The 24 solar terms is a general name of the systemic set-up that includes 12 minor solar terms and 12 major solar terms. The ancient Chinese divided the circle of the yearly motion of the sun into twenty four equal segments. They then named each segment ‘a solar term’ or ‘jie qi’. These 24 solar terms were developed by ancient Chinese farmers by observing the sun’s annual motion and they used them to mark various natural variations, important seasons, and the weather. Read on to find out more about the 24 solar terms of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
What are the 24 solar terms?
The Solar Terms is a calendar of 24 periods and climate changes that guide and control agricultural arrangements in ancient and modern China. Each solar term is determined by the position of the sun in the sky and each solar term lasts for approximately 15 days. All in all, the 24 solar terms reflect the climate in central China.
Generally, the division of the 24 solar terms fully considered the variation of natural phenomena including climate changes, seasons, and phenology. The main solar terms such as Start/Beginning of Winter, Start/Beginning of Autumn, Start/Beginning of Summer, and Start/Beginning of Spring are used to directly reflect the various changes of seasons. These 4 solar terms divide the year into 4 seasons that last for three months each.
Solar terms such as Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Vernal Equinox, and Autumnal Equinox, on the other hand, have been divided from an astronomical perspective. They simply reflect the exact turning point of the variation of the sun’s altitude. Along with that, solar terms such as Grain in Ear and Small Full (Grain) notify the Chinese on the maturity levels and harvest time of crops, while solar terms such as Awakening of Insects reflect observed insect activity in farms so that Chinese farmers can take action on their plants.
Other solar terms such as Major Cold, Minor Cold, Limit of Heat, and Major Heat have been divided based on the changes of temperature in different time periods, while solar terms such as Frost Descent, Minor Snow, Major Snow, Clear and Bright, Rain Water, Grain Water, White Dew, and Cold Dew reflect the concept of phenomenon of precipitation. These indicate important factors such as temperature changes, time and intensity of dew, frost, rainfall, and snowfall.
Solar Terms and their definitions
Starting from the ‘Vernal Equinox’, the 12 major solar terms are: Vernal Equinox, Corn Rain, Corn Forms, Summer Solstice, Great Heat, End of Heat, The Autumnal Equinox, Frost, Light Snow, Winter Solstice, Severe Cold, and Spring Showers. Each one of these twelve major solar terms falls on one of the twelve Luna months that are clearly designated by the 12 earthly branches in China.
When it comes to the minor solar terms after the Vernal Equinox, they are: Bright and Clear, followed by Summer Commences, then Corn on Ear, Moderate Hear, Autumn Begins, White Dew, Cold Dew, Winter Starts, Heavy Snow, Moderate Cold, Spring Starts, and Insects Awaken.
Based on the Earth’s structure and solar system analysis, the Sun moves throughout the year across the celestial sphere along a unique path known as the ecliptic. This path is measured in 360 degrees longitudes, and the twenty four solar terms divide this path into 24 equal segments with approximately 15 degrees of the sun’s longitude between each term.
At the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal Equinox, the periods of day and night are always equal in length. During the Summer Solstice, the daylight period is much longer and during the Winter Solstice, the days are much shorter. These 4 were the first solar terms to be established and they helped people understand time and how it works. Thereafter, all the other solar terms were established according to the weather and agricultural activities that were carried out during a particular season.
To add to that, each major Lunar month found in the Chinese agricultural calendar contains a major solar term. Any lunar month that does not have a major solar term is automatically identified as the leap month of the previous month.
What was the 24 solar terms used to guide in the earliest days?
Considered the fifth greatest invention in China after paper-making, the compass, gun powder, and printing; the 24 solar terms were created by ancient Chinese farmers to guide specific farming activities and general agricultural activities in different parts of China. These terms significantly reflect changes in climate, agricultural climate, natural occurrences, and agricultural production. Along with that, the terms reflect important aspects of human life such as housing, clothing, food, and transportation- from their acquisition, to their preservation and improvement. Up to date, nearly all farmers in all parts of China rely on the 24 solar terms to decide what exactly they need to do in their fields.
In addition to that, the solar terms are associated with social and cultural aspects of China. For example, solar terms such as ‘Clear and Bright/Pure Brightness’ is marked as the ‘Tomb Sweeping Day’ when the Chinese honor the dead. Additionally, the ‘Start of Winter’ involves the eating of dumplings, the ‘Start of Autumn’ is welcomed by earing porridge, and the people in South China celebrate the ‘Frost Festival’ on the ‘Start of Spring’. All these festivals are greatly observed and the Chinese rely on the 24 solar terms to guide activities during festivals.
24 Solar Terms of the Lunar Calendar
The table below highlights the 24 Solar Terms of the Lunar Calendar China and outlines their meanings.
Season | Solar Terms | Identification in Chinese | Specific Time Period when it falls (Month +Date) | Commentary |
Spring Season | Start of Spring | Lìchūn | February 3rd or 4th | The Spring Season commences in the South of China |
Rain Water | Yǔshuǐ | February 18/19th | Rainfall starts to increase from this date onwards | |
Awakening of Insects | JingZhe | March 5th | Thunder begins during this time and the hibernating insects slowly start to awaken | |
The Spring Equinox(Vernal Equinox) | Chūnfēn | March 20th/21st | The sun is directly above the equator and the days and nights are of equal lengths | |
Pure Brightness/ Clear and Bright | Qīngmíng | April 4th | Begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15 degrees. The Qingming festival is celebrated during this time, the skies are often clear and bright and the temperatures are noticeably warmer | |
Grain Rain | Gǔyǔ | April 19th/20th | The last solar term in Spring where early crops slowly start showing their shoots. Also, temperatures rise rapidly and heavy rain occurs during this time. Farmers are reminded to control insect pests during this time | |
Summer Season | Beginning of Summer | Lìxià | May 5th | Summer begins in the South of China |
Small Grain/Grain Buds | Xiǎomǎn | May 20th | During this time of the year, seeds of the summer crops start to plump, but they aren’t always ripe | |
Grain in Ear | Mángzhǒng | June 5th | Wheat and other summer crops become completely ripe and the summer planting season begins in Southern China | |
Summer Solstice | Xiàzhì | June 21st | Characterized by very long days and extremely short nights | |
Slight Heat | Xiǎoshǔ | July 6th/7th | It begins to become uncomfortably hot/ The hottest period of the year commences | |
Major Heat | Dàshǔ | July 22nd | Temperatures are extremely hot, controlled by monsoons hence frequent showers and thunderstorms in Northern China, season of natural disasters, | |
Autumn Season | Beginning of Autumn | Lìqiū | August 7th | The Autumn season officially begins but the after heat effect is still felt. Also, this is when autumn harvesting crops ripen |
Limit of Heat | Chùshǔ | August 23rd | During this time, there is a transition of temperatures from hot to cool. This officially marks the end of the hot summer season | |
White Dew | Báilù | September 7th | Temperatures are decreasing at this time; dew appears in the early morning on the grounds and the leaves. | |
The Autumnal Equinox | Qiūfēn | September 22nd | Day and night are equally long. During this time, farmers sow winter wheat and rice | |
Cold Dew | Hánlù | October 8th | The dew on the ground and on the leaves is colder and easily becomes frozen dew. There is less rain and the temperatures are much lower. During this time, farmers try to protect their crops from freeze injury | |
Descent of Frost | Shuāngjiàng | October 23rd | The weather becomes much colder and frost begins to fall (mostly in North China) | |
Winter Season | Beginning of Winter | Lìdōng | November 7th | Animals go into hibernation, crops harvested in autumn need to be stored up. (In this case, winter starts in Northern China, but comes later in Southern China) |
Minor/Slight Snow | Xiǎoxuě | November 22nd | Sudden temperature drops and it becomes much colder, a little snow is seen during this time | |
Great/Major Snow | Dàxuě | December 7th | It begins to snow heavily and it marks the beginning of mid-winter. These are the coldest days for most parts of China. Chinese believe heavy snow during this time equals great harvest | |
The Winter Solstice | Dōngzhì | December 21st | Extremely long nights and short days. During this time, the Chinese worship gods and the ancestors as they believe that the energy of heaven and earth is starting to grow stronger. People of North China eat spicy dumplings and people of south China eat sweet dumplings during this time | |
Slight/Minor Cold | Xiǎohán | January 6th | The coldest days of the year begin | |
Great/Major Cold | Dàhán | January 20th | Severe cold |
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