"Gyeongchip" means "come spring, animals wake up from hibernation." It is also called "Gyechip" (啓蟄). To avoid using the name "gye" (啓) of the Martial Emperor of the Han dynasty of China, "gyeong" (驚) was used to address the season instead. "Gyeongchip" is the 74th day after "Dongji" and falls around March 5 of the solar calendar. The royal court of the Joseon dynasty organized the "Jeokjeon" (籍田) ceremony by which the king demonstrated examples of farming, and the Seonnongje (先農祭) ritual on the first "Haeil" (亥日, the day of pig) after "Gyeongchip." The court also ordered the use of fire after "Gyeongchip" so as not to hurt young insects or grass.

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"Landscape of Gyeongchip" by Lee Eok-yeong	Landscape of Spring in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Past "Gyeongchip," they say the frozen Daedong River in the north is completely melted and the weather feels balmy. It is said that working with soil around "Gyeongchip" causes no harm, so people set about plastering walls or building fences. On "Gyeongchip," the growth of barley sprouts is observed to predict the year's harvest. In the south, maple sap water, or "gorosoe" in Korean, is collected for drinking. The water is known to be effective in curing stomach ailments and internal diseases.

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Collecting Gorosoe in Toji-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do

Come "Gyeongchip," in some provinces estranged couples who want to reconnect and single men and women who are in love eat ginkgo nuts together. Just as the male and female gingko tree consummate their love by facing each other, the custom had the meaning of perfecting the love between a man and a woman.