Ask experts to answer the question of China culture: What is the relationship between solar terms and new moon?

The month time of the lunar calendar is based on the moon, and the moon is cloudy or sunny for a period of time, which is called the "new moon", that is, the month. 24 solar terms follows the solar year, that is, the sun completes a solar year in one revolution. At first, the ancients subdivided the 24 solar terms into solar terms and neutral atmosphere. For example, beginning of spring is in the first month, the rain is in the first month, the fright is in February, the vernal equinox is in the middle of February, and so on. One has nothing to do with the moon and the other has nothing to do with the sun.

In addition, the collocation of 24 solar terms and months is not absolutely fixed and consistent year after year. So there are often leap months and leap years.