72 moments. One year.
The traditional Japanese calendar divides the year into 72 micro-seasons — each one a precise observation of the natural world.
Haru春
Spring
Risshun — Start of Spring
East winds melt the ice東風解凍
Bush warblers start singing黄鶯睍睆
Fish emerge from the ice魚上氷
Usui — Rain Water
Rain moistens the soil土脉潤起
Mist begins to linger霞始靆
Grass and trees bud草木萌動
Keichitsu — Awakening of Insects
Hibernating insects surface蟄虫啓戸
First peach blossoms桃始笑
Caterpillars become butterflies菜虫化蝶
Shunbun — Spring Equinox
Sparrows begin to nest雀始巣
First cherry blossoms桜始開
Distant thunder雷乃発声
Seimei — Clear and Bright
Swallows arrive玄鳥至
Geese fly north鴻雁北
First rainbows虹始見
Kokuu — Grain Rain
First reeds sprout葭始生
Frost ends, rice seedlings grow霜止出苗
Peonies bloom牡丹華
Natsu夏
Summer
Rikka — Start of Summer
Frogs begin singing蛙始鳴
Live Now
Earthworms surface蚯蚓出
Bamboo shoots sprout竹笋生
Shōman — Grain Buds
Silkworms begin eating mulberry蚕起食桑
Safflowers bloom紅花栄
Wheat ripens麦秋至
Bōshu — Grain in Ear
Praying mantises hatch螳螂生
Rotting grass becomes fireflies腐草為蛍
Plums turn yellow梅子黄
Geshi — Summer Solstice
Self-heal withers乃東枯
Irises bloom菖蒲華
Crow-dipper sprouts半夏生
Shōsho — Minor Heat
Warm winds arrive温風至
Lotus flowers open蓮始開
Hawks learn to fly鷹乃学習
Taisho — Major Heat
Paulownia trees flower桐始結花
Earth is damp, air is humid土潤溽暑
Heavy rains fall大雨時行
Aki秋
Autumn
Risshū — Start of Autumn
Cool winds arrive涼風至
Cicadas sing of autumn寒蝉鳴
Thick fog descends蒙霧升降
Shosho — End of Heat
Cotton flowers bloom綿柎開
Heaven and earth become austere天地始粛
Rice ripens禾乃登
Hakuro — White Dew
Dew glistens white on grass草露白
Wagtails sing鶺鴒鳴
Hawks sacrifice birds鷹乃祭鳥
Shūbun — Autumn Equinox
Thunder silences雷乃収声
Insects seal their burrows蟄虫坏戸
Water begins to dry水始涸
Kanro — Cold Dew
Geese arrive from the north鴻雁来
Chrysanthemums bloom菊花開
Crickets chirp at the door蟋蟀在戸
Sōkō — Frost's Descent
First frost falls霜始降
Light rains sometimes fall霎時施
Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow楓蔦黄
Fuyu冬
Winter
Rittō — Start of Winter
Camellias begin to bloom山茶始開
Earth begins to freeze地始凍
Daffodils bloom and smell sweet金盞香
Shōsetsu — Minor Snow
Rainbows hide虹蔵不見
North winds blow leaves from trees朔風払葉
Tachibana citrus turns yellow橘始黄
Taisetsu — Major Snow
Wintry cold closes in閉塞成冬
Bears retreat to their dens熊蟄穴
Salmon gather and swim upstream鱖魚群
Tōji — Winter Solstice
Self-heal sprouts乃東生
Deer shed their antlers麋角解
Wheat sprouts under snow雪下出麦
Shōkan — Minor Cold
Water parsley flourishes芹乃栄
Springs thaw and move水泉動
Pheasants begin to call雉始雊
Daikan — Major Cold
Butterburs bud款冬華
Ice thickens on streams水沢腹堅
Hens begin to lay鶏始乳
and then the ice melts, and east winds return.