The solar term Yushui, or Rain Water, falls on February 19, as the second solar term of the Chinese lunar calendar. As Yushui arrives, the temperatures will begin to rise, and the rain will be more frequent from now on.

A famous ancient Chinese saying about the spring shower is: "Rain during the spring time is as precious as oil." Just like other solar terms like Guyu, Xiaoman and Xiaoxue, Yushui is a solar term that marks the change in precipitation. Because of China's ancient farming culture, farmers needed to know clearly of when and how the precipitation would change, thus these solar terms.

Each solar term can be divided into three pentads: the first, the second and the last. In Yushui, the three pentads are: otters will hunt for fish (the first pentad); the wild geese begin to migrate north (the second pentad) and trees and grass put forth shoots (the last pentad). All these pentads mark the thriving activities of flora and fauna, indicating the importance of this solar term to nature.

Yushui brings a little bit of warmth and spring showers, and it may also be good news for the novel coronavirus. Up to the February 19, new coronavirus cases outside Hubei Province have declined for 15 consecutive days and the plasma therapy has also had encouraging preliminary results.

Now, everyone is hoping the coronavirus epidemic will soon get better, for a chance to walk in the spring breeze and shower, and take a deep breath of fresh air.

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Fan Chenxiao.)

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