Characteristics of Xiaoman solar term

Xiaoman is one of the twenty-four solar terms. On May 21st or 22nd every year, when the sun reaches 60 degrees of ecliptic longitude, it is considered a small full day. Most of the names of the twenty-four solar terms can be taken as their names suggest, but "Xiaoman" sounds a bit confusing. The explanation of the ancients is: The nails of a bucket are small and full, and all things are full when they are longer than this. The wheat is small and full but not fully ripe when it reaches this, hence the name. ?This means that the grains of barley, winter wheat and other grains have gradually grown, but are not yet full, so they are called Xiaoman.

Later, some farmers' proverbs in southern China had different interpretations, giving Xiaoman a new meaning:

?When Xiaoman is dissatisfied, he cuts off the fields?;?When Xiaoman is dissatisfied, he leaves the awns alone? "Man" is used to describe the abundance and lack of rainwater, pointing out that if the field is not full of water when it is full, it may cause the field ridges to dry out, and even rice cannot be planted during the awning season. The rice seedlings are being planted in Xiaoman at the beginning of summer, and the rice seedlings rush to Xiaoman and the valley rushes to autumn. Xiaoman is the season suitable for rice planting.

"Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-Two Hours of the Moon Order": In the middle of April, when a person is full, things will become full at this time. ?

In ancient my country, Xiaoman was divided into three periods: the first period is when bitter vegetables show up; the second period is when weeds die; and the third period is when wheat comes in autumn (one is called Xiaoshu). ?It means that during the Xiaoman solar term, the bitter herbs have luxuriant branches and leaves; while some grasses with soft branches that like shade begin to die under the strong sunlight; at this time, the wheat begins to mature.

Bitter herbs show:

"Bu Ya" uses tea as bitter herbs. "Mao Shi" said: Who said tea is bitter? Yes. Bao's Day: It tastes bitter due to the smell of fire. "Erya" said: "Those who are not honorable but practical are called beautiful, and those who are honorable but not practical are called heroes." ?This Ku Lai should be described in English. Bao said: It tastes bitter due to the smell of fire. ?Cai Yong's "Yue Ling" refers to bitter vegetables.

The dead grass:

Zheng Kangcheng and Bao Jingxiang both said: The grass is a genus of yin. "Book of Rites" notes: The fine ones. ?Fang said: ?Anything that is born in response to Yang will be strong and standing; anything that is born in response to Yin will be weeded and born from Yin, so it will not survive the Yang and die.

The branches and leaves of the grass are soft and slender. ?It was originally called Xiaoshu Zhi, but later changed to Maiqiu Zhi in "Jin Shi Zhi".

"Yue Ling": Wheat autumn arrives in April; Xiaoshu arrives in May. Xiaoman is the energy of April, so it is easy to change. Autumn is when all the grains are ripe. Even though it is summer at this time, it is autumn when it comes to wheat, so it is said to be autumn for wheat. ?

Whether the summer drought in South China is serious or not is directly related to the area of ??rice planting; and the timing of planting is closely related to the level of rice yield per unit area. In central and western South China, winter dryness and spring drought are common, and heavy rains arrive later. In some years, heavy rains do not come until June, or even as late as July. In addition, there is not much rainfall during the Xiaoman solar term all year round, with an average of only about 40 millimeters. Natural rainfall cannot meet the water requirements for rice planting, making summer droughts more serious in central South China where water resources are scarce.

During this period, we must pay attention to watering wheat yellow water, and pay close attention to the prevention and control of wheat field pests to enhance the growth of wheat. At the same time, we should also take some effective wind protection measures to prevent hot and dry winds and sudden thunderstorms. Attack of strong winds. In the south, it is advisable to pay close attention to top dressing and tillage of rice to promote millet harvesting, and to harvest and dry summer mature crops on sunny days.

Xiaoman is the third solar term among the twenty-four solar terms. From the perspective of climate characteristics, from the Xiaoman solar term to the next Mangzhong solar term, summer gradually enters all over the country, and the temperature difference between the north and the south further narrows. As precipitation further increases, severe weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail is likely to occur.

After Xiaoman, high-temperature weather above 35℃ begins to occur in the south of the Yellow River to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Relevant departments and units should pay attention to heatstroke prevention.

After the Xiaoman solar term, diseases are more likely to appear. We must have a health awareness of "preventing disease before it becomes ill", starting from the two aspects of enhancing the body's righteousness and preventing the infringement of disease and pathogens.

Opening the rice seedling gate is an important folk activity in rice production. According to the old custom, on the day when Xiaoman opens the rice-seeding gate, the owners of many farmers in Fuliang often go to the fields in the early morning, take paper and incense and go around the fields, and then burn paper and incense on the four corners to pray for good weather and a good harvest. . In some places, the rice-planting gates are opened, and the farmers celebrate it as if it were a wedding, buying fish, weighing meat, and making tofu, and entertaining the people who came to help plant the rice-planting rice with sumptuous meals. Opening the rice field gate symbolizes the official start of the year's farming work, so there are many taboos. For example, avoid opening your mouth when inserting the first row of seedlings, because you think it will hurt your muscles after opening; pay attention to leaving a gap at the closing place when pulling out the seedlings and tying the seedling handles, that is, leaving a seedling door, otherwise it is unlucky; in some places, it is unlucky to go to the field. When pulling out seedlings, step down with your left foot first, pull out two or three seedlings, and rub your fingers with their roots. Otherwise, you will get "seedling wind", or your fingers will not bend or extend properly, or you will feel itchy.

The closing of Yangmen is usually around the summer solstice. Guan Yangmen requires that it be carried out smoothly and must be completed by the end of the afternoon.

On the night when Yangmen is closed, most farmers will have extra meals and toothpastes and wine to celebrate. After working hard for a long time, we usually have to take a day or two to rest after closing the rice fields. After relaxing, we can return to the field management.

There are also many customary rules in transplanting rice seedlings. In some places, when transplanting rice seedlings, it is forbidden to pass the rice seedling handles casually between people. It is commonly said that doing so will cause conflicts between the two people, and the rice seedlings must be thrown into the paddy field and then picked up again. In some places, it is taboo to throw the rice seedlings on others. If you are hit by the rice seedlings, it is commonly known as "Zhong Yang", and you will suffer disaster.

The way to solve the taboo is: the person who hits the rice field does not open his mouth, the person who hits the rice field shouts auspicious words, and the people who work in the field also help and say auspicious words. In terms of the order of transplanters, where they were when they planted the first row of rice in the field, their positions in the same field cannot be changed. If they are changed at will, they will suffer from back pain. This rule is not only used when transplanting rice seedlings, but also applies when cultivating the fields, digging the ground, and weeding. Its main purpose is to prevent the opportunistic behavior of individual people who pick up cheap jobs.

Rice has a long growth period. During this period, we should avoid the overgrowth of barnyardgrass, bullroot grass and nightgrass. These grasses are not afraid of floods and droughts and reproduce quickly. They absorb a large amount of fertilizer and grow rapidly, often harming the rice. growth. Legend has it that these three kinds of grasslands are three evil men who have done all kinds of bad things. The Jade Emperor punished them and turned them into three grasses in the hope that they would be reincarnated as human beings after reforming. However, instead of repenting, they took revenge on the farmers and became the targets of the farmers' extermination. Therefore, the custom of "cursing three grasses" has been passed down among the people, that is, when working in the fields, they curse: "The spirit of three grasses is harming the world. I will chop off your head and remove your roots. The father will not be able to have children and grandchildren." Hush! Hush! Hush!? It is said that after scolding the three grasses, all the weeds can be removed when farming.

In Fuliang, the wild animals that damage crops are often wild boars and porcupines. In the old days, in order to protect rice grains from harm, some farmers organized hunting teams to eliminate pests. In the past, when hunting was organized, there was a custom of offering two sacrifices, three drums, and four taboos. The first sacrifice is to set up an ancestor altar before hunting to worship the ancestor and pray for a safe hunting and successful elimination of harm for the people. The second choice is to choose red sand or big breaking sun, choose snowy day or sunny day. The three drums refer to the prey caught or hunted. Before the legs are tied, everyone who sees it will get a share. The person who hits the prey with the first shot will get two shares, and the hound will get one share like everyone else. The four taboos are the first taboo against meeting women when going hunting, the second taboo against women touching the heads of animals, the third taboo against telling jokes, and the fourth taboo against firing empty guns. Legend has it that the founder of hunting is Master He Wu. His pants were torn by thorns while hunting, he was naked, ashamed to see women, and talked and laughed nonsense. Therefore, when hunting, you should pay attention to the four taboos. In addition, when driving away wild beasts and sparrows, farmers use water power to install bamboo clappers at the entrances of fields or in water pits, and knock them day and night to make sounds to frighten wild beasts and sparrows and flee. There are also many farmers who set up sheds in the corners of their fields. They stay in the sheds at night, bang bangs and set off firecrackers to scare wild animals, scare ghosts and gods, and protect the crops.

In some places, it is forbidden for women to sit on the dendrobium stalks to rest when the crops are cut. It is said that they are praying to the God of Grain, and the harvest will be poor in the coming year. Do not use a sickle to cut the grain, as it is said to disturb the God of Grains and punish you for cutting your fingers while cutting the grain. When going to work in the mountains, avoid whistling or calling your companions by their names. It is said that if ghosts hear you, there will be misfortune.