Chinese 24 Solar Terms

 

The 24 Solar Terms in Chinese lunar calendar originated from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It appeared in the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD). The ancient Chinese based on knowledge in astronomy, climatology and agricultural meteorology to invent it. According to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun Solar Terms divide a year into 24 segments. Since the Earth takes about one year to complete its orbit once (360 degree), by dividing it into 24 equal segments, each 15 degrees (approximately 15 days) will mark a Solar Term. The 24 Solar Terms generally represent the seasonal change over central China in a year, and in turn, closely relate to agricultural activities in ancient China.
Solar Terms are in general named according to the astronomical phenomena, climatological characteristics or agricultural activities prevalent at the respective times of the seasons.
The 24 Solar Terms were determined by the changes of the Sun’s position in the zodiac all through the year. In the lunar calendar, the date of each solar term is basically fixed, with the minor changes within one or two days. As a reflection of the regularity of the changes of the climate in the central part of China, the 24 Solar Terms still guide the agricultural activities there.
The following chart is a brief introduction of 24 Solar Terms

24 Solar Terms Month and Date
Meaning
Lichun About on Feb 4th The Begining of Spring.
Yushui About on Feb 19th The Begining of Raining.
Jingzhe about on Mar 6th Waking of Hibernating Insects and Small Animals.
Chunfen About on Mar 20th The Vernal Equinox, the day and night are of equal length.
Qingming About on Apr 5th Pure Brightness, the weather gets warmer, this is the time to sweep the ancestors' graveyard.
Guyu About on Apr 20th Rainfall for Grain, it is the time to grow.
Lixia

About on May 6th

The Begining of Summer.
Xiaoman About on May 21st Wheat becomes plump.
Mangzhong About on Jun 6th It is the time to growAutumn crops.
Xiazhi About on Jun 21st the Summer Solstice, the daytime is the longest in a year.
Xiaoshu About on Jul 7th Torridity comes.
Dashu About on Jul 23rd The hottest time in the year.
Liqiu About on Aug 8th The begining of the Autumn.
Chushu About on Aug 23rd It marks the end of the summer.
Bailu About on Sep 8th White dew, the dew curdles.
Qiufen About on Sep 23rd The Autumn Equinox, the day time and the night time are equal.
Hanlu About on Oct 8th Cold dew, the weather gets distinctively colder and the leaves begin to fall.
Shuangjiang About on Oct 23rd Frost descends in the early morning.
Lidong About on Nov 7th The begining of Winter.
Xiaoxue About on Nov 22nd It starts snowing.
Daxue About on Dec 7th Heavy snow begins.
Dongzhi About on Dec 22nd The Winter Solstice, the shortest day time in the year.
Xiaohan About on Jan 6th It is rather cold.
Dahan About on Jan 21st The coldest time in a year.

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