【Introduction】

【开栏语】

 

In ancient times, the ancestors learned from the wind and water, talked to the sun and the soil, and observed the stars at night, dividing the year into 24 solar terms according to season and weather, and forming a system of knowledge that has been passed on to this day.

古时，先民问风、询水，与阳光土壤对话，同黑夜星辰相处，将一年按照时令、物候划分为二十四个节气，并形成知识体系传承至今。

Tourists enjoy plum blossoms in Libo, SW China's Guizhou province, Feb. 1. Photo by Ning Jian

2月1日，游客在贵州荔波野生万亩梅原内踏春赏梅。宁坚 摄

 

The 24 solar terms is a way of following and making use of the laws of nature, as well as the aesthetics and philosophy of the Chinese people. On the Start of Spring in the Year of the Rabbit, Eyesnews and DiscoverGuizhou present the column Four Seasons of Guizhou, diving into the traditions and folklore of Guizhou, and listening to the chants and rhythms of the land in different seasons.

 

节气轮回，周而复始，这是对自然规律的遵循与利用，也是中国人的美学与哲学。在兔年立春之日，天眼新闻、贵州国际传播中心推出《黔地岁时记》，潜入贵州的传统与民俗中，聆听不同节令大地上的吟唱与律动，感知四季。

As the Start of Spring approaches, a hydrangeyed bird stops on the branches of winter cherry blossoms in Shuidong Road, Guiyang. Photo by Zhang Hui

立春将至，贵阳水东路街道的冬樱花吐露芬芳，一只绣眼鸟在冬樱花枝头上停留。张晖 摄

 

On February 4th,

the first solar term of this year - Start of Spring.

“Start” means “the beginning of anything”. A new year begins now.

Spring starts when the snow is melting and the landscape is turining a new look;

Spring starts when the animals are coming out of hibernation and all the species beginning to grow;

Spring starts when the fish are swimming under the melting ice and the winter sunshine is sprinkling on earth.

Green is covering the world.

And time has entered the world of spring.

 

2月4日

我们迎来了今年的第一个节气——立春。

立，始建也。岁之轮回，由此开始。

春立于东风解冻，无边光景一时新；

春立于蛰虫始振，万物苏萌山水醒；

春立于鱼陟负冰，此时冬日阳满地。

绿色偏爱了人间。

时间，进入了春天的地界。

 

Spring is the start of a year and the season for all things to grow. There are many customs celebrated on the Start of Spring. Biting the Spring 咬春, means eating spring pancakes, spring rolls or a few mouthful of carrots; Dachun 打春, means whipping ox-shaped sculptures as a pray for good harvests; Regarding Welcoming the Spring 拜春, people make sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture; and for Hiding the Spring 躲春, people stay at home to avoid troubles... After a cold winter, people celebrate these customs in the name of spring.

 

一年之计在于春，春天是万物生长的季节，迎春、咬春、打春、拜春、躲春……蛰伏了一个冬天之后，诸多以春之名的习俗透露着人们的欢欣雀跃。

 

In Shiqian, SW China's Guizhou, an ancient ceremony Chanting the Spring, or Shuochun 说春, goes on every time when it’s around the Start of Spring.

而在贵州石阡，每至立春前后，都要为春天进行一种古老的仪式——说春。

Chunguans go from village to village to celebrate the Shuochun ceremony in Pobei Village, Huaqiao Town, Shiqian County.

石阡县花桥镇坡背村，“春官”走村串寨去“说春”。

 

The Spring Song Chanter, or Chunguan 春官, once be in charge of the etiquette of a place in ancient times, is the one who host the Shuochun ceremony,  and tell people the best time to do farming. It is said that the Feng family, the descendants of the Chunguan in Tang Dynasty enabled the ceremony stay alive today in Pobei Village, Huaqiao Town, Shiqian County.

 

说春之人，称为“春官”。古时，春官掌管着一个地方的礼节，每年向封地内百姓讲农事季节，劝农行耕。相传，石阡县花桥镇坡背村里的封姓人家是唐朝开国初年所封春官的后代，至今当地仍广泛留存着“说春”习俗。

 

“On the Start of Spring and Rain Water in the first lunar month, a Chunguan will be here to wish a you happy new year. On the Awakening of Insects and Vernal Equinox in the second lunar month, you should chop the wood and burn the grass...” Dressing in ancient clothes and holding a wood-carved Ox, the Chunguans go to villages and send Chuntie 春帖 ( a letter full of blessings) from door to door, giving their best wishes to every family.

“正月立春雨水节，先生提笔贺新春。二月惊蛰与春分，家家砍些割草烧……”身着古衣、手执木刻春牛，春官们走村串寨、挨家挨户唱春词、报春信，送上二十四节气春贴，祈愿主人家风调雨顺、丰衣足食。

Chunguan sent Chuntie as a wish for good weather and bumper harvests

“春官”向主人送上春贴，祈愿主人家风调雨顺、丰衣足食

 

In lyrics of the Spring Song, the evolution of the nature, the best farming time, the attitude of protecting the nature, the idea of sharing and living harmoniously, the praise of spring, and the expectation of a bumper harvest are all written in Chunties, and  be sang in folk tunes by the Dong, Miao and Gelao ethnic groups, with blessings being delivered to every family via the spring breeze.

天地形成、万物化育的演变规律，春种夏长、秋收冬藏的农耕节奏，尊重自然、顺应自然的朴实态度，人间百态、共生共享的民俗图景，对春天的礼赞、对丰稔的期许，全都装进了一首首春词里，和着侗、土家、苗、仡佬等民族民间的曲调，随春风送达每一户人家。

 

Though thousand years have passed, the ceremony which combines the history of agriculture and the culture of ethnic groups is still alive. With its unique style, it has become a date between Guizhou and the Spring.

千年光阴渐行渐远，这场农耕历史和民族文化融合下的仪式，却在这片大山里生生不息，以其不拘一格、灵活多变的说唱，成为贵州与每一个春天的约定。

Villagers transplant vegetables in a field in Mazhai Village, Longquan Town, Danzhai County, Qiandongnan Prefecture. Photo by Xiao Wei

立春农事忙，黔东南州丹寨县龙泉镇马寨村村民在田间移栽蔬菜。肖伟 摄

 

“I am sent by the Tang Dynasty to wish you a happy new year.”

“唐朝差我迎春人，特来贵府开财门”。

 

Today is the Start of Spring. Do you hear the Spring Song from Guizhou?

今日立春，来自天地一隅的歌咏，你收到了吗？

 

贵州日报天眼新闻记者 庞博 周璇 高航 汪国锋 韦雨辛 实习生 陈庆龄

海报设计 齐青杨 周滔

特别鸣谢：贵州理工学院 石阡县文体广电旅游局 石阡县文化馆

编辑 朱紫蒨

编审 田旻佳