Raise yang and do more morning exercises.

A year's plan lies in spring, and a day's plan lies in morning. In Grain Rain season, the yang is getting longer and the yin is getting smaller. You should go to bed early and get up early, and pay more attention to mental health care. Don't be too tired and nervous mentally and physically, and don't worry or even get angry.

Morning is a good time to adopt the natural qi, and activity is the most important part of nourishing yang. Old people can choose Tai Ji Chuan and other quiet and energetic sports. Exercise can improve the metabolism of the body, increase the amount of sweating, and achieve the effect of "dehumidification", but don't sweat too much to avoid yang leakage. Spring outing in the wild is also a good choice, which can dispel depression, improve cardiopulmonary function and enhance physical fitness.

Medicinal diet is beneficial to liver and kidney.

As soon as Grain Rain passed, spring passed. At this time, the liver qi is full, the heart qi is getting stronger, and the temper is in a vigorous period. It's a good opportunity for body tonic. Eat foods that replenish blood and qi at the right time, but not as much as in winter. The ancients said, according to your personal physique, you should eat some foods that tonify the liver and kidney, soothe the liver and nourish the liver, nourish blood and improve eyesight, strengthen the spleen and kidney, promote diuresis and eliminate dampness.

Commonly used medicinal diets are: yam chicken gizzard-membrane and eel soup: eel 250g, chicken gizzard-membrane 10g, yam 10g, 4 slices of ginger, yellow wine, refined salt and monosodium glutamate; Black bean porridge: 60g corn silk, 30g jujube, 30g black bean and 90g carrot.