<p>The characters are 「石泉槐火」, which refers to the passing of winter and coming of spring. Specifically,</p>
<ul>
<li>「石泉」 means <em>flowing of springwater</em> (i.e. the melting of frozen rivers and streams)</li>
<li>「槐火」 refers to a fire ritual involving the burning of the Chinese Scholar Tree (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styphnolobium_japonicum" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Styphnolobium japonicum</em></a>)</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>In Ancient China, it is said that the monarchs conducted fire rituals involving the burning of different types of trees during the year, to protect against seasonal diseases.</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>《周禮・夏官》</h3>
<blockquote>
<p>司爟：掌行火之政令，四時變國火以救時疾。</p>
</blockquote>
<h3><em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rites_of_Zhou" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rites of Zhou, Offices of Summer</a></em></h3>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Officers of the fire rituals are in charge of the royal court's decrees on conduct involving pyromancy, changing the Tree-burning Ritual throughout the year to mitigate the spread of seasonal illnesses.</em></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p>Later commentaries of the <em>Rites of Zhou</em> specified the seasonal trees to be burned:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>春取榆柳之火， 夏取棗杏之火， 季夏取桑柘之火， 秋取柞楢之火， 冬取<strong>槐</strong>檀之火</p>
<p><em>During springtime, elms and willows are burned; in the summertime, jujube and apricot trees are burned; towards the end of summer, mulberry trees are burned; during autumn, oaks are burned; in the winter, <strong>scholar trees</strong> and rosewoods* are burned.</em></p>
<p><sub>*The specific type of tree referred to is uncertain.</sub></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-13T12:00:37.950Z
A most erudite and comprehensive answer. Thanks
Sigis K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-12T14:17:28.483Z
2020-05-14T10:00:37.727Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dROOOze
<p>I have a teapot which has been in my family for about a century. Not knowing the Chinese language I tried to make something of the five characters text which is marked on it. With Google Translate I had not much success,apart from the last character which may mean (partly) spring. Altogether it should be a sentence but which one ?
Thanks for any help . </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1hl2h.jpg" alt="Teapot"> </p>

<translation><meaning>
Meaning of a text on a teapot (Characters identified: 石泉槐火)
# Meaning of a text on a teapot (Characters identified: 石泉槐火)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-12)

I have a teapot which has been in my family for about a century. Not knowing the Chinese language I tried to make something of the five characters text which is marked on it. With Google Translate I had not much success,apart from the last character which may mean (partly) spring. Altogether it should be a sentence but which one ?
Thanks for any help .

![Teapot](https://i.sstatic.net/1hl2h.jpg)

**Tags:** translation, meaning


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-12. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The characters are 「石泉槐火」, which refers to the passing of winter and coming of spring. Specifically,

* 「石泉」 means *flowing of springwater* (i.e. the melting of frozen rivers and streams)
* 「槐火」 refers to a fire ritual involving the burning of the Chinese Scholar Tree ([*Styphnolobium japonicum*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styphnolobium_japonicum))

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In Ancient China, it is said that the monarchs conducted fire rituals involving the burning of different types of trees during the year, to protect against seasonal diseases.

> ### 《周禮・夏官》
>
> > 司爟：掌行火之政令，四時變國火以救時疾。
>
> ### *[Rites of Zhou, Offices of Summer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rites_of_Zhou)*
>
> > *Officers of the fire rituals are in charge of the royal court's decrees on conduct involving pyromancy, changing the Tree-burning Ritual throughout the year to mitigate the spread of seasonal illnesses.*

Later commentaries of the *Rites of Zhou* specified the seasonal trees to be burned:

> 春取榆柳之火， 夏取棗杏之火， 季夏取桑柘之火， 秋取柞楢之火， 冬取**槐**檀之火
>
> *During springtime, elms and willows are burned; in the summertime, jujube and apricot trees are burned; towards the end of summer, mulberry trees are burned; during autumn, oaks are burned; in the winter, **scholar trees** and rosewoods\* are burned.*
>
> \*The specific type of tree referred to is uncertain.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: A most erudite and comprehensive answer. Thanks  

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