The start of the ninth solar term Grain in Ear, which falls on June 5 this year, denotes the grains are getting mature. During this period, crops like barley and wheat are ready to be harvested. At the same time, the temperature spikes and precipitation increases. Grain in Ear is critical for rice planting, and there is even a saying in Guizhou Province that goes If you don't plant rice during Grain in Ear, your planting will be in vain.
Rituals were held in the past to say farewell to the God of Flowers since most flowers have withered away at Grain in Ear. People would express gratitude to the God of Flowers, and anticipate its return next year. Rituals change and are passed down through generations. Today, in southern Anhui Province for example, there is a tradition to offer dumplings as sacrifices to pray for a good harvest. The dumplings are made in different shapes and colors with fresh wheat flour and vegetable juice. In most southern parts of China, green plums are fully ripened at this time and people usually boil them first before consumption as unprocessed plums can taste quite sour and puckery.
Read By Pan Huirui and Zou Minghao
BGM: Shine Your Little Light - Mini Vandals
The Shepherd's Calendar - June （EXCERPT）
John Clare
Now summer is in flower and natures hum
Is never silent round her sultry bloom
Insects as small as dust are never done
Wi' glittering dance and reeling in the sun
And green wood fly and blossom haunting bee
Are never weary of their melody
Round field hedge now flowers in full glory twine
Large bindweed bells wild hop and streakd woodbine
That lift athirst their slender throated flowers
Agape for dew falls and for honey showers
These round each bush in sweet disorder run
And spread their wild hues to the sultry sun
Where its silk netting lace on twigs and leaves
The mottld spider at eves leisure weaves
That every morning meet the poets eye
Like faireys dew wet dresses hung to dry
The wheat swells into ear and leaves below
The may month wild flowers and their gaudy show
Bright carlock bluecap and corn poppy red
Which in such clouds of colors wid [e] ly spread
That at the sun rise might to fancys eye
Seem to reflect the many colord sky
And leverets seat and lark and partridge nest
It leaves a schoolboys height in snugger rest
And oer the weeders labour overgrows
Who now in merry groups each morning goes
To willow skirted meads wi fork and rake
The scented hay cocks in long rows to make
Where their old visitors in russet brown
The haytime butterflyes dance up and down
And gads that teaze like whasps the timid maid
And drive the herdboys cows to pond and shade
Who when his dogs assistance fails to stop
Is forcd his half made oaten pipes to drop
And start and hallo thro the dancing heat
To keep their gadding tumult from the wheat
Who in their rage will dangers overlook
And leap like hunters oer the pasture brook
Brushing thro blossomd beans in maddening haste
And 'stroying corn they scarce can stop to taste
Labour pursues its toil in weary mood
And feign woud rest wi shadows in the wood
The mowing gangs bend oer the beeded grass
Where oft the gipseys hungry journeying ass
Will turn its wishes from the meadow paths
Listning the rustle of the falling swaths
The ploughman sweats along the fallow vales
And down the suncrackt furrow slowly trails
Oft seeking when athirst the brooks supply
Where brushing eager the brinks bushes bye
For coolest water he oft brakes the rest
Of ring dove brooding oer its idle nest
And there as loath to leave the swaily place
He'll stand to breath and whipe his burning face
