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Rainwater
The welcome rain knows its season, nourishing all things without a sound.
Solar term date
Dates follow the Hong Kong Observatory’s calendar. They are civil dates, rather than precise astronomical times.
About this solar term
Rainwater, at solar longitude 330°, evokes the rain that nourishes early spring growth. Rainfall and the arrival of warmer weather vary by region.
Traditional signs describe otters laying out their catch, geese turning north and plants beginning to bud. The image of an otter's offering is a human interpretation of animal behavior.
In farming traditions, this is a time to watch soil moisture and prepare for spring work. Seasonal foods and customs celebrate the renewal of the land.
Seasonal signs
Otters lay out their catch, geese turn north, and plants begin to bud.
Traditional seasonal signs combine observation with historical imagination. Weather and wildlife vary by region and year.
A reading of the poem
Rain washes the face of spring, and signs of life rise over level fields. Otters' catches line the shore; returning geese pass mountain peaks. Clouds gather and thin, the landscape shifts from pale to vivid, and as the second lunar month approaches, flowers crowd the light.
Tang dynasty · Traditionally attributed to Yuan Zhen
咏廿四气诗·雨水正月中
Poem source