For international friends exploring the traditional Chinese calendar, “Chunfen” (Spring Equinox) is a fascinating concept. It is the fourth of the 24 Solar Terms, usually falling on March 20th or 21st in the Gregorian calendar. If the Start of Spring (Lichun) is the prelude to the season, then Chunfen is the most magnificent symphony of spring.
What is “Chunfen”?
The English translation, “Spring Equinox,” comes from Latin, meaning “equal night.” In the ancient Chinese worldview, the character “Fen” (分) holds two beautiful meanings:
Equal Day and Night:
On this day, the sun shines almost directly over the equator. Day and night are nearly equal in length (12 hours each) all over the world. After Chunfen, the days in the Northern Hemisphere gradually become longer, while nights grow shorter.
Dividing the Spring:
The traditional Chinese spring lasts for three months (about 90 days). Chunfen falls exactly in the middle, perfectly splitting the season in half. Therefore, Chunfen represents the ultimate state of “balance.”
Nature’s Signals: The Three Pentads of Chunfen
Ancient Chinese divided Chunfen into three pentads (each lasting five days) to record the subtle changes in nature:
- First Pentad: Swallows Arrive. Swallows fly back from the warm south to the north, carrying mud in their beaks to build new nests.
- Second Pentad: Thunder Sounds. As temperatures rise and the air becomes humid, the first spring thunder begins to rumble in the sky.
- Third Pentad: Lightning Appears. Accompanied by thunder, lightning flashes more frequently, signaling that spring rains are on their way.
Fun Customs of Chunfen
Chunfen is not only a crucial milestone for farming but also the origin of many delightful folk customs:
1. Standing an Egg Upright
There is a Chinese saying: “When Chunfen arrives, eggs stand tall.” People try to balance a raw egg upright on a smooth table. Folklore suggests that because day and night are perfectly balanced on this day, the Earth’s gravitational pull is also balanced, making it easier to stand an egg up. While this is mostly a fun game, it reflects people’s hopes for a stable and lucky life.
2. Eating Spring Vegetables
Spring is the best time to taste seasonal greens. In Southern China, people forage for wild amaranth (known as “Spring Vegetables”) and boil it with fish slices to make “Spring Soup.” A local proverb says, “A bowl of Spring Soup washes the stomach and intestines, keeping the whole family safe and healthy.” This highlights the Chinese wisdom of eating according to the seasons to maintain good health.
3. Sticking Sparrows’ Beaks
Chunfen is a critical period for crop growth. In some rural areas, farmers boil plain glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan) without fillings, skewer them on bamboo sticks, and place them in the fields. They hope that sparrows will eat the sticky rice balls, gluing their beaks shut so they won’t peck at the crops. Though it sounds like a fairy tale, it vividly reflects farmers’ wishes for a bountiful harvest.
Conclusion
Chunfen is far more than an astronomical phenomenon; it is a profound realization of nature’s laws. It teaches us to seek balance in our lives and to feel the hope of revival as all things awaken.
Next time you see a swallow flying by or taste fresh spring greens during this season, take a moment to appreciate the millennia-old Eastern wisdom behind it.
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