Is Grain in Ear the season for harvesting wheat? Why is it called Grain in Ear?

Grain in Ear is one of the 24 solar terms. "Mang" refers to the harvest of awned plants such as wheat, and "Zhong" refers to the sowing of millet crops. It is the busiest season of the year. It is precisely because of the busyness at this time that a good harvest can be achieved. Is Grain in Ear the season for harvesting wheat?

Contents of this article

1. Is Grain in Ear the season for harvesting wheat?

2. Why is Grain in Ear called Grain in Ear?

3. The Origin of Grain in Ear

Is Grain in Ear the season for harvesting wheat?

Grain in Ear is the season for harvesting wheat. The literal meaning of Grain in Ear is that wheat with awns is ready to be harvested and rice with awns is ready to be planted. Therefore, it is also called "busy planting". It is the busiest time of the year for farmers and a typical solar term that reflects phenological phenomena. There is a saying among the people that there are "three summers": summer harvest, summer planting and summer management. It is the busy season in summer.

Grain in Ear is the season for harvesting wheat. Its superficial meaning is that the wheat with awns is about to be harvested and the rice with awns can be planted, so it is also called "busy planting". It is a typical solar term among the 24 solar terms that reflects phenological phenomena and is also the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient working people.

In the Collection of Explanations of the 72 Seasonal Changes in the Lunar Calendar, it is stated: "The May Festival refers to the time when the grains with awns are ready to be planted." It means that the seeds of crops with awns, such as barley and wheat, are mature and harvesting is urgent. It is also the busiest time for sowing summer crops such as millet, sorghum and millet. Therefore, Grain in Ear is also known as "busy planting."

Grain in Ear means busy with harvesting and sowing

Among the people, there is a saying of "Three Summers", namely summer harvest, summer planting and summer management. This is the most important time for farmers. As long as they grasp the season well, they will have a harvest in autumn. This is why people can be seen busy in the fields everywhere after the Grain in Ear in rural areas.

Why is Mangzhong called Mangzhong?

Grain in Ear is called Grain in Ear because the "awn" here refers to the harvest of awned plants such as wheat, and the "seed" refers to the sowing of millet crops, which means that all crops are busy with harvesting and sowing. It is a homonym of "busy planting", which means that the busiest season of the year is coming. When Grain in Ear arrives, rice should be planted as soon as possible to avoid affecting the harvest.

Grain in Ear is one of the 24 solar terms, but some people wonder why it is called Mangzhong and what its meaning is. In fact, the "Mang" in Mangzhong refers to the harvest of awned plants such as wheat, and the "Zhong" in Mangzhong refers to the sowing of cereals and millet crops. "Mangzhong" is the homonym of "Mangzhong", which means "busy sowing", indicating that all crops are busy harvesting and sowing at this time.

In most parts of China, the Grain in Ear season is the busiest season of the year, as summer crops need to be harvested, summer-sown crops for autumn harvest need to be planted, and spring-planted crops need to be managed. Harvesting, planting, and management are carried out in parallel. It is precisely because of the busyness at this time that a good harvest can be achieved.

Grain in Ear reflects agricultural phenology

Grain in Ear is a solar term that reflects agricultural phenology. When it comes, rice should be planted as soon as possible. If it is delayed, the temperature will rise, the vegetative growth period of crops will be shortened, and it will easily lead to drought and insect pests, affecting the yield.

The Origin of Grain in Ear

The term Mangzhong was first mentioned in Zhouli. "Mang" refers to the wheat awns that roll like waves under the sunlight, and "zhong" means rice. It means that the crops can be harvested at this time and it is the last time to plant rice. The "Seventy-two Collections of Explanations of the Monthly Ordinances" also states that this time is the busiest season in summer, so it is called "Mangzhong", which means "busy planting".

Grain in Ear is one of the 24 solar terms and the third solar term in summer. The term was first mentioned in the Book of Zhou: "Where marsh grass grows, it is planted at Grain in Ear." The "grain" here refers to the wheat awns that roll like waves under the sunlight, indicating that the crops can be harvested at this time, and "plant" refers to rice. This is the last chance to plant rice; if you miss it, you can no longer plant it.

There is also an explanation of Grain in Ear in the Lunar Calendar in Collection of Explanations of the 72 Seasonal Changes: "The fifth month festival refers to the time when grains with awns can be planted." It also means that people should speed up the collection and planting of grains. This is the busiest season for late summer crops such as rice, millet, and sorghum, so it is also called "Mangzhong".

Grain in Ear is the busy farming season

Among the folks, people often talk about the "three summers" busy season, which refers to summer harvest, summer planting and summer management of spring-sown crops. Therefore, Grain in Ear also means "busy planting" or "busy planting". This is also the busiest time of the year for farmers.