二十四節(jié)氣

張建軍

立夏

立夏，是夏季的首個節(jié)氣，標志著春天結(jié)束、夏季開始，萬物由“春生”轉(zhuǎn)入“夏長”階段?！跋摹弊钟小拔镏畨汛蟆钡暮x，步入立夏節(jié)氣，“成長”成為生命的主旋律。

Lixia， or the Beginning of Summer， isthe first solar term of summer， marking theend of spring and the beginning of summer.It signifies the transition from “spring birth”to “summer growth”， as represents theflourishing of all things. With the arrival ofLixia， “growth” becomes the main theme of life.

送春迎夏，是立夏節(jié)氣的傳統(tǒng)民俗活動。浙江杭州地區(qū)的半山立夏習俗延續(xù)千年，有立夏祭祖、娘娘誕廟會、吃烏米飯等活動，這些傳統(tǒng)民俗活動同時融入了“跑山”等現(xiàn)代文體活動，彰顯著人們千百年來祈福納祥、追求美好生活的愿望。

Sending oth spring and welcoming summeris a traditional folk activity during the Lixiaperiod. In Banshan region in Hangzhou，Zhejiang Province， the custom of celebratingLixia has been passed down for thousands ofyears. As part of this traditional celebration，people hold ancestral worshipping ceremonies，organize temple fairs honoring the birth ofGoddess Banshan， and eat Umi Rice （glutinousrice cooked with the juice squeeze out ofthe leaves of sea bilberries）. Now in the newera， more contemporary activities such as（literally meaning mountain running，the activity of picking wild vegetables in themountain） has been added to the celebration.these activities are the manifestation of people’sdesire for blessings and a better life， which hasbeen passed for centuries.

夏季暑濕，易引發(fā)睡眠不佳、乏力倦怠、食欲減退等癥狀。江南地區(qū)流傳著“立夏稱人”的習俗——司秤人一邊打秤花，一邊說吉利話，祝福稱重人身強體壯、不消瘦。

the summer season is hot and humid， which can leadto discomfort such as poor sleep， fatigue， and reducedappetite. In the Jiangnan region （the region to the south ofthe lower reaches of the Yangtze River）， there is a customcalled “Weighing on the Beginning of Summer”， wherepeople get weighed while being blessed on this particularday. The auspicious words spoken are usually about themaintenance of a good health and much strength and theavoidance of unhealthy weight loss.

立夏是嘗新、嘗鮮的時節(jié)。長三角地區(qū)，人們多取青嫩麥穗，碾粒作細條食之，因其形狀如蠶，故稱“麥蠶”，是一種給孩子充饑、解饞的立夏食物。人們還以金花菜摻和米粉攤作餅，或油煎、或蒸煮食之，稱“草頭攤粞”，以防病驅(qū)災。北京蘇家坨鎮(zhèn)流傳著喝立夏粥的風俗，認為喝了立夏粥可保四季平安，祛病免災。

Lixia is a time for trying new things and enjoying freshproduce. In the Yangtze River Delta region， people oftentake young wheat ears， grind them into thin strips， andeat them. Because their shape resembles silkworms， theyare called “wheat silkworm”， a snack enjoyed during thisparticular time of year that helps children satisfy hunger andcravings. People also make pancakes by mixing burcloverwith rice noodles， frying or steaming them. This dish iscalled “crushed rice with burclover”， believed to have thebenetht of othering protection against diseases and disasters.In Sujiatuo Town， Beijing， there is the custom of drinkingporridge during the Lixia period. It is said to have the powerof bringing peace throughout the four seasons and wardingoth illnesses.

立夏節(jié)氣的飲品同樣別具風格。茶飲，有著名的“七家茶”，合七家茶米食之，可不病暑。酒飲，極具特色的是“駐色酒”，即兌李汁的酒，立夏日飲此酒，可使人容顏不衰。

The beverages during the Lixia period have theirown unique styles as well. For tea， there is the famous“sevenhousehold tea”， a combination of tea leaves collectedfrom neighbors and friends， which is believed to be helpful to the prevention of heat-related illnesses.As for alcoholic drinks， the distinctive“complexion-maintaining wine”， made bymixing plum juice with wine， can keep aperson’s complexion radiant when consumedduring the Lixia period.

送春迎夏，四時佳興。宋代文人范成大《四時田園雜興· 其二十五》有云：

By sending off spring and welcomingsummer， people witness the spinning of thefour seasons， each of which is fascinating in itsown way. In the Song Dynasty， the poet FanChengda （1126—1193） wrote in his poem No.25 of “From ‘A Rural Sequence’”：

夏季暑濕，易引發(fā)睡眠不佳、乏力倦怠、食欲減退等癥狀。江南地區(qū)流傳著“立夏稱人”的習俗——司秤人一邊打秤花，一邊說吉利話，祝福稱重人身強體壯、不消瘦。the summer season is hot and humid， which can leadto discomfort such as poor sleep， fatigue， and reducedappetite. In the Jiangnan region （the region to the south ofthe lower reaches of the Yangtze River）， there is a customcalled “Weighing on the Beginning of Summer”， wherepeople get weighed while being blessed on this particularday. The auspicious words spoken are usually about themaintenance of a good health and much strength and theavoidance of unhealthy weight loss.

立夏是嘗新、嘗鮮的時節(jié)。長三角地區(qū)，人們多取青嫩麥穗，碾粒作細條食之，因其形狀如蠶，故稱“麥蠶”，是一種給孩子充饑、解饞的立夏食物。人們還以金花菜摻和米粉攤作餅，或油煎、或蒸煮食之，稱“草頭攤粞”，以防病驅(qū)災。北京蘇家坨鎮(zhèn)流傳著喝立夏粥的風俗，認為喝了立夏粥可保四季平安，祛病免災。

Lixia is a time for trying new things and enjoying freshproduce. In the Yangtze River Delta region， people oftentake young wheat ears， grind them into thin strips， andeat them. Because their shape resembles silkworms， theyare called “wheat silkworm”， a snack enjoyed during thisparticular time of year that helps children satisfy hunger andcravings. People also make pancakes by mixing burcloverwith rice noodles， frying or steaming them. This dish iscalled “crushed rice with burclover”， believed to have thebenetht of othering protection against diseases and disasters.In Sujiatuo Town， Beijing， there is the custom of drinkingporridge during the Lixia period. It is said to have the powerof bringing peace throughout the four seasons and wardingoth illnesses.

立夏節(jié)氣的飲品同樣別具風格。茶飲，有著名的“七家茶”，合七家茶米食之，可不病暑。酒飲，極具特色的是“駐色酒”，即兌李汁的酒，立夏日飲此酒，可使人容顏不衰。

The beverages during the Lixia period have theirown unique styles as well. For tea， there is the famous“sevenhousehold tea”， a combination of tea leaves collectedfrom neighbors and friends， which is believed to be helpful

梅子金黃杏子肥，

麥花雪白菜花稀。

日長籬落無人過，

惟有蜻蜓蛺蝶飛。

The trees heavy with loads of golden plum and apricot，

The wheat blossoms like snowflakes， falling.

The days growing longer，

The shadows of the fences growing shorter.

No passer-by，

Only dragonflies and butterflies.

在詩人鋪陳的立夏畫卷中，金黃的梅子、肥美的杏子掛滿了枝頭。麥花如雪，菜花稀落。隨著太陽愈升愈高，籬笆墻的影子越來越短，靜謐的田園里蜓飛蝶舞，好不熱鬧。農(nóng)家人常說“立夏望夏”，萬物長大春去也，唯有守護成長，方才不負夢想。

In this vivid depiction of the Beginningof Summer， golden plums and juicy apricotshang from the branches. The falling wheatblossoms resemble snowflakes. As the sunrises higher and higher in the sky， the shadowsof the fences become shorter and shorter.In the tranquil countryside， dragonflies andbutterflies flutter about， adding livelinessto the scene. Rural folks often say， “Duringthe Lixia period， we anticipate the arrival ofsummer.” Now that spring has gone， it is timeto nourish the growth of all things. Only bydoing so can we fulfill our dreams.

小滿

對中國人而言，“小滿”的基本含義至少有兩點：一是小麥等夏熟作物的籽粒日趨飽滿；二是頻繁降雨導致江河湖塘水位上升，即“小滿小滿，江河漸滿”。通常，前者指的是北方麥作區(qū)，后者說的是南方稻作區(qū)。

For Chinese people， Xiaoman， or Grain Buds，has at least two basic meanings： first， the grainsof summer crops such as wheat become plump;second， frequent rainfall causes the water level ofrivers and lakes to rise， hence the saying， “GrainBuds， Gain Buds， gradually filling up are therivers.” Generally， the former refers to the wheatgrowingareas in the north， while the latter refersto the rice-growing areas in the south.

中國南方地區(qū)有“小滿動三車”的說法，“三車”指水車、油車和絲車。小滿節(jié)氣，農(nóng)民踏車翻水，旱時以車引水，澇時以車排水，即“動水車”；油菜結(jié)籽，要收割回家，準備榨油，即“動油車”；春蠶結(jié)繭，蠶農(nóng)開始排車繅絲，即“動絲車”。

In the southern region of China， there is asaying called “Grain Buds move three carts”. Herethe “three carts” refer to the “water cart” （waterwheel）， “oil cart” （oil-pressing machine）， and “silkcart” （silk-reeling machine）. During the Xiaomanperiod， farmers paddle water wheels to irrigate thethelds during droughts and drain excess water duringfloods. This is why the “water cart” is also called“water-moving cart”. When rapeseed matures andneeds to be harvested and processed for oil， they usethe “oil-cart”， which is also called “oil-moving cart”.When silkworms begin to spin cocoons， now it istime for silk farmers to dust oth the “silk cart”， whichis also known as “silk-moving cart”， to reel silk.

江浙地區(qū)民間相信小滿日是蠶神的生日?！靶M三朝絲上市”，隨著絲市轉(zhuǎn)旺、蠶業(yè)豐收，為表達對蠶神的感謝，人們會在蠶神祠廟開鑼演戲，慶祝神誕，祭祀叩拜，民間稱“謝蠶神”。

In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces， people believethat Xiaoman is the birthday of the Silkworm God orSilkworm Goddess. there is an old saying： “the new silkis on the market three days into Grain Buds.” there is abumper harvest of silk， and the silk market is bustling. Toexpress their gratitude to the Silkworm God or SilkwormGoddess， people put on shows to celebrate the deity’sbirth， kowtowing and displaying otherings. this traditionis known as “thanking the Silkworm Deity”.

陜西關(guān)中地區(qū)流傳著“麥梢黃，女看娘，卸了杠枷，娘看冤家”的俗諺。新婚女子和丈夫在麥黃的時候，要回娘家探望女方爹娘，對即將投入夏收大忙的娘家人表示問候，故也稱“看麥熟”。

In the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province， thereis a popular saying： “When the wheat tips turn yellow， thedaughter visits her parents; After putting down the heavyfaail， the mother ask about her daughter’s hard labor.” Whenthe wheat turns yellow， newlywed women visit their parents’home with her husband to send them greetings beforethe busy summer harvest. This tradition is also known as“Seeing the Ripening of Wheat”.

各地的大田作物和瓜果蔬菜在小滿時節(jié)相繼上市，故有“小滿見三新（鮮）”之說。

During the Xiaoman period， varioustheld crops and fruits and vegetables go to themarket one after another， hence the saying“Grain Buds brings forth three new （fresh）tastes”.

小滿節(jié)氣，枝繁葉茂、谷物豐登，宋代文人歐陽修的《五絕· 小滿》有云：

Xiaoman is a vibrant and fruitful time ofyear. The Song Dynasty scholar-poet OuyangXiu （1007—1072） once expressed his love forXiaoman in “Five Quatrains： Grain Buds”：

江浙地區(qū)民間相信小滿日是蠶神的生日?！靶M三朝絲上市”，隨著絲市轉(zhuǎn)旺、蠶業(yè)豐收，為表達對蠶神的感謝，人們會在蠶神祠廟開鑼演戲，慶祝神誕，祭祀叩拜，民間稱“謝蠶神”。

In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces， people believethat Xiaoman is the birthday of the Silkworm God orSilkworm Goddess. there is an old saying： “The new silkis on the market three days into Grain Buds.” there is abumper harvest of silk， and the silk market is bustling. Toexpress their gratitude to the Silkworm God or SilkwormGoddess， people put on shows to celebrate the deity’sbirth， kowtowing and displaying offerings. This traditionis known as “Thanking the Silkworm Deity”.

陜西關(guān)中地區(qū)流傳著“麥梢黃，女看娘，卸了杠枷，娘看冤家”的俗諺。新婚女子和丈夫在麥黃的時候，要回娘家探望女方爹娘，對即將投入夏收大忙的娘家人表示問候，故也稱“看麥熟”。

In the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province， thereis a popular saying： “When the wheat tips turn yellow， thedaughter visits her parents; After putting down the heavyflail， the mother ask about her daughter’s hard labor.” Whenthe wheat turns yellow， newlywed women visit their parents’home with her husband to send them greetings beforethe busy summer harvest. This tradition is also known as

夜鶯啼綠柳，皓月醒長空。

最愛壟頭麥，迎風笑落紅。

The nightingale sings among the green willows，And the bright moon awakens the vast sky.I adore the wheat on the ridge in this time of year.

Caressed by the gentle winds，It swings and sways， smiling at the fallen flowers.

歐陽修在詩中對小滿節(jié)氣的喜愛溢于言表。小滿的夜里，夜鶯啼鳴，綠柳如茵，一輪皓月懸掛在空中。春花謝落，但壟間的麥子卻隨風搖曳，長勢喜人。小滿，是一個生機勃勃、充滿愿景的美好節(jié)氣，不僅令人自在歡喜，也令人在“小得盈滿”的歲月里“終得完全”。

In his poem， Ouyang Xiu vividlydescribes the beauty of Xiaoman. During theXiaoman period， the nightingale sings， thegreen willows flourish， with a bright moonhanging in the sky. While spring flowerswither， the wheat in the fields sways with thewind， showing vigorous growth. Xiaomanis a splendid and hopeful solar term thatbrings joy and fulfillment. Just as the Chinesewords and indicate， which literallytranslate to small and full， people can“achieve fullness” in things that are “smallbut abundant”.