雨水 Yǔshuǐ
Rain Water
In 2026: 18 February 2026 to 5 March 2026 (Beijing time)
“Rain water”: snow gives way to rain and the ground softens. A time to nourish digestion and not shed warm clothes too early.
- Sun’s longitude
- 330°
- Month (earthly branch)
- 寅month
- Season
- Spring
- Five Phase
- 木Wood
The three pentads
Each term is divided into three five-day pentads, named for what the ancients saw happen in nature.
- First pentad獭祭鱼Otters lay out fish, as if in offering
- Second pentad候雁北Wild geese fly north
- Third pentad草木萌动Plants begin to bud
Wudang yangsheng for this term
- Breath
- Slow nasal breathing while stretching the arms overhead, as in Baduanjin’s “holding up the sky”.
- Warm tea and diet
- Food kind to digestion, such as Chinese yam and millet congee; scented or green tea.
- Sleep and daily rhythm
- “Spring cover” (春捂): don’t shed warm clothes too early.
Traditional guidance, not medical advice. The terms follow the seasons of central China.
In the Book of Changes
Each month has a sovereign hexagram (消息卦) that shows how far yin or yang has grown. For the 寅 month it is 泰, Peace.
Seeker’s Q&A
What does the poem teach about helping others?
The best help arrives at the right time and makes no noise about itself. Think of someone who did that for you, and try to be that rain for someone else.
Why is damp a concern in this season?
Chinese medicine watches for damp in rainy weather, felt as heaviness or sluggish digestion; in humid Singapore it is a year-round theme. Tradition suggests lighter, warm, cooked food and regular movement. This is traditional guidance, not medical advice.
What does Rain Water mean for my practice?
Like soil after rain, the body begins to soften. It is a good time to return to gentle stretching and longer, relaxed standing practice.
How do I know my effort is like “good rain”?
Steady and small beats loud and occasional. Ten minutes every day nourishes more than two hours once a month.
One-minute practice
Sit or stand and breathe as quietly as you can, so softly that you could not hear it yourself. Keep this silent breathing for one minute, like rain falling at night.