Flower Signal Wind

(1) The wind that signals the opening of flowers in early spring.

(2) The 24 solar terms are the 8 seasons from Little Cold to Grain Rain, and each season is said to be a new wind blowing, so a flower is assigned to each wind. The 24 solar terms are created by dividing the solar year into 24 equal parts along the ecliptic longitude of the sun, and giving each of these equal parts a name indicating a season. They were established in China and are named as follows: Risshun (start of spring), Usui (water), Keichitsu (awakening of insects), Vernal Equinox, Qingming (clear light), Grain Rain, Rikka (start of summer), Shoman (small full), Mangzhong (pill), Summer Solstice, Xiaoshu (small heat), Dashu (great heat), Risshu (start of autumn), End of heat, White dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold dew, Frost, Risshun (start of winter), Koyuki (light snow), Dasetsu (heavy snow), Winter Solstice, Little Cold, and Dashan (great cold). Three flowers are assigned to each of the 8 seasons from the first to third seasons, making a total of 24 flowers, which are flowers that respond to the wind. This term was introduced to Japan from China and can be found in the poetry of literati and artists.

[Yoshihiro Yoshii]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

(1)春の初めに花の開くことを知らせる風のこと。

(2)二十四節気のうちの小寒から穀雨(こくう)までの八気二十四候をいい、各候には新たな風が吹くとして、その風に対する花をあてた。二十四節気は太陽年を太陽の黄経に沿って24等分し、その等分点に季節を示す語を名づけたもの。中国で定められ、立春、雨水、啓蟄(けいちつ)、春分、清明、穀雨、立夏、小満、芒種(ぼうしゅ)、夏至、小暑、大暑、立秋、処暑、白露、秋分、寒露、霜降、立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒と名がつけられている。そのうちの八気にそれぞれ初候から三候に三つの花をあて、全体で24の花を配し、それが風に応ずる花とした。この語は中国から日本に伝わり、文人墨客の作詩のなかにみられる。

［芳井敬郎］

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