Tilling Illustration 15

Harvesting

Yellow clouds fill the eyes as the morning dew dries; The term "yellow clouds" (huangyun) is a classic poetic metaphor for a vast field of ripe, golden rice ready for harvest.
With sickles at their waists, they reap the rice, rejoicing in the clear sunlight.
Children everywhere gather the fallen ears of grain;
In every village household, they return home, shoulders laden with the harvest.

The autumn harvest is already in sight; The "Western Completion" (xicheng) refers to the harvest, as the west is associated with the season of autumn in traditional Chinese cosmology.
Rising early, we call out for the sickles.
The fragrance of the grain rises as the stalks are grasped;
The baskets are full before the dew has dried.
Wild ducks dive down, hoping to peck at what remains;
Children compete joyfully to gather the missed stalks.
The village elders celebrate with one another;
In this bountiful year, our livelihoods are secure and easy.

The paulownia wind is fresh and the dewdrops dry; The "paulownia wind" (tongfeng) signifies the arrival of early autumn when the paulownia trees begin to shed their leaves.
Yellow clouds across the fields reflect the setting sun.
Everywhere, sickles at waists, the reaping is finished;
On their carrying poles, they bring home wealth worth ten thousand coins.