Chunfen (春分) falls on 21 March 2015
Chunfen (春分) is the vernal equinox which is on March 20-21. In 2015, it falls on March 21.
An equinox occurs twice a year, around March 20-21 and September 22-23. It is the day when daytime and night are of approximately equal duration.
The names vernal equinox and autumnal equinox are based on the seasons, and can be confusing since seasons of the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere are opposites, and the vernal equinox of one hemisphere is the autumnal equinox of the other.
Another way to call them is March equinox and September equinox, referring to the times of the year when such equinoxes occur rather the seasons.
A few Chinese poems related to Chunfen (vernal equinox):
五代‧ 徐鉉《春分日》
仲春初四日，春色正中分。綠野徘徊月，晴天斷續雲。 燕飛猶個個，花落已紛紛。思婦高樓晚，歌聲不可聞。
五代‧ 徐鉉《七絕．甦醒》
春分雨腳落聲微，柳岸斜風帶客歸。 時令北方偏向晚，可知早有綠腰肥。
唐‧ 崔融《和宋之問寒食題黃梅臨江驛》
春分自淮北，寒食渡江南。忽見潯陽水，疑是宋家潭。 明主閽難叫，孤臣逐未堪。遙思故園陌，桃李正酣酣。
宋‧ 葛勝仲《蝶戀花》
已過春分春欲去。千炬花間，作意留春住。一曲清歌無誤顧。繞梁餘韻歸何處。盡日勸春春不語。紅氣蒸霞，且看桃千樹。才子霏談更五鼓。剩看走筆揮風雨。
Further readings :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox
http://big5.huaxia.com/zhwh/whrd/whrdwz/2010/03/1801815.html
Blue green landscape (青綠山水) painting by Zhang Daquian
I wish to further illustrate Chinese blue green landscape painting (青綠山水) with a masterpiece by Zhang Daquian (張大千) (1899 – 1983). His ‘splashed ink’ technique (pomo) (撥墨) is world famous. Panorama of Mount Lu (1981) is a powerful impressionistic work combining traditional brushstrokes (t’sun 皴 of the rocks and detailed drawing of the pine trees) with blue and green pomo. This masterpiece bestows the readers an imaginary and mysterious mood.
Shan shui painting in blue and green by Mr IP Chit Hoo 葉哲豪老師的青綠山水卷
Mr Ip Chit Hoo (葉哲豪老師) is my fine art teacher since 1960s . Mr Ip generously and unreservedly passed on his vast knowledge of shan shui painting to me. He celebrated his 97th Birthday in Hong Kong three weeks ago.
The Lantern Festival (元宵節)
The 15th day of the first lunar month is celebrated as the Lantern Festival (元宵節). In 2026, it falls on 3rd March (Tuesday). As early as the Western Han Dynasty around 210 CE, the Lantern Festival had become a significant festival. During the Lantern Festival, people have fun at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (猜燈謎).
In the ancient days, young adults celebrated in the hope of finding loved ones. Matchmakers were busily pairing couples. In more recent times, it is touted as the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
Lanterns are used for decorations and they are always red in colour to symbolize good fortune. They can also be made in the shape of animals.
The following images show traditional lanterns in different shapes and designs in a long scroll painting circa 1486 CE (明宪宗元宵行樂圖卷).
People eat sweet glutinous rice balls, yuanxiao (元宵) also known as tāngyuán (湯圓), and enjoy a family reunion.
Famous Chinese poems related to the Lantern Festival
朱淑真（一說作者為歐陽修）《生查子》
去年元夜時，花市燈如晝。月上柳梢頭，人約黃昏後。
今年元夜時，月與燈依舊。不見去年人，淚濕春衫袖。
辛棄疾《青玉案之元夕》
東風夜放花千樹，更吹落、星如雨。寶馬雕車香滿路，鳳簫聲動，玉壺光轉，一夜魚龍舞。
蛾兒雪柳黃金縷，笑語盈盈暗香去。眾裡尋他千百度，驀然回首，那人卻在，燈火闌珊處。
唐寅《元宵》
有燈無月不娛人，有月無燈不算春。春到人間人似玉，燈燒月下月如銀。
滿街珠翠遊村女，沸地笙歌賽社神。不展芳尊開口笑，如何消得此良辰。
Acknowledgements :
The lanterns images come from 中國國家博物館 館藏文物研究叢書 繪畫卷 風俗畫 (2006)
Further readings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantern_Festival
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%B5%E8%8A%82 (元宵節)
http://baike.baidu.com/view/24718.htm (朱淑真)
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BE%9B%E6%A3%84%E7%96%BE (辛棄疾)
Renri – Everyone’s birthday (人日)
The 7th day of the Chinese New Year is known as Renri (人日, 人慶節 or 七元節), literally the Everyone’s birthday. In 2026, Renri falls on 23rd February (Monday). According to Chinese folklore, Nǚ wā (女媧) is the goddess who created the world. She created the animals, human beings and grains on different days. Renri was the day human beings were created. The days on which different animals and grains were created are:
1st Day : chicken ; 2nd Day : dog ; 3rd Day : pig ; 4th Day ; sheep ; 5th Day : cow ; 6th Day : horse ; 7th Day : human being ; 8th Day : grains (穀)
People celebrate renri as part of the CNY. Fireworks (花炮) are lit. Foods like “seven-vegetable congee” (七菜粥 ), “jidi congee” (及第粥) or “seven-colour sliced raw fish” (七彩魚生) are common to celebrate the occasion.
A poem related to renri.
入春才七日, 離家已二年。人歸落雁後, 思發在花前。
(意譯) 入春只有七天, 我離家已經有兩年。回家的日子要等待春回大地雁群從南方北飛回來之後，但春天花開之前我已經有回家的念頭了。
(Meaning in English) It is only the 7th day of the CNY but I have already left home for two years. I will return home after spring arrives when the wild geese flying back to the north. I thought of going home well before the spring flowers blossom.
Further readings :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renri
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%BA%E6%97%A5 (人日)
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%96%9B%E9%81%93%E8%A1%A1 (薛道衡)
Couplet displayed in the foyer of Art Gallery NSW
印章 : 延年 (朱文長方印), 蕭燿漢 (白紋方印)
Forever joy throughout spring and autumn
Perpetual increments of blessing and longevity
Happy Chinese New Year 恭賀新禧
May I wish all my relatives, friends and students a Blessed, Happy & Prosperous Year of the Dragon.
敬祝各位親友及同學 新年進步, 身體健康, 萬事如意。
Annual cleanup on 28th day of the final month in the lunar calendar 年廿八, 洗邋遢
The 28th day of the final month in the lunar calendar is a very special day. It is the tradition of Hong Kong, Macau and places in southern Guangdong to have an annual clean-up. In 2026, it falls on 15th February (Sunday).
This annual clean-up was illustrated and recorded in the nianhua (年畫) of the 19th Century.
Renewing the Peachwood Board (桃符換彩)
The woman is cleaning some ornamental pieces.The woman is cleaning some ornamental pieces.
The two scripts Hóng xǐ (鴻禧) means Happy New Year.
Nianhua (年畫) CNY paintings
For many centuries the Chinese people have decorated their homes during the Chinese New Year (CNY) with brightly-coloured pictures printed on paper by woodblock painting. I have published 2 pages on nianhua about religious pictures and symbols of good luck. Please have a look. May I wish you a happy and prosperous Year of the Sheep!
Patrick Siu Chinese Calligraphy & Landscape Painting 蕭燿漢談書畫 