Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (2024)

Based on the changes in the sun’s position in the zodiac throughout the year and the practical needs of agriculture in ancient China, the“24 Solar Terms”(节气, jieqi) is an important kind of calendar in China. It indicates different periods of seasons, the changes of weather, some natural phenomena and more, guiding farmers in agriculture production greatly. Common people also follow the calendar to watch out weather changes and live a healthy life.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (1)

Origin:As early as the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC – 1046 BC), the Chinese ancestors had already established four major solar terms. During the Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 256 BC), eight solar terms marking the four seasons were established: Start of Spring, Spring Equinox, Start of Summer, Summer Solstice, Start of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Start of Winter, and Winter Solstice. Until the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), the present 24 solar terms was established completely.

The names for the 24 Solar Terms

Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Vernal Equinox, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Grain Budding, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Slight Heat, Great Heat, Beginning of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Descent of Frost, Beginning of Winter, Slight Snow, Great Snow, Winter Solstice, Slight Cold, and Great Cold, respectively.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (2)the Beginning of Spring, the Beginning of Summer, the Beginning of Autumn and the Beginning of Winter marks the start of four seasons.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (3)The Vernal Equinox and the AutumnalEquinox are the two points where the day and night are equal.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (4)the Summer Solsticehas the longest day and shortest night in a year, while the opposite is true for the Winter Solstice.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (5)

Rain Watermeans the start of the spring rains. The Waking of Insects indicates that the spring thunder awakens hibernating insects.

Pure Brightnessmeans the onset of spring when a bright and clean spring scene replaces the cold, withered and yellow scene in winter.

Grain Rainindicates that from that day, there will be more rainfall, which is beneficial to the growth of crops.

Grain Buddingshows that crops that will ripen in summer start to show plump seeds.

Grainin Ear tells people that the wheat has ripened.

Slight Heat and Great Heatindicate the full onset of summer, with the Great Heat being the hottest day of the year.

Limit of Heatshows that scorching summer days will soon be gone.

White Dewtells people that dew appears in the morning to show that the weather is turning cold, and, as this intensifies, we move on to the Cold Dew.

Descent of Frost means the appearance of the first frost of the season.

The Slight Snow and Great Snowmean the arrival of the snowy season.

Slight Cold and Great Coldindicate the degree of coldness in winter, with the Great Cold being the coldest day of the season.

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (6)

On November 30rd2016, UNESCO has inscribed China’s “The Twenty-Four Solar Terms” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

All the pictures are from the internet

For more information, please contact us.

Email:info@thehutong.comMobile & Wechat:15901046127

We are looking forward to continuing to provide exceptional cultural experiences in a fun learning environment in 2020!

~~ Follow Us on Wechat ~~Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (7)Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (8)

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong (2024)

FAQs

Chinese 24 Solar Terms | The Hutong? ›

Beginning of Spring

Beginning of Spring
The March equinox is known as the vernal equinox (spring equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and as the autumnal equinox (autumn equinox or fall equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere. On the Gregorian calendar, the northward equinox can occur as early as 19 March or as late as 21 March at 0° longitude.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › March_equinox
, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Vernal Equinox, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Grain Budding, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Slight Heat, Great Heat, Beginning of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Descent of Frost, Beginning of Winter, Slight Snow, ...

What are the 24 solar terms in Chinese? ›

Solar terms, seasons, and dates
  • Lichun. Star of Spring, February 4th. ...
  • Jingzhe. Awakening of Insects, March 6th (Spring) ...
  • Ching Ming. Clear and Bright, April 5th (Spring) ...
  • Dashu. Major Heat, July 23rd (Summer) ...
  • Liqiu. Start of Autumn, August 8th. ...
  • Dongzhi. Winter Solstice, December 22nd (Winter) ...
  • Dahan.
Jul 22, 2023

What are the 24 solar terms a traditional Chinese calendar system used for? ›

Solar terms, also called Jieqi in Chinese, are days marking one of the 24 time buckets of the solar year in traditional Chinese calendar, and were used to indicate the alternation of seasons and climate changes in ancient China. It is a unique component and creative invention of Chinese traditional calendar.

Why are the 24 solar terms important? ›

In ancient times, the 24 solar terms guided agricultural activities. Farmers relied on them to determine the best times for planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. The terms also helped people anticipate weather changes, prepare for seasonal activities, and celebrate various festivals.

What is the Chinese solar term for the summer solstice? ›

June 21 marks Xiazhi, or summer solstice, the 10th of the 24 solar terms of a year. It brings the longest day and the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It also marks the beginning of the hottest time of the year.

How accurate is the Chinese calendar? ›

Conclusion. The Chinese birth calendar claims 93-99% accuracy in predicting infant gender based on month of conception and maternal age at delivery. In this large delivery dataset, accurate prediction of fetal gender based on the Chinese birth calendar was no better than a coin toss.

What are the 24 solar terms of Unesco? ›

The 24 terms include Start of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain, Start of Summer, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Major Heat, Start of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost's Descent, Start of Winter, Minor Snow, Major ...

What is 24 solar terms in Japanese? ›

"24 Sekki" or 24 Solar Terms are traditional ways of expressing seasons in Japan and China. Each term is defined by the ecliptic longitude of the Sun (λ). For example, "Shunbun" is the time when the longitude of the Sun becomes 0°, and "Shuubun" is when the longitude becomes 180°.

Is The Chinese calendar based on the sun or the moon? ›

The Chinese calendar is based on lunar and solar elements and is called the “agricultural calendar.” In 2006, the Year of the Dog, New Year's Day started on the Gregorian calendar day of January 29.

How to understand Chinese calendar? ›

The months in the Chinese calendar are lunar months; they have no particular names and are simply designated by their order of appearance (1 to 12). The first day of each month commences at 11 p.m. (like all the other days), just before the new moon.

What is the difference between the solar calendar and the lunar calendar? ›

Talking about a lunar calendar, we usually have 354 days; however, in a leap year, a lunar calendar has 384 days. A solar calendar has 365 days. In addition to it, there are 365 days, i.e., an additional day during a leap year. Additionally, a lunar calendar shifts quickly in contrast to a lunar calendar.

What do Chinese zodiac signs mean? ›

According to the Chinese calendar, the year you were born might determine your personality. That's because each year is represented by an animal, called a Chinese zodiac sign, and legend has it that people born under that sign have similar traits to the animal.

What are the animal years in Chinese? ›

Chinese people believe these traits will be embodied in people, according to their zodiac sign. There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

What is the 24 solar terms calendar? ›

The Chinese calendar is divided into 24 solar terms – the 24 seasons which indicate the changes in the climate, plant and animal life. It is based on the position of the earth in the earth's orbit around the sun.

What is the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year? ›

Lichun, or the beginning of spring, the first solar term of traditional Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Feb 4 this year. The Beginning of Spring also signifies the beginning of a new year, where every living thing starts another period of growth and renewal.

What do the Chinese call the sun? ›

The universally understood term for 'sun' among the Chinese varieties/dialects is 太陽 (pronounced tàiyang in Standard Chinese). Tai yang, 太阳 - don't let people tell you it is 日 (in pinyin this is rendered as 'ri') which is the old or legendary word used in a lot of compound terms.

What is solar calendar in Chinese? ›

A solar calendar (also called the Tung Shing, the Yellow Calendar or Imperial Calendar, both alluding to Yellow Emperor) keeps track of the seasons as the earth and the sun move in the solar system relatively to each other.

What is Xiao Shu solar term? ›

小暑 or 小暑 (in chinese), Shōsho, Soseo, Tiểu thử or Xiǎoshǔ (in pinyin) is the 11th solar term, in the traditional chinese lunisolar calendar which divides a year into 24 ones.

What is the solar term Xiao Han? ›

Xiaohan, or the Minor Cold solar term, holds the 23rd position among the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar, typically occurring on any day from January 5 to 7 each year.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5475

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.