The 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar (Ban Chun encourages farmers)
Banchun Quannong is a form of cultural expression of welcoming spring in the traditional agricultural civilization preserved in Suichang County, Zhejiang Province. "Ban" is the same as "ban", "Banchun" means issuing spring orders, and "quannong" means encouraging farming and encouraging spring ploughing. Since ancient times, county-level officials serving in Suichang have held a whip spring ceremony to issue spring orders and encourage farming when spring ploughing comes, which is called "Banchun Quannong". When Tang Xianzu (1500-1616), a famous writer in the Ming Dynasty, served as the magistrate of Suichang in the 21st year of Wanli (1593), he issued a "Spring Plowing Order" to the people of the county and wrote "Banchun Ersong". The folk custom background of his famous opera "Mudanting Quannong" was taken from Suichang. After the Republic of China, official persuasion activities were suspended, but folk persuasion activities were still held. On the day of the beginning of spring, urban and rural residents prepare incense and candles, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth (gods), plant plum blossoms, and set off firecrackers to show "welcoming spring and receiving blessings". This custom has continued to this day. Local people regard "the beginning of spring" as the New Year. In the late 1970s, the villagers of Datian Village spontaneously restored the Banchun Persuasion of Farming activities, including parades, offerings, lighting incense and candles, offering sacrifices to the God of Agriculture, inviting the God Gou Mang, arranging flowers, enjoying flower wine, whipping the spring ox, setting off firecrackers, plowing the fields, and distributing spring pancakes. In 2009, Datian Village, Datuo Town, established the "Banchun Persuasion of Farming" activity base and the Datian "Folk Museum" to collect physical materials of farming culture. This project is a valuable relic of the traditional folk rituals of China's long-standing agricultural civilization. It is of great significance to inherit the fine traditions of the Chinese nation and promote the national spirit. It also has important historical and folklore research value. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)