Solar terms corresponding to the winter solstice

The winter solstice is the 22nd solar term among the 24 solar terms and the fourth solar term in winter.

In order to fully reflect the change of seasonal climate, as early as the Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period, ancient astronomers used the method of "returning to the earth" to determine the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice, and divided a year into 24 equal parts, that is, 24 solar terms, according to the position change of the sun on the ecliptic and the evolution order of the ground climate caused by it.

The 24 solar terms are: beginning of spring, Rain, Sting, Equinox, Qingming, Grain Rain, Changxia, Xiaoman, Mangzhong, Summer Solstice, Xiaoxia, Daxia, beginning of autumn, Early Summer, Bailu, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Early Frost, beginning of winter, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Slight Cold and Severe Cold. Each solar term is about half a month apart and divided into twelve months. The beginning of the month is called the solar term, and the middle of the month is called "Zhongqi". The so-called "qi" refers to meteorology and climate.