Time of Blossom, Migrating birds, Rainbows and Honouring the ancestors

China

• First pentad: 桐始華/桐始华, ‘The paulownia begins to bloom’.
• Second pentad: 田鼠化為鴽/田鼠化为鴽, ‘Voles(you) transform into quails’.
• Last pentad: 虹始見/虹始见, ‘Rainbows begin to appear’.

Japan

• First pentad: 玄鳥至 (tsubame itaru), ‘The swallow flies back from the south’.
• Second pentad: 鴻雁北(kōgan kitae kaeru), ‘The goose migrates to the north’.
• Last pentad: 虹始見 (niji hajimete arawaru), ‘Rainbows begin to appear in the sky after shower’.

Qingming festival one of China’s largest events based off of the lunar calendar when Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors.
Honoring one’s ancestors is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, as the “idea of filial piety and paying your respects has been an important part of China’s Confucian society since ancient times.” This practice reflects the strong connection the Chinese people have with their ancestors because they believe that the ancestors “gave us a physical body, and more importantly, a soul.” The people of China also believe that “Such a tradition allows good values to be passed down to future generations.” China from Above

It officially starts 104 days after the winter solstice, or the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4, 5 or 6 April.