Header photo by Sachiko Takeuchi / 竹内佐智子
Picture
Project visual by aricoco, based on Sachiko Takeuchi's photo
72 Kou (pronounced /kō/ as in “slow” / 七十二候) or the 72 micro-seasons calendar, which originated from the hybrid lunisolar calendar adopted in Japan from China in the sixth century, was used over 1000 years along with the lunar calendar in Japan until 1872. It presents a way of looking at the year through gradual transitions in nature and the cultural and ecological practices that develop around them. The four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter were divided into 24 seasons, then further subdivided into 72 micro-seasons. Each micro-season shifts to the next season in five days and delightfully depict nature in three to four Chinese characters.

Inspired and guided by the 72 micro-season calendar, 72 Seasons Project is CTN’s new programmatic framework, under which CTN will present performing arts showcases, multidisciplinary collaborations, and artist residencies and presentations in the Bay Area and beyond, aligning with the 72 micro-seasons.
We are building CTN’s 72 Seasons Calendar-Library that serves as a catalog of our community’s stories and expressions. Click on the links highlighted in green below and enjoy the micro-seasonal works created by aricoco and Shoko Hikage!

For the 20th micro-season, Worms surface, Na Omi Judy Shintani and Colin Wright created an interactive digital artwork for us to enjoy! Click here to experience the world of worms!

72 Seasons Calendar-Library

Click on the linked micro-seasons highlighted in green to explore and experience various artistic expressions!

We are currently in ....

Lesser Snow　小雪/Shosetsu

Spring　春/Haru

Beginning of Spring　立春/Risshun

  • February 4–8: East wind melts the ice 東風解凍/はるかぜこおりをとく/Harukaze kori o toku
  • February 9–13: Bush warblers start singing in the mountains　黄鶯睍睆/うぐいすなく/Uguisu naku
  • February 14–18: Fish swim after the thaw　魚上氷/うおこおりをいずる/Uo kori o izuru

Rainwater　雨水/Usui

  • February 19–23: Rain moistens the soil　土脉潤起/つちのしょううるおいおこる/Tsuchi no sho uruoi okoru
  • February 24–28: Mist starts to linger　霞始靆/かすみはじめてたなびく/Kasumi hajimete tanabiku
  • March 1–5: Grass sprouts, trees bud　草木萌動/そうもくめばえいずる/Somoku mebae izuru

Insects Awaken　啓蟄/Keichitsu

Spring Equinox　春分/Shunbun

Clear and Bright　清明/Seimei

  • April 5–9: Swallows return　玄鳥至/つばめきたる/Tsubame kitaru
  • April 10–14: Wild geese fly north　鴻雁北/こうがんきたへかえる/Kogan kita e kaeru
  • April 15–19: First rainbows　虹始見/にじはじめてあらわる/Niji hajimete arawaru

Grain Rains　穀雨/Kokuu

Summer 夏/Natsu

Beginning of Summer　立夏/Rikka

Lesser Ripening　小満/Shoman

Grain Beards and Seeds　芒種/Boshu

Summer Solstice　夏至/Geshi

  • June 21–26: Self-heal withers　乃東枯/なつかれくさかるる/Natsukarekusa karuru
  • June 27–July 1: Irises bloom　菖蒲華/あやめはなさく/Ayame hana saku
  • July 2–6: Crow-dipper sprouts　半夏生/はんげしょうず/Hange shozu

Lesser Heat　小暑/Shosho

Greater Heat　大暑/Taisho

  • July 23–28: Paulownia trees produce seeds　桐始結花/きりはじめてはなをむすぶ/Kiri hajimete hana o musubu
  • July 29–August 2: Damp earth, humid air　土潤溽暑/つちうるおうてむしあつし/Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushi
  • August 3–7: Heavy rain falls from time to time　大雨時行/たいうときどきにふる/Taiu tokidoki furu

Autumn　秋/Aki

Beginning of Autumn　立秋/Risshu

Manageable Heat　処暑/Shosho

White Dew　白露/Hakuro

  • September 8–12: Dew glistens white on grass　草露白/くさのつゆしろし/Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi
  • September 13–17: Wagtails sing　鶺鴒鳴/せきれいなく/Sekirei naku
  • September 18–22: Swallows leave　玄鳥去/つばめさる/Tsubame saru

Autumn Equinox　秋分/Shubun

Cold Dew　寒露/Kanro

Frost Falls　霜降/Soko

  • October 23–27: First frost　霜始降/しもはじめてふる/Shimo hajimete furu
  • October 28–November 1: Light rains sometimes fall　霎時施/こさめときどきふる/Kosame tokidoki furu
  • November 2–6: Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow　楓蔦黄/もみじつたきばむ/Momiji tsuta kibamu

Winter　冬/Fuyu

Beginning of Winter　立冬/Ritto

Lesser Snow　小雪/Shosetsu

Greater Snow　大雪/Taisetsu

  • December 7–11: Cold sets in, winter begins　閉塞成冬/そらさむくふゆとなる/Sora samuku fuyu to naru
  • December 12–16: Bears start hibernating in their dens　熊蟄穴/くまあなにこもる/Kuma ana ni komoru
  • December 17–21: Salmon gather and swim upstream　鱖魚群/さけのうおむらがる/Sake no uo muragaru

Winter Solstice　冬至/Toji

Lesser Cold　小寒/Shokan

  • January 5–9: Water Dropwort flourishes　芹乃栄/せりすなわちさかう/Seri sunawachi sakau
  • January 10–14: Springs thaw　水泉動/しみずあたたかをふくむ/Shimizu atataka o fukumu
  • January 15–19: Pheasants start to call　雉始雊/きじはじめてなく/Kiji hajimete naku

Greater Cold　大寒/Daikan

The English translations of the micro-seasons are referenced from nippon.com by The Nippon Communications Foundation
This project is made possible through the support from the California Arts Council, WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous individual donors.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation
to support our arts and cultural exchange programs between the U.S. and Japan!
U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Our federal tax ID is 26-1670775.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!