Spring Equinox: The Phenological Poetry of Mar 20–22 and the Beauty of the Season

Spring Equinox: The Phenological Poetry of Mar 20–22 and the Beauty of the Season

Season Guide

On the day of the Spring Equinox, day and night are equal in length, and cold and heat are balanced — it is the most expansive point of equilibrium between heaven and earth.

The Three Pentads of Phenology

The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days each, recording the subtle changes of heaven and earth through plants, insects, and birds:

The Poetry of the Season

At the Spring Equinox, poets can always render the season’s subtlety with touching grace. “On the fourth day of mid-spring, the spring colors are split exactly in half.” One line captures the light and mood of this moment.

“On the fourth day of mid-spring, the spring colors are split exactly in half.”

— On the Spring Equinox · Xu Xuan

Between Things and Self

As we observe along the Spring Equinox’s three pentads, we find that the seasons are never abstract numbers, but living events we can touch and feel — peach blossoms, thunder, the breaking of ice.

Keywords: Spring Equinox · solar term · three pentads · balance of day and night · phenology · season beauty