Mangzhong is the ninth solar term in the 24 solar terms, the third solar term of summer, and the beginning of the month of June in the Chinese zodiac calendar. The sun's position in the zodiac reaches 75°, and it marks the start of the month of June on the Gregorian calendar. The solar term "Mangzhong" means "grain crops with sharp edges can be planted, after this they will lose their viability." During this season, the temperature rises significantly, there is abundant rainfall, and the air humidity is high, making it suitable for the planting of late rice and other grain crops. Farming activities are divided by this solar term, and after this point, the survival rate of plantings gradually decreases. It is the reflection of ancient agricultural culture on the seasons. 
The Grain in Ear Festival holds significant importance in agriculture. According to the lunar calendar, it states: "When the sun's position is in the 15th degree of the third quadrant, it is the Grain in Ear Festival. At this time, crops with a long grain length can be planted. Beyond this point, the planting becomes ineffective, hence the name 'Grain in Ear'." This means that the Grain in Ear Festival is suitable for planting crops with long grains; it is also the dividing point for the timing of planting crops. Beyond this point, the planting becomes ineffective. The folk saying "If not planted during the Grain in Ear Festival, there will be no use in planting again" explains this principle. The Grain in Ear Festival is a busy farming festival, and it is also called "Busy Planting" by the people. During this season, it is the time for planting rice in the south and harvesting wheat in the north.

Historical Origin 
The term "Mangzhong" refers to crops with芒 (芒 means "hairy" or "branched") such as rice, millet, and sorghum; while "zeng" can mean either "seeds" or "sowing". The name "Mangzhong" implies that "grain crops with芒 can be sown， but after this period they will no longer be viable". The folk saying "If not sown during Mangzhong， sowing will be of no use" conveys this principle. It is a summary of ancient agricultural culture regarding agricultural seasons， indicating that Mangzhong is the dividing point for planting crops. During this season， the temperature rises significantly， there is abundant rainfall， and the air humidity is high， making it suitable for sowing late rice and other grain crops. This season marks the boundary for agricultural cultivation opportunities， as the weather becomes hot and it enters the typical summer period. The sowing of crops in this season is the boundary for agricultural activities. After this season， the survival rate of crops decreases. Mangzhong is the season for planting grain crops， and late rice should be sown at this time. In rice-growing areas in the south， "Mangzhong" is the busy season for transplanting rice seedlings. In the northern regions， it is dryland agriculture， and the main grain crop is wheat. This season is when the summer cereal crops， wheat， are harvested. The arrival of "Mangzhong" indicates the start of another round of agricultural activities. In the southern regions， people are busy transplanting rice seedlings and planting rice， while in the northern regions， people are busy harvesting wheat. 
The term "Mang Sheng" was first recorded in written form in the "Zhou Li" of the Han Dynasty: "When grass grows, plant the seeds during Mang Sheng." The Yuan Dynasty scholar Wu Cheng compiled the "Yue Ling Qiyi Jie Hui": "The fifth month festival is when the seeds with sharp edges can be sown." In "Tong Wei Xue Jiao Zhi": "Fifteen days after the small full moon, the zodiac sign points to the fifth month, which is the Mang Sheng festival. It means that the grains with sharp edges can be sown now. Mang Sheng means 'grains with sharp edges can be sown'." The Qing Dynasty scholar Chen Sanmo's "Zui Xiu Zong Ke" also explained: "Mang means the tip of grass; seed means sowing; it means that grains with sharp edges can be sown at this time, so it is called Mang Sheng, which is the fifth month's solar term!" This means that Mang is the needle-like part at the tip of grass, and seed means sowing; Mang Sheng means that grains with sharp edges can be sown at this time. Rice planting is generally done in the southern regions with paddy fields. In the northern regions, it is dryland agriculture, and the main grain crop is wheat. For the northern regions, "Mang Sheng" is the time when wheat is ripe, so there is also an explanation of the meaning of "Mang Sheng" as 'the sharp-edged wheat is about to be harvested, and the sharp-edged rice can be sown'. This adds the harvest of wheat, which involves both the sowing of rice in the south and the harvest of wheat in the north. 
Astronomical calendar 
The Grain in Ear Festival is the ninth solar term of the twenty-four solar terms and the third solar term of summer. It marks the beginning of the sixth month in the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Grain in Ear Festival occurs on the Gregorian calendar between June 5th and 7th each year. At this time, the handle of the北斗 constellation points southeast, and the sun's ecliptic longitude reaches 75°. The Grain in Ear Festival is between the Little Fullness and the Summer Solstice, and it is a solar term in a transitional period. It is longer than the Winter Solstice and shorter than the Summer Solstice. During the Grain in Ear Festival, the sun will gradually approach the northernmost point of its trajectory in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere is approaching. 
Weather changes 
The climatic characteristics of the Grain in Ear solar term are that the temperature rises significantly, there is abundant rainfall, and the air humidity is high. During this period, hot weather occurs frequently, with high humidity and much oppressive heat. Both in the south and the north, there is a possibility of experiencing hot weather. During the Grain in Ear solar term, the southeast monsoon rain belt in southern China is stable, and the Jiangnan region enters the plum rain season. During this solar term, the northern region of China has not yet entered the rainy season. 
There are many meteorological proverbs related to the Grain in Ear Festival. For example, "On the day of the Grain in Ear Festival, it's like the summer solstice. One should walk with someone holding the hand." "If it rains on the Grain in Ear Festival, the water level will rise on the Dragon Boat Festival." "The Grain in Ear Festival is the water festival of summer. If there is no rain, it will be a dry season." 
During this period, except for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and some areas in the northernmost part of Heilongjiang Province, where summer has not truly arrived yet, people in most areas, in general, can experience the heat of summer. 
Agricultural activities 
The "Mangsheng" solar term holds significant importance in agriculture. It guides agricultural cultivation. The meaning of "Mangsheng" is: "Grain crops with visible ears can be planted; after this, they will no longer be viable." The climatic characteristics of "Mangsheng" are a significant increase in temperature and abundant rainfall. Such favorable climatic conditions are very suitable for both sowing and transplanting. The agricultural cultivation is divided by the "Mangsheng" season. After this period, the survival rate of sown crops decreases. Therefore, when it comes to "Mangsheng", in agricultural production, one must seize the time and rush to plant summer crops and transplant rice in time. If it is postponed any further, due to the significant increase in temperature during the "Mangsheng" season, the growth period of rice will be shortened, and it is prone to drought and pests and diseases during the growth stage. Eventually, when it comes to the autumn harvest, the yield will inevitably be low. Folk wisdom calls "Mangsheng" "Busy Sowing", and the folk saying goes, "Busy sowing during Mangsheng." This indicates that this season is the busiest time for agricultural cultivation. There is a proverb among the people, "If not sown during Mangsheng, there is no use in sowing later." This means that this period is already a late sowing season and must be seized to sow. Agricultural production is closely related to the rhythm of nature, and it is the reflection of ancient agricultural culture on the seasons. 
"Minor Heat" is also known as "Busy Sowing" in folk terms and it is the season for sowing late rice and other cereal crops. For most areas in China, when Minor Heat arrives, it is the busiest time of the year. The half month from Minor Heat to the Summer Solstice is the peak of busy work for sowing, transplanting and management of seedlings of autumn crops. The folk saying "Busy at Minor Heat, Planting Late Rice at Night" refers to that Minor Heat is the busy season for transplanting rice. During this period, rice and other crops grow vigorously and require a lot of water. Moderate rainfall is very beneficial to agricultural production. Ancient Chinese farming relied on rainfall from the sky and rivers on the ground for water replenishment, and farming was mainly concentrated in areas with abundant rainfall and well-developed river networks. Even now, farmers in these areas still carry out agricultural production according to the seasons and in accordance with temperature and rainfall. The Minor Heat season marks the beginning of the month of Xu in the Chinese zodiac calendar. During this month, which is midsummer, all things grow vigorously and reach their peak. From Minor Heat until the Great Heat, it is the peak season for the vigorous growth of all things throughout the year. 
Traditional customs 
Celebrating the Flower Goddess: On the Flower Festival in February of the lunar calendar, the Flower Goddess is welcomed. As the Grain in Ear Festival approaches the middle of May, flowers begin to wither and fall. In folk customs, on the day of the Grain in Ear Festival, people often hold a ceremony to worship the Flower Goddess, bidding her farewell and returning her to her proper place. At the same time, they express their gratitude to the Flower Goddess and look forward to meeting her again the following year. This custom no longer exists today, but it can be glimpsed from the 27th chapter of the famous novel "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin: "(In the Jiaodan Garden) those girls, either weaving flower-shaped carriages and horses out of petals and willow branches, or folding thousands of banners and standards out of brocade and silk, all tied with colorful strings. On every tree and every branch, these things were tied. Throughout the garden, the streamers fluttered gracefully..." "Thousands of banners and standards" where "thousands" refers to shields;旄，旌， and幢 were all ancient flags.旄 was a flag with a yak tail attached to the top；旌 was similar to旄 but differed in that it was decorated with colorful feathers. The shape of a幢 was like an umbrella. Thus， we can see the lively scene of the Flower Goddess's farewell ceremony held by wealthy families on the Grain in Ear Festival. 
Anmiao: Anmiao is an agricultural custom activity in southern Anhui. It originated in the early Ming Dynasty. Every time during the Grain Rain season, after the rice planting is completed, in order to pray for a good harvest in autumn, people in all areas hold an Anmiao sacrifice ceremony. Every household uses fresh wheat flour to make envelopes, shapes them into grains, livestock, fruits, vegetables, etc., and then dyes them with vegetable juice as sacrificial offerings, praying for a bountiful harvest and the safety of the villagers. 
The Mud-Slinging Festival: In the southeastern part of Guizhou Province, the young men and women of the Dong ethnic group hold the Mud-Slinging Festival around the time of the Grain-in-Store Festival. On that day, newlyweds are accompanied by close male and female friends, and they work together in planting rice. While planting, they play and fight with each other, throwing mud at each other. After the activity, the one with the most mud on their body is considered the most popular. 
Cooked plums: In the south, from May to June every year is the season when plums ripen. During the Three Kingdoms period, there was a famous story called "Sipping Green Plums and Discussing Heroes". Green plums contain various natural high-quality organic acids and abundant minerals, and have unique nutritional and health benefits such as purifying blood, regulating the intestines, lowering blood lipids, eliminating fatigue, beautifying the skin, regulating acid-base balance, enhancing the body's immunity, etc. However, fresh plums are mostly sour and astringent and are difficult to eat directly; they need to be processed before they can be eaten. This processing process is called "cooking plums". 
Eating Junzhe Cabbage: In the Ningbo area, there is a custom of eating Junzhe Cabbage during the Grain in Ear Festival. Junzhe Cabbage is a seasonal vegetable in the southern region that appears around the Grain in Ear Festival. Local people believe that Junzhe Cabbage has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. After eating Junzhe Cabbage in summer, one will not get heat rash.