Grain in Ear, or Mangzhong in Chinese, is the ninth solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 90°. More often, it refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 75°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around June 5 (June 6 East Asia time) and ends around June 21.

The arrival of Grain in Ear signifies the ripening of awny crops such as wheat. And it is also a busy period for farmers. That can be seen from many farm sayings. One of the sayings is, “Getting busy with farmwork in Grain in Ear,” prevailing in many provinces. Grain in Ear is especially critical for planting rice. There is a saying in Guizhou that goes, “If you don’t plant rice in Grain in Ear, planting will be in vain.”