What is the origin and meaning of the 24 solar terms?

1, origin: solar terms are the product of ancient farming civilization, which was originally formulated according to the replacement of stars. The ancients guided agricultural production according to the direction of the Big Dipper in the night sky. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, the "twenty-four solar terms" were included in the taichu calendar as a supplement to guide the agricultural calendar, and the solar terms were measured in the Yellow River basin by the standard chart drawing method.

2. Meaning: The solar term is a special festival in the calendar that expresses the change of natural rhythm and establishes "December" (month order). 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.

The value of twenty-four solar terms

Twenty-four solar terms have the significance of time marking and seasonal change. The labeling and use of the 24 solar terms means that China keeps up with the world rhythm while maintaining its own characteristics and elements.

Not only that, the name of the 24 solar terms itself links the cycle of time with the changes of climate and phenology, among which 8 solar terms reflect the changes of seasons (that is, dichotomy to quartering); 5. Reflect temperature changes (i.e. slight summer heat, severe summer heat, summer heat, slight cold and severe cold).

Seven reflects the changes of precipitation (i.e. rain, Grain Rain, white dew, cold dew, first frost, light snow and heavy snow), and four reflects the changes of phenology (i.e. waking, Qingming, Xiao Man and mango), so it has obvious hints of seasonal changes, which is a feature and advantage that the Gregorian calendar does not have.

Refer to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-the origin of the 24 solar terms