Spring · No.2
Rain Water
Yu Shui
Snow turns to rain, rivers open up, and the air grows damp enough for roots to start drinking again.
In Rain Water the warm, wet air pushes north and precipitation shifts from snow to a thin, steady drizzle, often at night. Ground temperature climbs, winter wheat greens up and rapeseed begins to bud, so the fields are thirsty. In the north farmers sow while the soil is still frosty; in the south they clear ditches so water does not sit. Married daughters traditionally visit their parents, bringing a pot of braised pork. Days swing between warm and cold, so keep a layer on and change out of wet clothes promptly.
Three pentads
- 1
Otters catch fish and lay them out on the bank
- 2
Wild geese form lines and head north again
- 3
Grasses and trees push out their first green
What people eat now
spring bamboo shoot
When Rain Water comes, bamboo shoots push through wet southern soil; shelled and stir-fried at once, they are at their tenderest.
shepherd's purse
Shepherd's purse fattens on field ridges around Rain Water; chopped with pork for wonton filling, it tastes green and faintly bitter.
potted braised pork
In western Sichuan a daughter brings her parents a pot of braised pork at Rain Water, thanking them for the year's work.
What people wear
Rain is frequent now, so carry an umbrella and wear shoes that shrug off puddles. Indoor dampness keeps laundry from drying, so use a dryer rather than putting on half-wet clothes. A light sweater under a windproof jacket works on top, and keep long trousers on rather than switching to thin ones. Peel layers off gradually once the rain stops and the air warms.