冬土用(ふゆどよう)/Winter Doyou

2024年1月18日〜2月3日の暦/From Jan.18th to Feb.3rd

現代では、土用といえば「夏土用」「鰻」を連想しがちですが、それぞれの季節に土用があります。2024年は今日1月18日が「土用入り＝冬土用の始まり」です。

そもそも土用とは、季節の変わり目の期間で、立春・立夏・立秋・立冬の前の約18日間を指します。これは四季を陰陽五行説で解釈する考え方からきています。

Nowadays, when we think of Doyou, we tend to associate it with “summer Doyo” or “eel,” but each season has its own Doyou. In 2024, today, January 18th, is “Doyouiri = the beginning of winter Doyou.’’

To begin with, Doyou refers to the period of change of seasons, which is about 18 days before the first day of spring, first summer, first autumn, and first winter. This comes from the idea of interpreting the four seasons using the theory of Yin, Yang, and Five Elements.

木火土金水の5つの要素と色/The five elements and colors of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water

春：木（青）/Spring: Wood (blue)

夏：火（赤）/Summer: Fire (red)

秋：金（白）/Autumn: Gold (white)

冬：水（黒/紫）/Winter: Water (black/purple)

1年(約365日)を5つに分割すると、73日余り。4つの季節（木・火・金・水）に、それぞれ73日余をあてます。さらに残りの73日＝土を４分割して、季節の終わりに組み込んだものが「土用」です。

冬の土用→春→春の土用→夏→夏の土用→秋→秋の土用→冬

If you divide one year (approximately 365 days) into five parts, there are just over 73 days. Each of the four seasons (Spring: Wood/Summer: Fire/Autumn: Gold/Winter: Water) will have about 73 days. Furthermore, the remaining 73 days (Earth) are divided into four parts and added at the end of each season, which is called “Doyo.’’

Winter Doyou → Spring → Spring Doyou → Summer → Summer Doyou → Autumn → Autumn Doyou → Winter