Solar term
Encyclopedia
A solar term is any of 24 points in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar
Lunisolar calendar
A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...

s that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic
Ecliptic
The ecliptic is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. In more accurate terms, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the ecliptic plane, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun...

 and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons. Solar terms originated in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

, then spread to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. This is exhibited by the fact that traditional Chinese, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...

, and Kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 characters for most of the solar terms are identical.

Because the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...

'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. Each solar term is divided into three pentads (候 hou). Each pentad consists of five days (rarely six), so there are 72 pentads in a year.

List of solar terms

Longi-
tude
Usual
translation
Chinese
name ¹
Japanese
name
Korean
name ²
Vietnamese
name
Date ³ Remark
315° start of spring
Lichun
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìchūn or Risshun is the 1st solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...

立春
lìchūn
立春
risshun
입춘 (立春)
ipchun
Lập xuân Feb 4  
330° rain water 雨水
yǔshuǐ
雨水
usui
우수 (雨水)
usu
Vũ thủy Feb 19 more rain than snow
345° awakening of insects
Jingzhe
Jīngzhé or Keichitsu is the 3rd of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 360°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial...

驚蟄 (惊蛰)
jīngzhé
啓蟄
keichitsu
경칩 (驚蟄)
gyeongchip
Kinh trập Mar 6 lit. awakening of hibernating
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...

 insects. See the note at Chinese calendar#Solar term.
vernal equinox
Chunfen
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Chūnfēn or Shunbun is the 4th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 15°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

春分
chūnfēn
春分
shunbun
춘분 (春分)
chunbun
Xuân phân Mar 21 lit. spring division (or center)
15° clear and bright
Qingming
Traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Qīngmíng or Chīngmíng or Seimei is the 5th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 30°...

清明
qīngmíng
清明
seimei
청명 (清明)
cheongmyeong
Thanh minh Apr 5 time for tending graves
Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival , Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice , usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar...

30° grain rain
Guyu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Gǔyù or more commonly pronounced as Gǔyǔ, or Kokuu is the 6th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 30° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 45°...

穀雨 (谷雨)
gǔyǔ
穀雨
kokuu
곡우 (穀雨)
gogu
Cốc vũ Apr 20 lit. grain
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...

 rain: rain helps grain grow
45° start of summer
Lixia
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìxià or Rikka is the 7th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 45° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 60°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the...

立夏
lìxià
立夏
rikka
입하 (立夏)
ipha
Lập hạ May 6  
60° grain full
Xiaoman
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎomǎn or Shōman is the 8th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 60° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 75°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

小滿 (小满)
xiǎomǎn
小満
shōman
소만 (小滿)
soman
Tiểu mãn May 21 grains are plump
75° grain in ear
Mangzhong
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Mángzhǒng or more commonly pronounced as Mángzhòng, or Bōshu is the 9th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 90°...

芒種 (芒种)
mángzhòng
芒種
bōshu
망종 (芒種)
mangjong
Mang chủng Jun 6 lit. awns (beard of grain) grow
90° summer solstice
Xiazhi
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms .-The tenth:Xiàzhì or Geshi is the 10th solar term, and marks the summer solstice. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°...

夏至
xiàzhì
夏至
geshi
하지 (夏至)
haji
Hạ chí Jun 21 lit. summer extreme (of sun's height)
105° minor heat
Xiaoshu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎoshǔ or Shōsho is the 11th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 120°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...

小暑
xiǎoshǔ
小暑
shōsho
소서 (小暑)
soseo
Tiểu thử Jul 7  
120° major heat
Dashu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Dàshǔ or Taisho is the 12th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 120° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 135°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

大暑
dàshǔ
大暑
taisho
대서 (大暑)
daeseo
Đại thử Jul 23  
135° start of autumn
Liqiu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìqiū or Risshū is the 13th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 135° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 150°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

立秋
lìqiū
立秋
risshū
입추 (立秋)
ipchu
Lập thu Aug 8  
150° limit of heat
Chushu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Chǔshǔ or Shosho is the 14th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 150° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 165°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...

處暑 (处暑)
chǔshǔ
処暑
shosho
처서 (處暑)
cheoseo
Xử thử Aug 23 lit. dwell in heat
165° white dew
Bailu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Báilù or Hakuro is the 15th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 165° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 180°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

白露
báilù
白露
hakuro
백로 (白露)
baekro
Bạch lộ Sep 8 condensed moisture makes dew white
180° autumnal equinox
Qiufen
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Qiūfēn or Shūbun is the 16th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 195°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...

秋分
qiūfēn
秋分
shūbun
추분 (秋分)
chubun
Thu phân Sep 23 lit. autumn division (or center)
195° cold dew
Hanlu
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Hánlù or Kanro is the 17th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 210°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

寒露
hánlù
寒露
kanro
한로 (寒露)
hallo
Hàn lộ Oct 8  
210° frost descent 霜降
shuāngjiàng
霜降
sōkō
상강 (霜降)
sanggang
Sương giáng Oct 23 appearance of frost and descent of temperature
225° start of winter
Lidong
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìdōng or Rittō is the 19th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 225° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 240°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...

立冬
lìdōng
立冬
rittō
입동 (立冬)
ipdong
Lập đông Nov 7  
240° minor snow
Xiaoxue
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎoxuě or Shōsetsu is the 20th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 240° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 255°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is...

小雪
xiǎoxuě
小雪
shōsetsu
소설 (小雪)
soseol
Tiểu tuyết Nov 22  
255° major snow 大雪
dàxuě
大雪
taisetsu
대설 (大雪)
daeseol
Đại tuyết Dec 7  
270° winter solstice 冬至
dōngzhì
冬至
tōji
동지 (冬至)
dongji
Đông chí Dec 22 lit. winter extreme (of sun's height)
285° minor cold
Xiaohan
The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎohán or Shōkan is the 23rd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 285° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 300°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...

小寒
xiǎohán
小寒
shōkan
소한 (小寒)
sohan
Tiểu hàn Jan 6  
300° major cold 大寒
dàhán
大寒
daikan
대한 (大寒)
daehan
Đại hàn Jan 20  

  1. Simplified Chinese character
    Simplified Chinese character
    Simplified Chinese characters are standardized Chinese characters prescribed in the Xiandai Hanyu Tongyong Zibiao for use in Mainland China. Along with traditional Chinese characters, it is one of many standard character sets of the contemporary Chinese written language...

    s are shown in parentheses if they differ from the Traditional Chinese character
    Traditional Chinese character
    Traditional Chinese characters refers to Chinese characters in any character set which does not contain newly created characters or character substitutions performed after 1946. It most commonly refers to characters in the standardized character sets of Taiwan, of Hong Kong, or in the Kangxi...

    s.
  2. Hanja
    Hanja
    Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...

     is indicated in parentheses.
  3. Date can vary within a ±1 day range.


The "Song of Solar Terms" is used to ease the memorization of jiéqì:


Chinese:

















Pinyin
chūn yǔ jīng chūn qīng gǔ tiān,

xià mǎn máng xià shǔ xiāng lián,

qiū chù lù qiū hán shuāng jiàng,

dōng xuě xuě dōng xiǎo dà hán.

měi yuè liǎng jié bù biàn gēng,

zùi duō xiāng chā yī liǎng tiān

shàng bàn nián lái liù, niàn yī

xià bàn nián shì bā, niàn sān



Regional note

In Japan, the term Setsubun
Setsubun
is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the...

 (節分) originally referred to the eves of Risshun (立春, 315°, the beginning of Spring) Rikka
Rikka
is a type of ritual flower offering practiced by Japanese Buddhists. It first appeared in the 15th century. The rikka style reflects the magnificence of nature and its display. For example, pine branches symbolize rocks and stones, and white chrysanthemums symbolize a river or small stream...

 (立夏, 45°, the beginning of Summer), Risshū (立秋, 135°, the beginning of Autumn), and Rittō
Ritto
Rittō may refer to:*Rittō, Shiga, a city in Japan*Rittō, the 19th solar term, among the 24, of the traditional East Asian calendars. See Lidong...

 (立冬, 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

  • Chinese calendar
    Chinese calendar
    The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...

  • Korean calendar
    Korean calendar
    The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture....

  • Japanese calendar
    Japanese calendar
    On January 1, 1873, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar. Before 1873, the Chinese style lunisolar calendar had been in use since 7th century. Japanese eras are still in use.-System:...

  • Vietnamese calendar

External links

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