Tilling Illustration 10: Rice Transplanting

Across a thousand paddies, the waters flow full and deep;
Farmers compete to plant the new seedlings, fearing they might fall behind the season.
The workers labor with one heart, rejoicing in their shared strength;
Returning home by the light of the moon, let no one complain that the hour is late.

The season has reached "Grain in Ear" original: Mangzhong, the 9th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, occurring in early June; it is the most critical period for sowing and transplanting crops;
It is the time for farming families to transplant their seedlings.
The plants are divided into rows, neat and orderly;
One waits to see their lush green shadows grow thick.
With joined strength, the sounds of labor songs break out;
Moving in unison, they listen for the beat of the drum.
In a single morning, a thousand acres are covered;
The long summer day feels as slow as a passing year.

Across the vast fields and ten thousand wells, the water flows deep;
Having pulled the new seedlings, it is now time to plant them.
The "Sophora Summer" original: huaixia, a poetic reference to early summer when the scholar trees bloom and "Wheat Autumn" original: maiqiu, the time when wheat is harvested, usually early summer offer fair weather;
Cultivate and plant in due season; do not let the moment pass by.