Spring Equinox is the fourth solar term in the twenty-four solar cycle, usually occurring on March 20th or 21st annually. At this time, the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0°, directly above the equator, making day and night nearly equal in length, with cold and heat balanced, hence the name "Spring Equinox." It marks the arrival of mid-spring and represents a special moment of equilibrium between yin and yang, as well as equal division of day and night. In terms of phenology, Spring Equinox presents active scenes described as "swallows return, thunder sounds, and lightning begins to flash." In traditional agrarian civilization, this solar term signifies that spring plowing has entered its climax, serving as a critical period for sowing seeds and grafting fruit trees. The farming proverb states: "When Spring Equinox arrives, wheat rises—an inch of time is worth an inch of gold," emphasizing the preciousness and urgency of agricultural timing.
Historically, the Spring Equinox, with its characteristics of "balance" and "equal division," nurtured rich customs that blended nature worship with social rituals. The tradition of "standing eggs on end" is widely practiced among the people, as it is believed that due to the balance of yin and yang on this day, eggs can most easily be stood upright—a game reflecting awareness of the principle of balance and expressing simple wishes for a stable life. Both official circles and folk society observed sun-worshipping rituals; since the Zhou Dynasty, there were rites of sacrificing to the sun at Spring Equinox and to the moon at Autumn Equinox, expressing gratitude for the sun nurturing all things. In terms of diet, "eating spring vegetables" is an important Spring Equinox custom, where people gather seasonal wild greens such as amaranth and cook them with fish slices, calling it "spring soup," symbolizing family well-being and cleansing of body and spirit. Additionally, customs such as presenting spring ox pictures and sticking sparrow beaks all reflect ancient people's hopes for a bountiful harvest and reverence for nature, constituting a cultural landscape of heaven-human interaction and following natural trends.
By Yuan Ruichen
