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Soman, the Day of Steady Growth, falls on May 21 this year.

The traditional agricultural day of Soman (소만, 小滿), the Day of Steady Growth, falls on May 21 this year. It is the eighth of 24 solar intervals throughout the year, and falls between Ipha (입하, 立夏), May 5, the Threshold of Summer, and Mangjong (망종, 芒種), June 5, the Day of Sowing.

On the Day of Steady Growth, full-scale farming truly begins. Summer is here and the plants are bursting forth with life and vigor. Agriculture is in full swing across the Korean Peninsula. Farmers transplant rice seedlings, which were started in greenhouses, into the paddies, and winter barley is prepared. There’s cutting and felling, and the dry-field farming begins.

It took about 45-50 days for seeds to grow into rice seedlings, but now by starting the seedlings in a greenhouse it only takes less than 40 days for the seedlings to grow to maturity. This is by far the busiest part of the agricultural year.

Across ancient East Asia, the time between Soman (소만입기일) and Mangjong (망종) was divided into three periods. Each period was five days long. In the First Climate (초후), Asian dandelions grow. In the Middle Climate (중후), shepherd’s purse are dried and they turn yellow. In the Final Climate (말후), barley is now ripe. Asian dandelions are perennial plants grown for their roots and stems, and at this time of year the leaves are used in many traditional recipes.

Finally, at or around the First Climate (초후, 初候), people eat shepherd’s purse soup (냉잇국) and other seasonal dishes from early summer, to enjoy the roots and seeds. Ever since ancient times, stalks of barley represent the summertime and ripe grain is all around by the time the Final Climate comes around.

In the days following Soman, serious drought often follows Soman, so preparing for it with an adequate amount of water was necessary.

So if you’re out in the countryside this Soman, be sure to stop by a local farmer to check on this year’s harvest.

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture

By Gregory C. Eaves
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
gceaves@korea.kr