Today begins a new microseason! If this is your first time joining us, scroll down past the forecast to read about what exactly a microseason is. For the rest of you, let’s jump in!
The Current Microseason: Wheat Sprouts Beneath the Snow
Today, Jan 1st, begins 雪下出麦, the 65 microseason (候, kō) which is read yuki watarite mugi nobiru and means Wheat Sprouts Beneath the Snow. This is the third microseason of Tōji, which is itself the fourth solar term of winter.
It may be winter now, and with the coldest part of winter still to come, but under the snow wheat is starting to germinate and prepare for the spring. It is said this is a good lesson for people: rather than expend our energy trying to vain to fight against the season, it’s better to endure and build up our power in anticipation of the coming spring.
Seasonal Fruit: Kumquat
The smallest of the citrus family, these are often candied whole in syrup and served for New Years celebration and are a part of the traditional New Years dishes, Osechi. Called Kinkan no Kanroni (金柑の甘露煮), they are said to bring good fortune. They are sour by themselves, but balanced by the sugar added when cooked. They are said to help sooth a sore throat. They also taste really good!
Seasonal Event: Shichifukujin
On New Years, it is said we are visited by the seven gods bringing happiness and taking away our misfortunes. These are the Shichifukujin (七福神).
The seven gods are an interesting assortment of deities. They include Bishamonten (毘沙門天, guardian god of Buddhism), Fukurokuju (福禄寿, god of happiness), Jurojin (寿老人, god of longevity), Benzaiten (弁才天, goddess of music), Daikokuten (大黒天, god of wealth), Ebisu (恵比寿, god of wealth), and Hotei (布袋, god of wealth and good fortune). Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Daikokuten are from Hinduism; Fukurokuju, Hotei, Jurojin from Taoism and Chinese Buddhism; and, Ebisu from Shinto (he is the only one of the seven who is from Japanese mythology).
They ride a treasure ship (宝船, Takarabune) through the heavens to land in our world and do their thing. They are a much beloved New Years tradition. And you will always see photos, statues, or both of them during this holiday.
Here is a haiku for this microseason:
ganjitsu no miru-mono ni sen Fuji-no-yama
the sight we gaze upon
mount fuji
—Sōkan
On New Years Day there is no greater and more auspicious think in Japan than to see the sacred Mount Fuji.
Sōkan, along with Moritake, is said to be the original creator of haiku, or at least the small verse that would evolve into haiku. This is his most famous poem.
Will move this info to another post one of these days, but for now, briefly:
- Each month has two seasons, called solar terms (節気, sekki), giving us a total of 24 seasons. This gives the system its name, the 24 Sekki (二十四節気). I usually refer to this entire system as The Japanese Almanac. It is more than a little similar to the American Farmer’s Almanac.
- Each of these 24 seasons is further subdivided three more times, giving us a grand total of 72 seasons, or microseasons (候, kō).
- Each microseason is about 5 days. With time periods so short, they can get pretty specific about what in nature we might expect to be happening around now.
- The system was originally from China, but it was reformatted during the Edo Era (1603–1868) to fit better with Japan’s climate. I find it also fits fairly well with much of the Midwest in the Eastern half of the US. But if you live in a different area, your milage may vary.
- The entire system is based on the equinoxes and solstices, so it is fluid and the exact dates will vary by a day or two from year to year. Luckily there are a great many Japanese sources that do the astrological computations for us and tell us exactly when each one starts and ends every year.
The next microseason starts on Jan 5th. See you then for the next forecast!