This is an old revision of the document!

The sekki, or "small seasons"

season name meaning asscociations aprox. gregorian date
Risshun 立春 Start of spring Ground thaws, fish appear under ice. Feb 4
Usui 雨水 Rain waters Snow recedes, mist lingers in the air. Feb 18
Keichitsu 啓蟄 Emergence of the worms Bugs surface from hibernation. Mar 6
Shunbun 春分 Vernal equinox Sparrows start to nest, cherry blossoms bloom. Mar 21
Seimei 清明 Clear and bright Geese fly north, the first rainbows of the year appear. Apr 4
Kokū 穀雨 Rain for harvests Reeds sprout by rivers, rice seedlings grow. Apr 21
Rikka 立夏 Start of summer Birds and frogs start the songs of summer. May 6
Shōman 小満 Small blooming Flowers and plants bloom, wheat ripens. May 21
Bōshu 芒種 Seeds and cereals Praying mantises hatch, fireflies come out. Time to seed the soil. Jun 5
Geshi 夏至 Reaching summer Longest days of the year, irises bloom. Jun 21
Shōsho 小暑 Small heat Warm winds blow, young hawks learn to fly. Jul 7
Taisho 大暑 Big heat Summer heat at its strongest, accompanied by great rains. Jul 23
Risshu 立秋 Start of autumn Cooler winds blow, thick fogs roll through hills. Aug 8
Shosho 処暑 Lessening heat Rice has ripened, the heat of summer, forgotten. Aug 23
Hakuro 白露 White dew Drops of dew on grass. Sep 7
Shubun 秋分 Autumnal equinox Day and night are of equal length. Sep 23
Kanro 寒露 Cold dew Temperatures begin to drop, crickets stop chirping. Oct 8
Sōkō 霜降 Frosting The first frosts, maple leaves turn yellow. Oct 23
Ritto 立冬 Start of winter The ground starts to freeze. Nov 8
Shōsetsu 小雪 Small snow Light snow, the last leaves have fallen from trees. Nov 23
Taisetsu 大雪 Big snow Cold sets in, bears hibernate. Dec 8
Tōji 冬至 Winter solstice Shortest days of the year. Dec 22
Shōkan 小寒 Small cold Temperatures quickly drop. Jan 6
Daikan 大寒 Big cold Ice thickens on the streams, hens huddle together. Jan 20

User Tools

Page Tools

Site Tools