驚jīng蟄zhé一yī犁lí土tǔ,，春chūn分fēn地dì氣qì通tōng

What does 驚蟄一犁土，春分地氣通 (jīng zhé yī lí tǔ, chūn fēn dì qì tōng) mean?

驚蟄一犁土，春分地氣通 (jīng zhé yī lí tǔ, chūn fēn dì qì tōng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "At Jingzhe, plow one furrow; at Chunfen, the earth's qi flows freely." In use it means: Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects, around March 5) is when the first plowing should begin, and by Chunfen (Spring Equinox, around March 20) the soil has warmed enough for its vital energy to circulate. Together they define the plowing window. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.

Literally: "At Jingzhe, plow one furrow; at Chunfen, the earth's qi flows freely.."

The reading

The first cut into frozen ground takes the most effort and yields the least visible result. But without that initial break, nothing that follows can flow. Beginning is always harder than continuing, because the resistance is greatest before momentum builds. The earth rewards the one who starts before conditions are perfect.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typeyànyǔ 諺語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element土 Earth
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Solar term agricultural proverb from the Yellow River farming region

Sits beside

Keep reading

Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.