When Chinese characters meet spring rain, civilization blossoms in rhythm with the seasons

“At Grain Rain, dawn light bathes emerald mountains”—unnoticed, we welcome spring's final solar term. As late spring arrives, cherries blush, camellias gleam, peonies unfold, birds dance among tung blossoms, and rain ripples duckweed-covered ponds, painting a scene of “The lake shimmers like jade, and the green grass enchants the dragonflies.”

Today marks both Grain Rain and UN Chinese Language Day, which commemorating the contribution of Cangjie—revered as the progenitor of Chinese characters. Legend says heaven showered grain during his creation of writing, hence the name "Grain Rain." This dual celebration embodies agrarian wisdom and the depth of Chinese culture.

Cultural Traditions

Tea Tasting: In Jiangnan, there's a tradition of drinking "Grain Rain tea", with pre-Qingming and pre-Grain Rain teas both considered treasures. Wen Zhengming once painted Boiling Tea, depicting scholars enjoying tea during Grain Rain.

Toona Sprout Cuisine: The 18th-century Chinese food compendium Suiyuan Shidan (Recipes from the Garden of Contentment) records the recipe for toona sprouts mixed with tofu, describing it as “an unmatched delicacy”. This seasonal dish remains a cherished spring treat in northern China.

Peony Viewing: Luoyang's peonies reign supreme during Grain Rain. Ouyang Xiu’s Luoyang Peonies Chronicle documents how their flowering stirred excitement throughout the capital.

Literati Traditions

In ancient times, scholars often held tea gatherings during Grain Rain, serving freshly picked leaves to friends. Common folk embraced the warming weather by hiking and enjoying nature. In his pastoral poem In the Countryside of Weichuan, Wang Wei wrote: "Farmers shoulder hoes and return home, exchanging gentle words as they meet." This idyllic scene paints a vivid picture of rural life during Grain Rain.

Did You Know?

In 2010, the United Nations launched Language Days to promote multilingualism and celebrate cultural diversity among its six official languages: Chinese, Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

English Language Day is celebrated on April 23 to mark both the birth and death of renowned English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564.4.23 – 1616.4.23). The date also coincides with World Book Day.

Spanish Language Day, also on April 23, commemorates the death of Miguel de Cervantes (1547.9.29 – 1616.4.23), one of Spain's greatest writers.

French Language Day falls on March 20 and is also International Francophonie Day, marking the founding of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Russian Language Day is on June 6, commemorating the birthday of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799.6.6–1837.1.29), a prominent Russian poet, novelist and literary pioneer.

Arabic Language Day is celebrated on December 18, marking the date in 1973 when the UN General Assembly adopted Arabic as one of its official working languages.