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Solar term

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The 24 solar terms
(Twenty-four) solar terms
Traditional Chinese(じゅうよん)節氣せっき
Simplified Chinese(じゅうよん)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 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] (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] (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 (とら)
Yín (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° おどろき (惊蛰)
jīngzhé[15]
おどろき蟄 (경칩)
gyeongchip
Kinh trập (おどろき蟄) 啓蟄けいちつ(けいちつ)
keichitsu

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

Insects waken Awakening of Insects Mar 6 2nd month initial Rabbit (うさぎ)
Mǎo ()
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 (りゅう)
Chén (たつ)
30° 穀雨こくう (たに)
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 (へび)
()
60° 小滿しょうまん (しょう)
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° すすきしゅ (すすき)
mángzhòng
すすきしゅ (망종)
mangjong
Mang chủng (すすきしゅ) すすきしゅ(ぼうしゅ)
bōshu
すすきしゅ(ぼーすー)
boosuu
Corn on ear Grain in Ear Jun 6 5th month initial Horse (うま)
(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 (ひつじ)
Wèi ()
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 ()
Shēn (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 ()
Yǒu (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 (いぬ)
(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 ()
Hài ()
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 (ねずみ)
()
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 (うし)
Chǒu (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

[edit]

The "Song of Solar Terms" (simplified Chinese: 节气; traditional Chinese: 節氣せっき; 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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Chart with the solar terms and their Vietnamese names

The modern definition using ecliptic longitudes, introduced by the Shixian calendar, is known as 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 ひら气法 (píng qì fǎ, 'equal term method') and simply divides the tropical year into 24 equal parts.

Regional note

[edit]

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 としちゅう閏月じゅんげつほう lit. "midpoint intercalating system".
  4. ^ Book of Documents.
  5. ^ Ban, Gu. Book of Han.
  6. ^ なぜずれる? じゅうよん節気せっきぶしかん (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. ^ "じゅう四节气上了北京冬奥开幕式,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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