東風解凍(はるかぜこおりをとく): 春の訪れを告げる七十二候
日本語
東風解凍
東風解凍は、七十二候の一つであり、立春の初候にあたります。2024年の東風解凍は2月4日から8日頃です。
意味
東風解凍は、「東風が厚い氷を解かし始める」という意味です。東風は春風のことで、春の訪れとともに吹き始める暖かい風を指します。
春の兆し
東風解凍は、厳しい冬の寒さがようやく和らぎ、春の暖かさが徐々に感じられるようになる時期を表しています。まだ寒さは残っていますが、凍っていた湖や川の氷が解け始め、梅の花が咲き始めるなど、確実に春が近づいていることを感じることができます。
俳句
東風解凍の時期には、春の訪れを詠んだ俳句が数多く詠まれています。以下に、江戸時代の俳人である小林一茶の俳句をご紹介します。
東風や 水もゆるびて 鯉も恋
この俳句は、東風が吹き、水が解け始め、鯉が活発に動き始め、恋をする様子を詠んでいます。
英語
Tōfū Kaidō (The East Wind Thaws the Ice): A Sign of Spring’s Arrival
Tōfū Kaidō
Tōfū Kaidō is one of the seventy-two候 (shichijūniko kō), or seasonal divisions in the Japanese lunisolar calendar, marking the first候 (kō) of Risshun (立春), the beginning of spring. In 2024, Tōfū Kaidō falls from February 4th to 8th.
Meaning
Tōfū Kaidō literally translates to “the east wind thaws the ice.” The east wind, known as “kofū” (東風), refers to the warm winds that begin to blow with the arrival of spring.
Signs of Spring
Tōfū Kaidō signifies a time when the harsh winter cold finally begins to subside, and the gentle warmth of spring gradually becomes noticeable. Although there may still be some lingering cold, the ice on lakes and rivers starts to melt, and flowers such as plum blossoms begin to bloom, providing clear signs that spring is approaching.
Haiku
During the Tōfū Kaidō period, many haiku poems were composed to capture the essence of spring’s arrival. Here is one such haiku by Kobayashi Issa, a famous Edo-period俳人 (haijin):
東風や 水もゆるびて 鯉も恋
This haiku depicts the scene where the east wind blows, the water thaws, and the carps become active and amorous.
Conclusion
Tōfū Kaidō is a beautiful and evocative term that encapsulates the subtle yet significant changes that occur in nature as winter transitions into spring. It serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the ever-present hope and renewal that spring brings.