Grain in Ear | Explore 24 solar terms along the Tropic of Cancer

Grain in Ear (Chinese: 芒种) begins on June 6 this year and ends on June 20.

It is the 9th solar term of the 24 solar terms in a year. When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75°, the Grain in Ear period starts. There is an old saying: "Seize the day in spring, while seize the hour in summer." It says people are busy with both planting and harvesting in summer, especially during the period of Grain in Ear.

The 24 solar terms were created by the ancient Chinese to carry out agricultural activities. During the period of Grain in Ear, it is time to sow rice in the south and to reap wheat in the north. It also coincides with the period of gaokao, or national college entrance exam. Like Grain in Ear, gaokao is also a time to sow and to reap for the seniors in high school.