24 SEASONS #9 芒種 BOUSHU – Grain Beards and Seeds [6–20 June]

The season for sowing seeds such as barley and rice with awns. Offerings are made to invite blessings. It is also a time to recharge and find strength during a busy period.

On the 16th of June in the Edo period (1603–1868), the imperial ceremony Kashou no Gi (Kashou Chouhai) involved enjoying sweets to lift the spirit and dispel the summer heat. Because of the connection to the number sixteen, the day was also known as Shichi (seven in Japanese) kashou: 7 = 1 + 6. The design carries this symbolism, with sixteen seeds represented.

This experimental metalwork is part of the jewellery collection Twenty-four Seasons, inspired by the ancient Japanese calendar. In Japan, while we are blessed with four distinctive seasons, the year is further divided into 24 micro-seasons, known as Nijū-shi sekki. Even today, many traditional customs and events are celebrated in accordance with this calendar.