SUYI CHEN
大 寒
冬 至 大 雪 University of Michigan 2020
小 寒
立 春
雨 水
惊 蛰
ELAPSE
春 分 清 明
Sun: 300° January 20th-January 21st
In the snow fields, the smell of a plum blossom rises along with the smell of crackling fire, a dusty old pickle jar and fresh, clean snow. The yellow flowers become the only decoration on the bare branches.
大 寒
Da Han: Major Cold
The last of the twenty-four Jie Qi, Da Han, closes the year with the lowest measured temperature. Ice forms and covers the entire surface of the lake; falcons and eagles hover for food stock; new born eggs prepare to hatch. Da Han is a time to get ready for the new year.
Sun: 315° February 3rd-January 5th
The first of the twenty-four Jie Qi, Li Chun, brings the smell and scenery of spring one step closer. Warm wind coming back from the East defrosts the frozen winter land.
Li Chun: Start of Spring
On Li Chun, Ice begin to melt on water surfaces. Fish that have been quiet for the entire winter race to the surface in order to breath the first scent of spring. Cracked ice on water makes it seems like the fish are carrying ice on their backs.
立 春
Sun: 330° February 18th-February 20th
As precipitation increases, the fields start to turn to a saturated green palette. The smell of rain on soil rises.
雨 水
Yu Shui: Rain Water
The second of the twenty-four Jie Qi, Yu Shui, brings the beginning of rain season to the land. Otters start to seek food and often display their grand trophy along the river side; spring plants start to sprout and wild goose fly back to the north.