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Solar term

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The 24 solar terms
(Twenty-four) solar terms
Traditional Chinese(二に十じゅう四よん)節氣せっき
Simplified Chinese(二に十じゅう四よん)节气
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin(èrshísì) jiéqì
Wade–Giles(erh-shih-hsi) chieh-chi
IPA[tɕjě.tɕʰî]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping(ji6 sap6 sei3) zit3 hei3
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ(jī-si̍p-sù) cheh-khùi
Solar term
Term Longitude Dates
Lichun 315° 4–5 February
Yushui 330° 18–19 February
Jingzhe 345° 5–6 March
Chunfen 0° 20–21 March
Qingming 15° 4–5 April
Guyu 30° 20–21 April
Lixia 45° 5–6 May
Xiaoman 60° 21–22 May
Mangzhong 75° 5–6 June
Xiazhi 90° 21–22 June
Xiaoshu 105° 7–8 July
Dashu 120° 22–23 July
Liqiu 135° 7–8 August
Chushu 150° 23–24 August
Bailu 165° 7–8 September
Qiufen 180° 23–24 September
Hanlu 195° 8–9 October
Shuangjiang 210° 23–24 October
Lidong 225° 7–8 November
Xiaoxue 240° 22–23 November
Daxue 255° 7–8 December
Dongzhi 270° 21–22 December
Xiaohan 285° 5–6 January
Dahan 300° 20–21 January

A solar term (or jieqi, simplified Chinese: 节气; traditional Chinese: 節氣せっき) is any of twenty-four periods in traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon.[1] The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic[2] and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons, which is crucial for agrarian societies. The solar terms are also used to calculate intercalary months;[3] which month is repeated depends on the position of the sun at the time.

According to the Book of Documents, the first determined term was Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) by Dan, the Duke of Zhou, while he was trying to locate the geological center of the Western Zhou dynasty, by measuring the length of the sun's shadow on an ancient type of sundial called tǔguī [ja] (土ど圭けい).[4] Then four terms of seasons were set, which were soon evolved as eight terms; until 104 BC in the book Taichu Calendar, the entire twenty-four solar terms were officially included in the Chinese calendar.[5]

Because the Sun's speed along the ecliptic varies depending on the Earth-Sun distance, the number of days that it takes the Sun to travel between each pair of solar terms varies slightly throughout the year, but it is always between 15 and 16 days. Each solar term is divided into three pentads [zh] (候こう; hòu), so there are 72 pentads in a year. Each pentad consists of five, rarely six, days, and are mostly named after phenological (biological or botanical) phenomena corresponding to the pentad.

Solar terms originated in China, then spread to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, countries in the East Asian cultural sphere. Although each term was named based on the seasonal changes of climate in the North China Plain, peoples living in the different climates still use it without changes.[6] This is exhibited by the fact that traditional Chinese characters for most of the solar terms are identical.

On December 1, 2016, the solar terms were listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.[7]

Numbering

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The even solar terms (marked with "Z", for Chinese: 中氣ちゅうき) are considered the major terms, while the odd solar terms (marked with "J", for Chinese: 節氣せっき) are deemed minor. The year starts with Lichun (J1) and ends with Dahan (Z12).[8]

Multilingual list

[edit]
Sun's ecliptic
longitude 		Chinese
name[9] 		Korean name[10] Vietnamese
name 		Japanese
name 		Ryukyuan
(Okinawan) name 		English
name (Hong Kong Observatory)[11] 		English
name (Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics)[12] 		Gregorian
Date[13]
(± 1 day) 		Reference for
Month Intercalating 		Chinese zodiac & Earthly Branch of Month Corresponding Western astrological sign
315° 立春りっしゅん
lìchūn 		立春りっしゅん (입춘/립춘)
ipchun/ripchun 		Lập xuân (立春りっしゅん) 立春りっしゅん（りっしゅん）
risshun 		立春りっしゅん（りっしゅん）
risshun 		Spring commences Beginning of Spring Feb 4 1st month initial Tiger (虎とら)
Yín (寅とら) 		Aquarius
330° 雨水あまみず
yǔshuǐ[14] 		雨水あまみず (우수)
usu 		Vũ thủy (雨水あまみず) 雨水あまみず（うすい）
usui 		雨水あまみず（うしー）
ushii 		Rain water Rain Water Feb 19 1st month midpoint Pisces
345° 驚おどろき蟄 (惊蛰)
jīngzhé[15] 		驚おどろき蟄 (경칩)
gyeongchip 		Kinh trập (驚おどろき蟄) 啓蟄けいちつ（けいちつ）
keichitsu

驚おどろく（うどぅるく）
uduruku;
驚おどろくー（おどるくー）
udurukuu;
虫むし驚おどろき（むしうどぅるく）
mushi'uduruku

Insects waken Awakening of Insects Mar 6 2nd month initial Rabbit (兔うさぎ)
Mǎo (卯う)
0° 春分しゅんぶん
chūnfēn 		春分しゅんぶん (춘분)
chunbun 		Xuân phân (春分しゅんぶん) 春分しゅんぶん（しゅんぶん）
shunbun 		春分しゅんぶん（すんぶん）
sunbun 		Vernal equinox Spring Equinox Mar 21 2nd month midpoint Aries
15° 清明せいめい
qīngmíng[16] 		淸明せいめい (청명)
cheongmyeong 		Thanh minh (清明せいめい) 清明せいめい（せいめい）
seimei 		清明せいめい（しーみー）
shiimii 		Bright and clear Pure Brightness Apr 5 3rd month initial Dragon (龍りゅう)
Chén (辰たつ)
30° 穀雨こくう (谷たに雨う)
gǔyǔ[17] 		穀雨こくう (곡우)
gogu 		Cốc vũ (穀雨こくう) 穀雨こくう（こくう）
kokuu 		穀雨こくう（くくー）
kukuu 		Corn rain Grain Rain Apr 20 3rd month midpoint Taurus
45° 立夏りっか
lìxià 		立夏りっか (입하/립하)
ipha/ripha 		Lập hạ (立夏りっか) 立夏りっか（りっか）
rikka 		立夏りっか（りっかー）
rikkaa 		Summer commences Beginning of Summer May 6 4th month initial Snake (蛇へび)
Sì (巳み)
60° 小滿しょうまん (小しょう满)
xiǎomǎn 		小滿しょうまん (소만)
soman 		Tiểu mãn (小滿しょうまん) 小満しょうまん（しょうまん）
shōman 		小満しょうまん（すーまん）
suuman 		Corn forms Grain Buds May 21 4th month midpoint Gemini
75° 芒すすき種しゅ (芒すすき种)
mángzhòng 		芒すすき種しゅ (망종)
mangjong 		Mang chủng (芒すすき種しゅ) 芒すすき種しゅ（ぼうしゅ）
bōshu 		芒すすき種しゅ（ぼーすー）
boosuu 		Corn on ear Grain in Ear Jun 6 5th month initial Horse (馬うま)
Wǔ (午うま)
90° 夏至げし
xiàzhì 		夏至げし (하지)
haji 		Hạ chí (夏至げし) 夏至げし（げし）
geshi 		夏至げし（かーちー）
kaachii 		Summer solstice Summer Solstice Jun 21 5th month midpoint Cancer
105° 小暑しょうしょ
xiǎoshǔ 		小暑しょうしょ (소서)
soseo 		Tiểu thử (小暑しょうしょ) 小暑しょうしょ（しょうしょ）
shōsho 		小暑しょうしょ（くーあちさ）
kuu'achisa 		Moderate heat Minor Heat Jul 7 6th month initial Goat (羊ひつじ)
Wèi (未み)
120° 大暑たいしょ
dàshǔ 		大暑たいしょ (대서)
daeseo 		Đại thử (大暑たいしょ) 大暑たいしょ（たいしょ）
taisho 		大暑たいしょ（うーあちさ）
uu'achisa 		Great heat Major heat Jul 23 6th month midpoint Leo
135° 立秋りっしゅう
lìqiū 		立秋りっしゅう (입추/립추)
ipchu/ripchu 		Lập thu (立秋りっしゅう) 立秋りっしゅう（りっしゅう）
risshū 		立秋りっしゅう（りっすー）
rissuu 		Autumn commences Beginning of Autumn Aug 8 7th month initial Monkey (猴)
Shēn (申さる)
150° 處暑しょしょ (处暑)
chǔshǔ 		處暑しょしょ (처서)
cheoseo 		Xử thử (處暑しょしょ) 処暑しょしょ（しょしょ）
shosho 		処暑しょしょ（とぅくるあちさ）
tukuru'achisa 		End of heat End of Heat Aug 23 7th month midpoint Virgo
165° 白露しらつゆ
báilù 		白露しらつゆ (백로)
baengno 		Bạch lộ (白露しらつゆ) 白露しらつゆ（はくろ）
hakuro 		白露しらつゆ（ふぁくるー）
fakuruu 		White dew White Dew Sep 8 8th month initial Rooster (雞)
Yǒu (酉とり)
180° 秋分しゅうぶん
qiūfēn 		秋分しゅうぶん (추분)
chubun 		Thu phân (秋分しゅうぶん) 秋分しゅうぶん（しゅうぶん）
shūbun 		秋分しゅうぶん（すーぶん）
suubun 		Autumnal equinox Autumn Equinox Sep 23 8th month midpoint Libra
195° 寒露かんろ
hánlù 		寒露かんろ (한로)
hallo 		Hàn lộ (寒露かんろ) 寒露かんろ（かんろ）
kanro 		寒露かんろ（かんるー）
kanruu 		Cold dew Cold Dew Oct 8 9th month initial Dog (狗いぬ)
Xū (戌いぬ)
210° 霜降しもふり
shuāngjiàng 		霜降しもふり (상강)
sanggang 		Sương giáng (霜降しもふり) 霜降しもふり（そうこう）
sōkō 		霜降しもふり（しむくだり）
shimukudari 		Frost Frost's Descent Oct 23 9th month midpoint Scorpio
225° 立冬りっとう
lìdōng 		立冬りっとう (입동/립동)
ipdong/ripdong 		Lập đông (立冬りっとう) 立冬りっとう（りっとう）
rittō 		立冬りっとう（りっとぅー）
rittuu 		Winter commences Beginning of Winter Nov 7 10th month initial Pig (豬)
Hài (亥い)
240° 小雪こゆき
xiǎoxuě 		小雪こゆき (소설)
soseol 		Tiểu tuyết (小雪こゆき) 小雪こゆき（しょうせつ）
shōsetsu 		小雪こゆき（くーゆち）
kuuyuchi 		Light snow Minor Snow Nov 22 10th month midpoint Sagittarius
255° 大雪おおゆき
dàxuě 		大雪おおゆき (대설)
daeseol 		Đại tuyết (大雪おおゆき) 大雪おおゆき（たいせつ）
taisetsu 		大雪おおゆき（うーゆち）
uuyuchi 		Heavy snow Major Snow Dec 7 11th month initial Rat (鼠ねずみ)
Zǐ (子こ)
270° 冬至とうじ
dōngzhì 		冬至とうじ (동지)
dongji 		Đông chí (冬至とうじ) 冬至とうじ（とうじ）
tōji 		冬至とうじ（とぅんじー）
tunjii 		Winter solstice Winter Solstice Dec 22 11th month midpoint Capricorn
285° 小寒しょうかん
xiǎohán 		小寒しょうかん (소한)
sohan 		Tiểu hàn (小寒しょうかん) 小寒しょうかん（しょうかん）
shōkan 		小寒しょうかん（すーかん）
suukan 		Moderate cold Minor Cold Jan 6 12th month initial Ox (牛うし)
Chǒu (丑うし)
300° 大寒だいかん
dàhán 		大寒だいかん (대한)
daehan 		Đại hàn (大寒だいかん) 大寒だいかん（だいかん）
daikan 		大寒だいかん（でーかん）
deekan 		Severe cold Major Cold Jan 20 12th month midpoint Aquarius

Chinese mnemonic song

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The "Song of Solar Terms" (simplified Chinese: 节气歌か; traditional Chinese: 節氣せっき歌か; pinyin: jiéqìgē) is used to ease the memorization of jieqi:

The first four lines provides a concise version of the names of the 24 jieqi. The last four lines provide some rules of thumb about the Gregorian dates of jieqi, namely:

  • Two jieqi per month;
  • Gregorian dates are off by one or two days at most;
  • In the first half of the year, jieqi happens around the 6th and 21st day of each (Gregorian) month;
  • In the second half of the year, jieqi happens around the 8th and 23rd day of each (Gregorian) month.

Determination

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See also: Ecliptic § Sun's apparent motion
Chart with the solar terms and their Vietnamese names

The modern definition using ecliptic longitudes, introduced by the Shixian calendar, is known as 定てい气法 (dìng qì fǎ, 'steady term method'). Under this method, the determination of solar terms is similar to the astronomical determination of the special cases of equinox and solstice dates, with different ecliptic longitudes to solve for. One can start with an approximation and then perform a correction using the anomalies and mean motion of the sun.[18] The JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System may be used to query for exact times of solar terms.

The older method is known as 平ひら气法 (píng qì fǎ, 'equal term method') and simply divides the tropical year into 24 equal parts.

Regional note

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In Japan, the term Setsubun (節分せつぶん) originally referred to the eves of Risshun (立春りっしゅん, 315°, the beginning of Spring), Rikka (立夏りっか, 45°, the beginning of Summer), Risshū (立秋りっしゅう, 135°, the beginning of Autumn), and Rittō (立冬りっとう, 225°, the beginning of Winter), but currently mostly refers to the day before Risshun. The name of each solar term also refers to the period of time between that day and the next solar term, or 1/24th of a year.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "24 Chinese Feasts (Jiéqì, 节气), equivalent to the 24 Chinese Solar Terms". Chinese calendar. asia-home.com.
  2. ^ Until 1644 (Chinese Empire and its tributary states) or 1844 (Japan) a period of time of the solar year itself had been equally divided instead of the spatial zodiac.
  3. ^ When a lunar month's end does not reach a midpoint of the solar terms, it is regarded as the last month's intercalary one instead of the true "next" month. It is called 歲とし中ちゅう閏月じゅんげつ法ほう lit. "midpoint intercalating system".
  4. ^ Book of Documents.
  5. ^ Ban, Gu. Book of Han.
  6. ^ なぜずれる？　二に十じゅう四よん節気せっきと季き節ぶし感かん (Why off-point? -solar terms and our real feeling of the seasons) Maritime Japan, for example, comparing the climate of Taiyuan with that of Tokyo and Kyoto: on Japanese islands differences in seasonal gap lengths are the main problem. In subtropical or tropical regions including southern China climate difference is more serious.
  7. ^ "UNESCO – The Twenty-Four Solar Terms, knowledge in China of time and practices developed through observation of the sun's annual motion". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  8. ^ Aslaksen, Helmer. "When is Chinese New Year?" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  9. ^ Simplified Chinese characters are shown in parentheses if they differ from the Traditional Chinese characters.
  10. ^ Hangul are shown in parentheses. For Hangul and romanisation, where the pronunciation differs between South Korea and North Korea, the South Korean pronunciation is given first before the slash, followed by the North Korean pronunciation.
  11. ^ "The 24 Solar Terms". Hong Kong Observatory.
  12. ^ "二に十じゅう四节气上了北京冬奥开幕式，牛うし！".
  13. ^ Date can vary within a ±1 day range.
  14. ^ the Yushui and Jingzhe have been exchanged by Liu Xin in Han dynasty.
  15. ^ the Jingzhe and Yushui have been exchanged by Liu Xin in Han dynasty.
  16. ^ the Qingming and Guyu have been exchanged by Liu Xin in Han dynasty.
  17. ^ the Guyu and Qingming have been exchanged by Liu Xin in Han dynasty.
  18. ^ "Determination of Equinox and Solstice Dates". farside.ph.utexas.edu.
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