What are the customs and activities of Guyu?

The 2017 Grain Rain solar term is coming soon. Is there anything special about it? What do we usually do during the Grain Rain solar term? What are the customs of the Grain Rain solar term? Next, let’s take a look at the customs and activities related to Grain Rain.

What is the significance of Guyu

Grain Rain Festival

About 4,000 years ago, Cangjie's success in creating characters greatly promoted social development and brought light to human progress. In order to reward Cangjie, the Jade Emperor ordered the heavenly soldiers and generals to open the granary in the Heavenly Palace and make it rain millet. After Cangjie died, people buried him in the north of Shiguan Town, Baishui County, facing the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum in Qiaoshan. There was a couplet engraved on the tomb door: "The rain of millet in those days moved the Emperor of Heaven, and the same writing will forever be paired with Qiaoling." People set the day of Grain Rain to worship Cangjie, which is now the Grain Rain Festival.

Grain Rain Sea Festival

The Grain Rain season is when the spring water becomes warm and fish migrate to shallow waters, making it a good time to go fishing. As the saying goes, "Go to the surfing ground on the Grain Rain". In order to go out to sea safely and return with a full load, fishermen hold a sea sacrifice on the day of Grain Rain and pray for the blessing of the sea god. Therefore, Grain Rain Festival is also called the "Bringing Festival" for fishermen to go out to sea to fish.

Appreciating Peonies During Grain Rain

The period around Grain Rain is also an important time for peonies to bloom, so peonies are also called "Grain Rain flowers." "Watch peonies during the three days of Guyu season." Viewing peonies has become a popular entertainment activity during the Guyu season. To this day, Heze in Shandong, Luoyang in Henan, and Pengzhou in Sichuan often hold peony flower shows during the Grain Rain season for people to have fun and gather.