2026 72 Microseasons Calendar
This calendar is a translation of the seventy-two microseasons (shichijūni kō, 七十二候), an ancient, nature-based system that divides the year into five- or six-day intervals. Originating over 2,500 years ago in China’s Yellow River basin and later refined in 17th-century Kyoto, it records what is almost imperceptible—a rainbow after rain, the faint song of insects, a shift in wind, the return of migrating birds, the first frost. These fleeting observations cultivate an awareness of impermanence and reveal the delicate patterns of the natural world.
Each page features an artwork pairing two traditional colors of the season. These hues evoke the atmosphere of that time of year and resonate with kigo—the seasonal words embedded in classical Japanese poetry. The title appears in English, romaji, and kanji, accompanied by a Gregorian calendar grid marking the microseason’s five- or six-day span, moon phases, and a highlighted date range in faint yellow. Beneath the grid, the season number and context—such as “Season 19 of 72 • Early Summer 2026”—indicate its place in the cycle. A color swatch legend completes each page, connecting it to its cultural and seasonal context.
Continuing my exploration of mono no aware—the recognition of beauty in transience—this calendar invites you to slow down and attune to the subtle shifts of the seasons. It offers a way of experiencing time as cyclical, fleeting, and deeply interconnected.
Miya 美夜 Ando
Offset lithograph on paper, 75 pages, walnut wood stand
8.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 in
Calendar dates: February 4, 2026 - February 4, 2027