Traditional culture in plain words
Grain in Ear (芒種)
Grain in Ear is the busiest time of the farming year. Farmers rush to bring in the wheat and to plant the young rice seedlings.
At a glance
What the solar terms mean
Grain in Ear (芒種) is the ninth of the twenty-four solar terms. It usually falls on 5 or 6 June. It falls on 5 June in 2026 and in 2028, and on 6 June in 2027. The name tells of the season. 'Mang' is the awn, the fine bristle on an ear of wheat. 'Zhong' means to sow. The wheat harvest and the rice planting arrive together, and a folk saying puts it simply: 'Grain in Ear, Grain in Ear — reap and sow.'
After Grain in Ear comes the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The days then begin to shorten, little by little. The weather turns hot and the rains grow heavier. Around the middle and lower Yangtze River, this long wet spell is known as the plum rains (梅雨), the drizzly season when the plums ripen.
Traditional customs in different places
In southern China, Taiwan and many other places, families simmer green plums (青梅) around this time. Green plums are unripe fruit with a sharp, sour taste, so they are gently cooked or pickled in sugar first. The custom is often linked to the old Three Kingdoms story of warming wine with green plums. Lychees and Chinese bayberries also come into season now. Many households share the fresh fruit and enjoy the taste of early summer.
Solar terms belong to the traditional calendar and are shared for cultural reference. For weather, please follow the forecast from your local weather service.