谷雨 Gǔyǔ
Grain Rain
In 2026: 20 April 2026 to 5 May 2026 (Beijing time)
“Grain rain”: the rains that the newly sown grain needs. The last term of spring, warm and increasingly damp.
- Sun’s longitude
- 30°
- Month (earthly branch)
- 辰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萍始生Duckweed starts to grow
- Second pentad鸣鸠拂其羽Turtledoves preen their feathers
- Third pentad戴胜降于桑Hoopoes alight on the mulberry trees
Wudang yangsheng for this term
- Breath
- As the air grows damp, let the out-breath run a little longer than the in-breath and settle into the lower belly.
- Warm tea and diet
- Light, easily digested food such as coix seed and red beans; the last spring tea, Guyu tea.
- Sleep and daily rhythm
- Keep rooms dry and aired; move until a light sweat, then stop.
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 辰 month it is 夬, Breakthrough.