苏说文化二十四节气之谷雨(英文版)
Grain Rain
谷雨
According to legend
相传
before the Chinese characters came into being
汉字出现之前
our ancestors were using knotted ropes to record their lives
我们的祖先结绳记事
It was such an inefficient way to document events
这种记事方法效率太低
that Yellow Emperor ordered Cangjie
于是黄帝命他的史官仓颉
the historian, to find a better way
寻找更好的方法
Cangjie, inspired by footprints of birds and animals
仓颉受鸟兽足迹的启迪
created characters
创造了文字
It was written in Huai Nanzi that
据《淮南子》记载
"when Cangjie invented characters, grain fell like rain"
“昔者仓颉作书，而天雨粟”
The Heaven, moved by Cangjie’s efforts and his creation
上天被仓颉造字的辛苦付出所感动
ordered that grain fall like rain from the sky to award Cangjie
命令天降谷雨予以嘉奖
So the day was called Grain Rain or Gu Yu in Chinese
于是 这一天被称为“谷雨”
in honor of Cangjie who successfully created Chinese characters
来纪念仓颉造字成功
Gu Yu is the sixth solar term in the 24 solar terms of China
谷雨 是二十四节气的第六个
It is also the last solar term in spring
也是春季的最后一个节气
and usually falls on April 20 or 21 every year
通常在每年的4月20日或21日
Gu Yu signals the end of cold weather
谷雨的到来意味着寒潮天气基本结束
and a rapid rise in temperature
气温回升加快
which is crucial for the growth of crops
有利于谷类农作物的生长
In north China
中国北方
people have the custom of eating vegetable toona sinensis
有食香椿的习俗
Gu Yu is the best time in a year to try the fresh toona sinensis
谷雨正好是香椿上市的最佳时节
which is fragrant, tasty
此时的香椿香醇爽口
and good for one’s immune system
可以提高免疫力
In the south
南方
people have the tradition of picking tea leaves on the day of Gu Yu
有谷雨摘茶习俗
It is said that drinking Gu Yu Tea
据说谷雨这天的茶
can help reduce inflammation
喝了可以清火
and improve eyesight, among other benefits.
明目
As a saying goes
俗语云
the best time to watch the peonies is the three days after Gu Yu
“谷雨三朝看牡丹”
Since peonies will usually
谷雨后的三天
be in full bloom around the time of Gu Yu
正是牡丹花盛开的时节
peony is also called Gu Yu Flower in China
因此 牡丹花又被称为“谷雨花”
Thus, watching peonies become an important pastime
谷雨赏牡丹
for the people during this time of the year
也就成为了人们一项休闲娱乐活动
The Chinese 24 Solar Terms is based on
中国的二十四节气
astronomical, meteorological and climatic knowledge
综合了天文 气象 物候等多方面的知识
As the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation
是中华民族数千年的智慧结晶
it provides the people a lens
它让人们去用
through which they can observe and feel the world around them
观察 体味世界
have a touch of the beauty of the folk culture
感受民俗文化的趣味
and enjoy the most genuine and fantastic nature
和自然风物的至真至美
