【新译Y宇宙：二十四节气专题之一】No. 25 由春入夏

清明，二十四节气之一，春季的第五个节气。太阳到达黄经15°，便为清明。清明时，气清景明，万物皆显，因此得名。清明，既是节气，又是节日。节气的清明，是春耕春种的大好时机；节日的清明，是民间寄托情感和慰劳自己的传统日子。清明节气在时间和天气物候特点上为清明节俗的形成提供了重要条件。清明一到，气温升高，正是春耕春种的大好时节，故有“清明前后，种瓜种豆”。“植树造林，莫过清明”的农谚。

Pure Brightness, one of the twenty-four solar terms, is the fifth solar term of spring. When the sun reaches 15° of the ecliptic, it is called Pure Brightness. During Pure Brightness, it is clear and bright, and everything is visible, hence the name. Pure Brightness is both a solar term and a festival. The solar term is a great time for spring ploughing and planting; the festival is a traditional day for folk to place their emotions and comfort themselves. Pure Brightness provides important conditions for the formation of the festival customs in terms of time and weather and physical characteristics. When Pure Brightness arrives, the temperature rises and it is a good time for spring ploughing and planting, so "around Pure Brightness, plant melons and beans". This is why there is a proverb that says, "Planting trees and forests no later than Pure Brightness".

谷雨，是二十四节气中第六个节气，春季的最后一个节气，于每年公历4月19日—21日交节。太阳到达黄经30°，便为谷雨。谷雨取自“雨生百谷“之意，此时降水明显增加，田中的秧苗初插、作物新种，最需要雨水的滋润，降雨量充足而及时，谷类作物能茁壮成长。谷雨与雨水、小满、小雪、大雪等节气一样，都是反映降水现象的节气，是古代农耕文化对于节令的反映。

Grain Rain is the sixth of the twenty-four solar terms, the last of the spring solar terms, and is celebrated from 19th to 21th April  of each year. The sun reaches 30° of the ecliptic and it is Grain Rain. It is the time when the rainfall increases significantly, when seedlings are first planted and crops are newly planted, and when the rainfall is sufficient and timely, cereal crops can thrive. Grain Rain is like Rain Water, Lesser Fullness of Grain, Lesser Snow and Greater Snow , all of which reflect the phenomenon of precipitation and the ancient farming culture.

立夏，是二十四节气中的第七个节气，夏季的第一个节气，交节时间在每年公历5月05-07日。此时北斗七星的斗柄指向东南方，太阳黄经达45°。立夏，是标示万物进入旺季生长的一个重要节气。历书：“斗指东南维，为立夏，万物至此皆长大，故名立夏也。”立夏后，日照增加，逐渐升温，雷雨增多，农作物进入了茁壮成长阶段。

Beginning of Summer, the seventh of the twenty-four solar terms, is the first of the summer solar terms, and is celebrated from 5th to 7th May of each year. At this time, the stalk of the Big Dipper points to the southeast and the sun reaches 45° of the ecliptic. This is an important solar term that marks the beginning of the peak season. The calendar says: "The Dipper points to the south-east, which is the beginning of summer, when everything grows, hence the name." After beginning of summer, the sunshine increases, the temperature rises and thunderstorms increase, so crops enter a strong growth phase.

小满，“二十四节气”之一，是夏季的第二个节气。小满，斗指甲，太阳达黄经60°，于每年公历5月20—22日交节。小满节气意味着进入了大幅降水的雨季，雨水开始增多，往往会出现持续大范围的强降水。小满和雨水、谷雨、小雪、大雪等一样，都是直接反映降水的节气。小满反映了降雨量大的气候特征：“小满小满，江河渐满”。另有解释是指北方麦类等夏熟作物的籽粒开始灌浆，只是小满，还未完全饱满。

Grain Buds, one of the twenty-four solar terms, is the second solar term of summer. Grain Buds, the nail of the dipper, is the day when the sun reaches 60° of the yellow meridian and the festival is celebrated on 20-22 May each year in the Gregorian calendar. Grain Buds signifies the beginning of the rainy season with continuous and widespread heavy precipitation. Lesser Fullness of Grain, like Rain Water, Grain Rain, Less Snow and Greater Snow, are all solar terms that directly reflect precipitation. Grain Buds reflects the climatic characteristic of heavy rainfall: "Xiaoman Xiaoman, the rivers are getting full". Another interpretation is that the seeds of summer crops, such as wheat in the north, are beginning to fill and are only little full, not yet completely full.