The 5th of the 24 solar terms: Qingming
It's late spring.
[All things have reached this point and are pure and clear.]
Qingming is an abbreviation of "Seijomeiketsu" (clean and clear), and refers to the time when everything becomes lively and pure.
As the saying goes, the flowers and plants are sprouting beautifully in the warm weather, and on morning walks, the sparrow chicks born in the spring are practicing their flight in unison.
The southeasterly wind that heralds the arrival of spring along with the refreshing sunshine - the Seimei wind - blows softly and is called the "kunpu" spring wind, carrying the scent of flowers.
Now let us introduce some events that took place around the time of Qingming.
[Events during the Qingming Dynasty]
● Cherry blossom viewing (April)
● Qingming Festival (April 5th)
"Qingming Festival" is a national holiday established on the 15th day from the Vernal Equinox, and the three days including that day are legal holidays during which people visit their ancestors' graves. (In Japan, it is an annual event equivalent to "Obon.")
● Flower Festival (April 8th)
The Flower Festival is a Buddhist celebratory event held on April 8th, which is said to be the birthday of Buddha. It is widely enjoyed at temples and Buddhist schools, regardless of sect.
Easter (April 9th)
Easter is the day to celebrate and remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after he was crucified and executed. In Christianity, it is considered the most important spring event, celebrating the resurrection of life and prosperity.
●New academic year/Entrance ceremony (early April)
It is the day when you start a new school, grade, or workplace and embark on a new stage in your life.
● Jusan Mairi (April 13th)
Juusan Mairi is a traditional event to celebrate the healthy growth of boys and girls who have turned 13 years old (12 years old in actual age).
[Seimei Festival]
In areas that use the lunisolar calendar, such as China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, an event called the Qingming Festival is held. In Japan, it is held in Okinawa as the Qingming Festival (Shimi), and was introduced from China. It is a major event on par with Obon and New Year's, where all relatives gather at the graves of their ancestors to offer sake, multi-tiered food, cut flowers, and more.
In China, people basically only visit their ancestors' graves on the Qingming Festival (or Double Ninth Festival), so most people spend their time visiting their ancestors' graves on the Qingming Festival. The reason why the Seimei Festival did not take root throughout Japan is probably because of the time difference with the mainland and because Japan already had the "Higan" festival.
(In Honshu, Japan, people visit graves on the previous solar term, the vernal equinox, as the Higan. The vernal equinox is also celebrated as the day when the length of day and night are roughly the same, and in America it is called the first day of Spring.
In China, as soon as the visit to the grave is over, a banquet is held and offerings and other delicacies are eaten on the spot, so it is common for a large banquet space to be set up around the grave. In Okinawa, there is also a large space in front of the grave for the Qingming Festival, where a banquet is also held. It is a very lively event.
[Food for the Qingming Festival]
The food served on the Qingming Festival varies from region to region, and reflects the local characteristics. In addition, many regions have the custom of eating cold food on the Qingming Festival.
One of the most famous foods eaten during the Qingming Festival is the green rice cakes or dumplings called " Qingtuan" made with mugwort.
It is also called "Qingming fruit" as a seasonal fruit when everything is full of vitality. Qingdao is a popular rice cake in China with a soft and chewy texture. It is sold all year round, but the Qingming Festival is the best selling time.
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Seasonal Food
The fact that seasonal ingredients change throughout the year is a joy unique to Japan, a country with four seasons.
Seasonal foods are useful for maintaining daily health by providing the nutrients the body needs at that time of year and preparing the body for the upcoming climate.
Let's decorate your table with delicious, freshly picked ingredients.
We will introduce ingredients that are in season around Qingming, the fifth of the 24 solar terms.
◆ Vegetables ◆
Qingming is the time when spring fruit-picking, such as digging for bamboo shoots and picking strawberries, becomes popular.
Bamboo shoots, in particular, are said to taste better if they are dug up just before they appear above ground. Freshly harvested bamboo shoots have little bitterness and can be enjoyed raw.
In addition, butterbur is also in season. It is one of the few vegetables native to Japan.
◆ Fish ◆
The fish that is in season now is bonito!
Bonito that travel north on the Kuroshio Current from the southern seas in the Pacific Ocean near Japan is called "first bonito" or "ascending bonito." In the Edo period, the first bonito was highly valued. Bonito from this season is characterized by its light and elegant taste.
The first bonito caught in March to May is light and refreshing, so we recommend seared bonito.
The "returning bonito" caught from September to November is fatty, so we recommend eating it as sashimi .
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The 72 seasonal phases around the time of the Qingming era are expressed as follows:
First Season, 13th Season ＜The Black Bird Arrives＞
When summer swallows arrive
It is now the season when swallows, who spent the winter on the warm islands of Southeast Asia, cross the sea and arrive in Japan. Their arrival marks the start of spring and the agricultural season.
In Japan, there is a legend that swallows bring happiness to houses where they build their nests. In Europe, swallows are also considered to be birds that symbolize "resurrection and rebirth" because they return around Easter.
Next Phase 14th Phase ＜Kougan Kitasu＞
This is the time when the geese that have spent the winter in Japan leave for the northern regions.
The geese leave Japan, replacing the swallows that arrive in spring (Qingming Chuhou [Tsubame Kitaru]).
Wild geese have often appeared in literary works since ancient times, and are used in various haiku and songs. They are also the origin of the Japanese sweet "rakugan" and the high-quality stem tea "karigane," and we can see that wild geese have been a part of the scenery of Japanese life since ancient times, and are migratory birds with a deep connection to it.
Last sign 15th sign: Rainbow first appears
After the spring rain, the first rainbow appears in the sky.
From now until the summer, there will be days with unstable atmospheric conditions, and there will be many evening showers. This is the season when rainbows start to appear in the west after sudden rains. "Rainbow" is a summer seasonal word, but in spring it is written as a "spring rainbow" and in autumn it is written as an "autumn rainbow." In the 72 seasonal divisions, the first day of the 20th solar term in November, "Light Snow," is contrasted with "Rainbow hidden in the treasury, not seen."
"The rainbow is no longer visible" refers to the time in late autumn when the sun's power becomes weaker and rainbows can no longer be seen, while "the rainbow first appears" refers to the time in spring when rainbows begin to appear after rain.
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Enjoy the season when plants and trees shine vibrantly !
It's a pleasant time to go out, so we recommend packing a lunch box filled with seasonal ingredients and going for a walk in the countryside, surrounded by nature. Experience the beauty of flowers and the refreshing spring breeze in nature.
The next solar term is "Grain Rain".