The beginning of spring
Today is the beginning of spring--one of Chinese 24 solar terms, the air is filled with the breath of spring.
Here I would like to share a delicate Chinese ancient poem written by 王安石 Wang Anshi--a famous prime minister in Song dynasty.
墙角数枝梅，凌寒独自开。
遥知不是雪，为有暗香来。
A few plum twigs at the corner of the wall
Blossoming all alone, defying the cold!
Even from afar they can't be mistaken for snow,
For a delicate fragrance comes wafting with the breeze.
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It begins on Feb 6th in China? That's interesting! In Japan the first day of spring is Feb 4th, which is the first major solar division of the year, Risshun (立春) in Japanese. I wonder why the different day. When Japan updated the system in the Edo era they must have changed the dates. In China do you also subdivide each solar term into 3 parts, as they do here?
Oh. It is Feb 4th in China, too. I planned to post this small poem on Feb 4th, pitifully my steemit "post" key didn't work at that time.
I think so, but I am not sure if Chinese also subdivide each solar term into 3 parts.
Oh, I just check Chinese solar terms now, Between the beginning of Spring to Spring equinox, there is 雨水(Rainwater) and 惊蛰(Awakening of insects). Maybe it is the same as Japanese solar terms,maybe not.
Yes those are the same. But then 雨水 is divided into 土脉潤起 (Feb 19-23) 霞始靆 (Feb 24-28) and 草木萌動 (Mar 1-5). Similarly 啓蟄 (evidently the Japanese use slightly different kanji) is subdivided into 3 sections. This kind of thing is always very interesting to me.
BTW, it is a nice poem. I saved it to my poetry file. I love the plum blossoms. Such a wonderful smell!
Oh, I never knew that Japan has 24 solar terms, too. Thank you for telling me about it and your loving this small plum blossom poem so much. I have a small book of ancient Chinese poems with English translations. I love poem and your Japanese haiku, too.
You should share some more from it. I know some Chinese poetry, but usually only poems that haiku poets refer to. I'd love to hear more.