8th of the 24 solar terms [Shoman]
When all life is full.
It is the season when everything grows vigorously under the sunlight.
The weather is finally getting warmer, the wheat ears are growing, the plants in the mountains and fields are starting to bear fruit, and safflowers are blooming in abundance.
It's getting closer to full summer.
When all life is full.
It is the season when everything grows vigorously under the sunlight.
This time, we will focus on the 72 seasonal phases.
What are the 72 seasonal phases?
The 72 seasons are defined as a year divided into 72 periods by further dividing each of the 24 solar terms (approximately 15 days) into thirds of approximately 5 days each into the first season, second season, and third season.
The 24 solar terms allow people to know the coming of the seasons one step ahead of time, and are still an indispensable calendar for agricultural work.
The 72 Seasons describe natural phenomena and the behavior of plants and animals at each point in time in each season in short words, and by dividing the seasons into short five-day periods, we can feel the changing of the seasons in more detail.
The 22nd first case [Sericulture mulberry]
(The man gets up and puts on the hoe)
This is the time when mulberry leaves, which the silkworms eat, grow in abundance.
Since ancient times, the cocoons spun by silkworms have become beautiful silk, supporting people's livelihoods.
Sericulture began in China about 5,000 years ago. The technology for cultivating silk was developed in China, but it was forbidden to take it outside the country.
When silk fabrics were introduced from China to other countries, merchants from various countries, attracted by the charm of silk, traveled to China to trade, despite facing many difficulties. The road that was used for such trade is known as the Silk Road.
It is believed that sericulture was introduced to Japan from mainland China during the Yayoi period, and by the Nara period, sericulture was practiced nationwide. However, it was not enough to meet the demand throughout Japan, and the quality was inferior, so for a long time, Japan relied on imports from China. However, the Edo Shogunate encouraged sericulture, promoting its growth as an industrial project, and at the end of the Edo period, groundbreaking sericulture techniques were developed and invented. (It was during this period that Japan moved from a closed country to an open country, and raw silk became a major export item.)
Work in the factory was extremely tough, with work starting from around 4:30 in the morning and ending at around 10 at night, and the film is a masterpiece that shows the poor working conditions and culture that was supported by raw silk, as well as the roots of the labor movement.
Nomugi Pass, which is also the title of the film, is located on the border between Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture and Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, and is the highest level point in Japan. It is a beautiful pass with a view of Mount Norikura to the north and Mount Ontake to the south. However, as depicted in the film, at the end of the year, when people are allowed to return to their hometowns once a year, they are hit by blizzards and avalanches on the rugged, snow-covered roads, and it is said that many girls died without being able to see their parents in their hometowns.
(There is a household god called "Oshirasama" worshipped in the Tohoku region of Japan, who is generally regarded as the god of silkworms, agriculture, and horses.)
23rd Season: Next Season [Safflower Blooms]
When nature comes alive and grows, and the season of blessed rain is approaching, the particularly colorful safflowers are in full bloom.
It produces golden yellow flowers that change to red as summer progresses.
Safflower has been used for a variety of purposes since ancient times, including as a dye and in food.
It is used in cosmetics such as lipstick and blush, and is also famous as a food oil and Chinese medicine.
The flower language of safflower means "special person," "tolerance," "power of love," as well as "makeup" and "attire."
It is also widely used as a fabric dye, coming in colors ranging from yellow to pink and red.
Each type of dye is made using natural plant dyes, which are produced using different methods of extracting pigments, and which require careful consideration of temperature, time, and mixture.
It is a very deep hobby that can also be enjoyed as a familiar one that allows you to feel the warmth of nature.
The 24th Season: Final Season [Wheat harvest arrives]
The wheat fields are covered in a beautiful golden color, and harvest is soon upon us.
When you imagine the golden color of a wheat field, the word "bakushuu" (wheat harvest) brings to mind the scenery of autumn, but the seedlings sown in early winter turn into ripe grains, and autumn arrives for wheat. "Bakushuu" is a seasonal word for early summer, and takes place on a clear day during the rainy season.
Wheat is used for a variety of purposes, including food and daily necessities.
Barley as a food also has the effect of cooling the body, so barley tea and beer are perfect for the coming season.
Basically, many of the foods (vegetables) that can be harvested in the summer have a cooling effect on the body, so eating seasonal foods is a way to enjoy the season and build up your body.
It is also said that, regardless of the season, things that grow quickly or above ground tend to cool the body easily. Therefore, the wisdom of life, such as eating more root vegetables and other foods that grow underground when it gets cold, is thought to be deeply rooted in our lives.
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The 72 seasonal periods vividly inform us of changes in the weather and living things in our culture and daily lives. They also serve as an opportunity to become aware of the foundations of human activities and history.
The next solar term is the ninth, Boshu .