Solar Terms Used in Chinese Calendar
<< Chinese Astrology and Horoscope
<< Herong's Notes on Astrology and Horoscope
This section describes solar terms are used in Chinese calendar.
In addition to the lunar months, Chinese calendar uses 24 solar terms, 节气 (Jieqi), to follow the seasons of the solar year.
24 solar terms are equally spaced along the ecliptic circle. The first term is defined as the day when the Sun reaches longitude of 315 degrees.
Here is the list 24 solar terms and their definitions:
Long. Date Name English Name 315 Feb. 4 立春 Lichun Beginning of Spring 330 Feb.19 雨水 Yushui Rain Water 345 Mar. 6 惊蛰 Jingzhi Waking of Insects 0 Mar.21 春分 Chunfen Spring Equinox 15 Apr. 5 清明 Qingming Pure Brightness 30 Apr.20 谷雨 Guyu Grain Rain 45 May 6 立夏 Lixia Beginning of Summer 60 May 21 夏满 Xiaoman Grain Full 75 Jun. 6 芒种 Mangzhong Grain in Ear 90 Jun.22 夏至 Xiazhi Summer Solstice 105 Jul. 7 小暑 Xiaoshu Slight Heat 120 Jul.23 大暑 Dashu Great Heat 135 Aug. 8 立秋 Liqiu Beginning of Autumn 150 Aug.23 处暑 Chushu Limit of Heat 165 Sep. 8 白露 Bailu White Dew 180 Sep.23 秋分 Qiufen Autumnal Equinox 195 Oct. 8 寒露 Hanlu Cold Dew 210 Oct.24 霜降 Shuangjiang Descent of Frost 225 Nov. 8 立冬 Lidong Beginning of Winter 240 Nov.22 小雪 Xiaoxue Slight Snow 255 Dec. 7 大雪 Daxue Great Snow 270 Dec.22 冬至 Dongzhi Winter Solstice 285 Jan. 6 小寒 Xiaohan Slight Cold 300 Jan.20 大寒 Dahan Great Cold
Sections in This Chapter
Chinese Astrology Overview
Chinese Year Numbering System
Chinese Lunar Month System
Chinese Horoscope and Eight Words
Chinese Horoscope Interpretation
Comparing Chinese Horoscope with Western Horoscope