"The spring rain shocks the spring and the valley sky, and the summer is full of mangs and the summer is connected. Autumn dew, autumn frost, winter snow and snow and winter small and big cold. This catchy 28 words is "Song of the Twenty-four Solar Terms", which is familiar to Chinese people even if they can't recite it.
Originating from the Yellow River Basin, the "24 solar terms" is a knowledge system formed by the ancient Chinese people by observing the annual movement of the sun and recognizing the changes in season, climate, phenology and other aspects of the year, and is a time guide to social production and life in the agricultural era. In the international meteorological community, the "24 solar terms" are known as "China's fifth greatest invention", and in 2016, it was officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The 24 solar terms of the year are divided into four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, each season has six solar terms, according to the changes of phenology and season, each season has its special solar terms, which accurately reflects the change law of natural rhythm.
Today is the beginning of spring, the first of the 24 solar terms. Standing is the meaning of beginning and establishing, and spring represents warmth and growth. In the Ganzhi era, the beginning of spring is the beginning of all things and the righteousness of all rebirth, which means the beginning of a new reincarnation. The beginning of spring also marks the beginning of the spring when the winter has passed, and everything is no longer closed, and it has begun to enter the spring when the wind and the sun are warm, and all things grow. There are three waits for the beginning of spring: "one waits for the east wind to thaw, the second waits for the stinging insects to start vibrating, and the third waits for the fish to lose the ice", which means "the east wind warms up, and the earth begins to thaw", "the dormant insects begin to wake up", "the river ice begins to melt, and the fish begin to swim to the water surface".
In order to popularize the knowledge of solar terms, promote traditional Chinese culture, and encourage people to cherish precious time, the People's Bank of China issued a set of gold and silver commemorative coins of the 24 solar terms (the story of time) in 2022. There are 28 commemorative coins in this set, including 4 gold coins, representing the four seasons, and 24 silver coins, representing the 24 solar terms, all of which are legal tender of the People's Republic of China.
At the beginning of spring, a 3-gram round gold commemorative coin representing "spring" and an 8-gram square silver commemorative coin (Beginning of Spring) representing "Beginning of Spring" are on display.
The 3-gram round gold commemorative coin (spring) has the meaning of "spring", and the theme pattern on the back is a decorative swallow, lined with willow branches, houses, trees, mountains, etc., and the word "spring" and the denomination are published. In the spring field, two swallows seem to feel the call of spring, dancing with willow branches in the spring breeze, the distant mountains are verdant and green, and the houses in the mountain villages seem to rise with smoke. The picture is simple, the style is simple, and the composition is refined, but it depicts a full spring, like a leisurely pastoral song.
The reverse of the 8-gram square silver commemorative coin (Lichun) features juvenile tigers, spring cattle and fish as the main design elements, showing the phenological phenomenon of "fish and ice bearing" and the custom of "beating spring cattle" in the beginning of spring, and the words "Lichun" and the denomination are published. As you can see from the picture, the ice has not yet completely melted, and the fish using the light-changing scale technique shuttles through the water waves, like a moving painting, and the mischievous young tiger, squinting and smiling, sticking out its tongue, holding aloft willow branches and trying to beat spring cattle. The custom of "beating spring cattle" arose from the Zhou Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, especially after Zhao Zhen of Song Renzong promulgated the "Book of Earth Ox", the custom of "beating spring cattle" spread more widely and gradually became the most representative folk activity in Lichun.
The 3-gram round gold commemorative coin (Spring) and the 8-gram square silver commemorative coin (Lichun) blend into the positive and gentle aesthetic mood, and construct the scene of "the plan of the year lies in spring" with concise and bright composition, clear and elegant colors, which makes people feel the bright and pleasant beauty and achieve a strong artistic appeal.