Xiaoman 小满 — Grain Full
Overview
Xiaoman falls around 21 May. The name describes a stage of the crop: the seed has set and is filling, but harvest is not yet due.
Meaning
The term of filling — the grain is formed but not yet ripe.
Traditional Interpretation
The almanacs use this term for irrigation and for the first assessment of the crop. Its pairing with Mangzhong — filling, then sowing — describes the busiest part of the farming year.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What is xiaoman 小满 — grain full in the Chinese calendar?
The term of filling — the grain is formed but not yet ripe. Xiaoman falls around 21 May. The name describes a stage of the crop: the seed has set and is filling, but harvest is not yet due.
Is xiaoman 小满 — grain full a festival or a calendar date?
It is a solar term — a date fixed by the sun's position, not by the moon. The term of filling — the grain is formed but not yet ripe. Xiaoman is one of the terms whose meaning is purely agricultural and which carries no festival or customary layer at all, which is true of most of the twenty-four.
How is xiaoman 小满 — grain full read in Chinese tradition?
The almanacs use this term for irrigation and for the first assessment of the crop. Its pairing with Mangzhong — filling, then sowing — describes the busiest part of the farming year. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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