Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - The 24 Solar Terms - What are the 24 solar terms?

What are the 24 solar terms?

Twenty-four solar terms are the original cultural heritage of working people in China, which can reflect the changes of seasons, guide agricultural activities and affect the food, clothing, housing and transportation of thousands of households. Since 2000, the main political activity center in China has been concentrated in the Yellow River Basin, and the 24 solar terms have been established on the basis of the climate and phenology in this area. Due to the vast territory and changeable terrain of China, the 24 solar terms are only a reference for many regions.

The twenty-four solar terms are divided according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic (that is, the orbit of the earth around the sun). Depending on the sun from the vernal equinox (longitude zero, when the sun shines vertically on the equator), every forward 15 degrees is a solar term; After a week's operation, I returned to the vernal equinox, which is a tropical year with 360 degrees, so it is divided into 24 solar terms. The dates of solar terms are relatively fixed in the solar calendar. For example, beginning of spring in the solar calendar always falls between February 3rd and 5th. However, in the lunar calendar, the date of solar terms is not easy to determine. Take beginning of spring as an example. It can be 1 February15th of the previous year's lunar calendar at the earliest and1month15th at the latest.

From the literal meaning of the 24 solar terms:

Beginning of spring, Changchun, beginning of autumn and beginning of winter-also known as "Li Si"-respectively represent the beginning of the four seasons. "Stand" means to start. The Gregorian calendar is generally around February 4th, May 5th, August 7th and165438+1October 7th every year. "Li Si" indicates the beginning of the astronomical season. As far as climate is concerned, it is still in the last season. For example, the Yellow River Basin in early spring is still in the middle of winter.

Summer solstice and winter solstice-collectively referred to as the "second solstice", represent the extremes of summer and winter in astronomy. "ambition" means extreme and most important. Summer solstice and winter solstice are generally on June 2 1 day and February 22 12 of the Gregorian calendar every year.

The vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox-collectively referred to as "dichotomy", mean that day and night are equal in length. "Divide" is equal share. These two solar terms are generally around March 20 and September 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year.

Rain-indicates that the precipitation begins and the rainfall gradually increases. It rains around February 18 in Gregorian calendar every year.

Sting-the sudden movement of spring thunder woke the hibernating animals in the soil. At this time, the temperature rose rapidly, and the spring thunder gradually sprouted. Every year around March 5 of the Gregorian calendar is a shock.

Qingming-includes the meaning of sunny weather, fresh air, gradually warming climate and lush vegetation. The Gregorian calendar is Qingming around April 5 every year.

Grain Rain —— The increase of rainfall is very beneficial to the growth of cereal crops. Grain Rain is around April 20th of the Gregorian calendar every year.

Xiaoman-refers to the summer crops with full seeds, but not yet mature, just small and not yet full. Every year on May 2 1 day of the Gregorian calendar, it is full.

Crops with awns, such as awn seed wheat, mature and summer sowing begins. Around June 5 every year, it is a mango.

Hot in summer, hot in summer, hot in summer-hot in summer means hot. The heat is not the hottest time, but the heat is the hottest season, and the heat is the day when summer is coming to an end. They are around July 7, July 23 and August 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year.

White dew-the temperature began to drop, the weather turned cold, and there was dew on the vegetation in the morning. The Millennium is around September 7 of the Gregorian calendar every year.

Cold dew-the temperature drops, there is condensation in the air, and there is a chill gradually. This day is usually on June 8 10 every year.

First frost-it's getting colder and colder, and it's frosting. The first frost usually occurs on the 23rd day of the Gregorian calendar 10 year 10.

Light snow, heavy snow-it's starting to snow, with small and large indicating the degree of snowfall. Light snow falls on Gregorian calendar165438+1October 22nd, and heavy snow falls around 65438+February 7th.

Slight cold, severe cold-the weather is getting colder and colder. Slight cold is not the coldest, but severe cold is the coldest time of the year. The Gregorian calendar 65438+1October 5th and 20th are mild and severe cold.

The twenty-four solar terms reflect the annual apparent movement of the sun, so in the current Gregorian calendar, the dates of the solar terms are basically fixed. The first half of the year is on the 6th and 2nd1,and the second half is on the 8th and 23rd, with a difference of 1 ~ 2 days.

The 24 Solar Terms

Beginning of spring: Dou refers to the Northeast. The meridian of the sun is 3 15 degrees. It is the first of the 24 solar terms. It means to begin to enter the spring, "yang and thorns, everything is spring." After beginning of spring, everything is full of vitality, and the four seasons begin now.

The rain bucket refers to the ring. The meridian of the sun is 330 degrees. At this time, the spring breeze blows all over, the ice and snow melt, the air is moist, and the rain is increasing, so it is called rain. People often say: "Spring blossoms, and rain is busy to send fertilizer."

Stunned: fight with your fingers. The meridian of the sun is 345 degrees. This solar term means that after beginning of spring, the weather gets warmer, the spring thunder starts to shake, and all kinds of hibernating animals that are dormant in the soil will wake up and start to move, so it is called a fright. During this period, the eggs laid by overwintering insects will also begin to hatch. Some parts of China have entered the spring ploughing season. As the saying goes, "After being shocked, it is warm and harmonious, and the old toad sings folk songs." "I was startled by a plow, and the vernal equinox was full of air." "Before the thunder comes, the rain is like a dragon."

Vernal equinox: fighting refers to shackles. The meridian of the sun is 0 degrees. The sun is above the equator at the vernal equinox. This is the 90-day vernal equinox of spring. On this day, the northern and southern hemispheres are equal in day and night, so it is called the vernal equinox. After this day, the direct position of the sun moves northward, and the days in the northern hemisphere are long and the nights are short. So the vernal equinox is the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. Overwintering crops in most parts of China have entered the spring growth stage. Agricultural proverbs in various places include: "The spring equinox comes first, and rice competes for money" (Guangdong), "The spring equinox never stops raining, but the summer equinox never stops burning" (Sichuan), "When it rains, every family is busy, planting melons and beans first, then transplanting them" (Hubei), "Planting vegetables at the spring equinox, picking melons in summer" (Hunan) and "Planting beans at the spring equinox, and planting them at the autumn equinox.