The 72 seasons

#1 · Feb 4–8

The east wind loosens the ice

#2 · Feb 9–13

Warblers find their spring song

#3 · Feb 14–18

Fish rise beneath the thaw

#4 · Feb 19–23

Rain wakes the soil

#5 · Feb 24–28

Mist begins to linger

#6 · Mar 1–5

Green shoots stir

#7 · Mar 6–10

Hidden insects return

#8 · Mar 11–15

Peach blossom opens

#9 · Mar 16–20

Caterpillars become butterflies

#10 · Mar 21–25

Sparrows begin to nest

#11 · Mar 26–30

Cherry blossom opens

#12 · Mar 31–Apr 4

Thunder sounds beyond the horizon

#13 · Apr 5–9

The swallows return

#14 · Apr 10–14

Wild geese turn north

#15 · Apr 15–19

The first rainbow appears

#16 · Apr 20–24

Reeds push through the water

#17 · Apr 25–29

Frost retreats; seedlings rise

#18 · Apr 30–May 4

Peonies unfold

#19 · May 5–9

Frogs find their voices

#20 · May 10–14

Earthworms return to the surface

#21 · May 15–20

Bamboo shoots break the ground

#22 · May 21–25

Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves

#23 · May 26–30

Safflower comes into bloom

#24 · May 31–Jun 5

Wheat turns gold

#25 · Jun 6–10

Praying mantises hatch

#26 · Jun 11–15

Fireflies rise from summer grass

#27 · Jun 16–20

Plums turn yellow

#28 · Jun 21–26

Self-heal fades

#29 · Jun 27–Jul 1

Irises come into bloom

#30 · Jul 2–6

Crow-dipper breaks the soil

#31 · Jul 7–11

Warm winds arrive

#32 · Jul 12–16

Lotus flowers begin to open

#33 · Jul 17–22

Young hawks learn the air

#34 · Jul 23–28

Paulownia sets its seed

#35 · Jul 29–Aug 2

Earth holds the summer heat

#36 · Aug 3–7

Great rains pass through

#37 · Aug 8–12

Cool winds return

#38 · Aug 13–17

Evening cicadas begin to sing

#39 · Aug 18–22

Deep fog settles

#40 · Aug 23–27

Cotton flowers open

#41 · Aug 28–Sep 1

The heat begins to loosen

#42 · Sep 2–7

The grain ripens

#43 · Sep 8–12

White dew rests on grass

#44 · Sep 13–17

Wagtails call

#45 · Sep 18–22

The swallows depart

#46 · Sep 23–27

Thunder falls silent

#47 · Sep 28–Oct 2

Insects retreat below ground

#48 · Oct 3–7

Water leaves the fields

#49 · Oct 8–12

Wild geese return

#50 · Oct 13–17

Chrysanthemums open

#51 · Oct 18–22

Crickets sing by the door

#52 · Oct 23–27

The first frost arrives

#53 · Oct 28–Nov 1

Fine rain comes and goes

#54 · Nov 2–6

Maple and ivy turn gold

#55 · Nov 7–11

Camellias open

#56 · Nov 12–16

The earth begins to freeze

#57 · Nov 17–21

Daffodils bloom

#58 · Nov 22–26

Rainbows disappear from the winter sky

#59 · Nov 27–Dec 1

The north wind strips the trees

#60 · Dec 2–6

Tachibana citrus turns yellow

#61 · Dec 7–11

Winter closes in

#62 · Dec 12–16

Bears enter their dens

#63 · Dec 17–21

Salmon gather upstream

#64 · Dec 22–26

Self-heal returns

#65 · Dec 27–31

Deer cast their antlers

#66 · Jan 1–4

Wheat grows beneath the snow

#67 · Jan 5–9

Water parsley flourishes

#68 · Jan 10–14

Springs begin to stir

#69 · Jan 15–19

Pheasants begin to call

#70 · Jan 20–24

Butterbur buds appear

#71 · Jan 25–29

Stream ice grows thick

#72 · Jan 30–Feb 3

Hens begin to lay