Grain rain- Spring Ends - Summer Approaches

“春雨落，百谷生”是为谷雨也。它在24节气中排行第6，在每年的4月20日前后，亦是春季的最后一个节气。古人云“清明要晴，谷雨要淋”。谷雨，取自“雨生百谷”之意，对于稻作农业来说，谷雨就“久旱逢甘霖”的喜讯，在春天的末梢，气温回暖的时节，有了这场雨的加持，谷类作物便能茁壮成长，也就带来了一年的希望。自2010年被确定为“联合国中文日”起，我们的谷雨节气从此也有了国际地位。

现在就来看看我们老师与三年级的学生如何运用艺术的方式，来抓住春天的尾巴吧。

‘Grain Rain’ means "hundreds of grains are created by the rain", because if rainfall is sufficient and timely, cereal crops will thrive. This term ranks 6th among the 24 solar terms and it occurs around April 20th each year; it is also the last solar term of spring.

Since 2010, Grain Rain has gained international status and has since been designated as "United Nations Chinese Day".

Let's take a look at how our teachers and third-grade students use artistic methods to grasp the ‘tail’ of spring.

画说“留一抹春色，回看雨岸万物生。”

Drawings illustrating the Chinese ancient poem of “Leave a touch of spring, look back at the rain and all things will grow.”

壹

谷雨时节的花信风

The flower symbolizes Grain Rain

“谷雨三朝看牡丹”，——赏牡丹也成为人们重要的娱乐活动，虽然我们不能亲自去郊外采风，但在这万物生长的季节，我们透过这一幅幅艳压群芳的牡丹作品，也能体会到“花开时节动京城”的惊艳。

Peony appreciation has become an important entertainment activity for people and has lasted for thousands of years, although we cannot always personally go to the suburbs to gather flowers during this season of growing things. However, through these colourful peony works, we can also experience the breathtaking beauty of "moving the capital during the blooming season".

贰

谷雨三侯

A natural phenomenon in Grain Rain season

“萍始生，呜鸠拂其羽，戴任降于桑。”伴随着谷雨后降雨量的增多，小河里的浮萍仿佛收到了召唤，在水里展示着它绿油油的色彩；“布谷，布谷”那一声声报鸣声，是布谷鸟在树枝上用它清脆的声音提醒着人们开始准备播种了；那一只只戴胜鸟在桑树间窜来跳去，用它灵活的身姿，提醒着人们可以开始养蚕了。

After the Grain Rain, duckweed begins to increasingly grow, followed by the cuckoos shaking their feathers, all serving to remind people to sow seeds. The hoopoe birds can be seen flying over mulberry branches, indicating that the silkworms can be raised.

叁

谷雨贴

Grain Rain Painting

在一阵阵降雨中，气温也将随之升高，而舒适的温度也为虫子的繁衍提供了绝佳的环境。而这也预示着，谷雨之后病虫害也即将进入爆发期。为了减轻病虫害对作物及人的伤害，人们会一边进田灭虫，一边张贴谷雨贴，进行驱凶纳吉的祈祷。

With the rising of temperatures after Grain Rain, pests enter their high reproduction period. In order to reduce the damage of diseases and insects to both crops and people, farmers kill these pests by putting up Grain Rain paintings so as to pray for the healthy growth of crops. Grain Rain paintings have become an additional kind of New Year painting.

肆

其他

Others

“春雨落，百谷生，人间暮春好风光”。谷雨时节，大家可以在风和日丽的周末，和家人一起走谷雨、摘茶品茶、食春椿，抓住春天的尾巴，体会春的生机盎然；也可以和爸爸妈妈一起了解仓颉造字、渔家祭海、品谷雨节气古诗，感悟传统文化的深厚底蕴。

During the Grain Rain solar term, you can spend weekends with your family picking and drinking tea and savoring the taste of “spring”.  Furthermore, you can learn more about Cangjie's calligraphy style, go fishing, and appreciate Grain Rain solar term poems with your parents.

课堂花絮

谷雨是一种与水相关的节气，而这与中国水墨画有着相同之处，为了能更好的让学生对该节气的理解，我们便通过教学水墨课的方式，让学生通过对水的控制，来学习毛笔的中锋与侧锋，体验点的形状、深浅变化。在滴水成画中，提升他们浓厚的兴趣，并创作出一幅幅富有诗意的画。

Grain Rain is a solar term related to water and has a relationship with ink painting. Ink painting emphasizes the control of water through learning the correct usage of the center and side of the brush, which causes a change in the shape and depth of the point. Students show a keen interest in ink painting, inspiring their poetic artwork creations.

这是一个富有生气的节气，也是一个看的见，摸得着的节气。我们走过竹林，看见一片片拔节而起的竹笋；我们凝眸田野，看见农民伯伯在田野上辛勤耕耘，现在，让我们抓住春天的尾巴，一起出去踏青吧！

This is one of the most vibrant solar terms, which can be observed and experienced all around us. We can walk through a bamboo forest and see pieces of thriving bamboo. We can step into a field and see farmers working hard. So go forth, seize spring by the tail, and enjoy the beauty of nature!

文章转载自：【上海青浦区协和双语学校】