The 24 Solar Terms
The Chinese Calendar divides the Solar year into 24 divisions, each known
as a Solar Term. Great emphasis are placed on these divisions. They
determined when they should proceed with which stage of their agriculture
process, and some festivals and rituals are associated them.
The names of the terms are quite literal, describing what the people should
expect of the weather, or what they are expected to do at that term.
This is a list of the Solar Terms.
| Approximate Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 3, 4, 5 Feb | Arrival of Spring |
| 18, 19, 20 Feb | Rain Water |
| 5,6,7 Mar | Insects Awakening |
| 20, 21, 22 Mar | Spring Equinox |
| 4, 5, 6 Apr | Pure Brightness |
| 19, 20, 21 Apr | Grain Rain |
| 5, 6 ,7 May | Arrival of Summer |
| 20, 21, 22 May | Grain Full |
| 5, 6, 7 Jun | Grain in Ear |
| 21, 22 Jun | Summer Solstice |
| 6, 7, 8 Jul | Slight Heat |
| 22, 23, 24 Jul | Great Heat |
| 7, 8, 9 Aug | Arrival of Autumn |
| 22, 23, 24 Aug | Limit of Heat |
| 7, 8, 9 Sep | White Dew |
| 22, 23, 24 Sep | Autumn Equinox |
| 8, 9 Oct | Cold Dew |
| 23, 24 Oct | Frost Descents |
| 7, 8 Nov | Arrival of Winter |
| 22, 23 Nov | Slight Snow |
| 6, 7, 8 Dec | Great Snow |
| 21, 22, 23 Dec | Winter Solstice |
| 5, 6, 7 Jan | Slight Cold |
| 20, 21 Jan | Great Cold |
