In late May, 小満しょうまん

Silkworms eating mulberry , red flower , Mai Qiuzhi

 

 

"Returning to the Countryside and Enjoying Spring and Summer at Four Seasons"

[Song Dynasty] Ouyang Xiu

 

The south wind blows all the grass,

The vegetation is deep and the hut is small,

The ears of wheat are in full bloom, childish and charming,

The mulberry leaves are full of fat.

The old man is happy to be mature every year,

A married woman knows that the season is good.

The wild tangerines sing closely and the evening warbler sings,

Garnet red songbird.

Who in the Tian family knows this joy?

I only know that it is not too early to return home.

Beg for your body when you are strong,

Look at my wasted time and age.

 

The world gradually fills with life, the vegetation grows lush, and the temperature rises. This is the season when silkworms eat mulberry leaves and grow rapidly, red flowers are everywhere, rice is about to bear fruit, and wheat is harvested. "The rain rushes with the rain". This is also the beginning of the plum rain season, when the rice is mature and the harvest begins, so it is called "Xiao Ming", which symbolizes the small contentment in the farmers' hearts.

 

Xiao Ming's health-preserving, heat-clearing and detoxifying food supplement

• Various skin diseases such as urticaria, sweat rash, eczema, etc. in childhood are all related to the internal heat in the body, and should be resolved by eating cool foods. Winter melon, barley, mung beans, cucumber, celery, water chestnuts, fungus, lotus root, tomatoes, and watermelon are good for clearing away heat and detoxifying.
• "Book of Yizhou." "Shi Xun Jie" records: "On the day of Xiaoman, bitter vegetables are on display." Bitter vegetables are one of the earliest wild vegetables eaten by the Chinese nation. It is said that Wang Baochuan relied on it to survive on the cold kiln for 18 years. Bitter vegetables are rich in nutrients. There is a saying in Chinese medicine: Eating bitter foods strengthens the heart. Eating bitter vegetables in moderation during a child's sleep is in line with the traditional Chinese medicine concept of "preventing disease before it's too late" that prevention is better than cure.

 

Xiao MingImportant events of the year

Japan

• Mid-May weekend* Sanja Matsuri: The regular festival (annual festival) of Asakusa Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo, began in the Edo period and is still a famous old town event.
• Changing clothes on June 1st (ころもがえ): Originating from the palace affairs in the Heian period, summer clothes are changed in June.

 

China

• Folks believe that the Xiao Ming solar term coincides with the birthday of Emperor Shennong. In addition to the fact that the ancient Yan Emperor Shennong was in charge of the harvest, taught people how to farm, and tasted herbs to cure people's diseases, Xiao Ming is also the peak season for folk herbalists to collect and dry herbs. Various herbal teas and herbal ointments can be used to prevent and treat many summer diseases.