Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - The 24 Solar Terms - 202 1 What does the legend about the origin of solar terms and autumnal equinox on September 23rd mean?

202 1 What does the legend about the origin of solar terms and autumnal equinox on September 23rd mean?

Autumn has a special solar term, that is, the autumnal equinox. At the autumnal equinox, day and night are equal in length, and this special solar term will be ushered in on September 23. So what is the legend of the autumnal equinox of the solar term 202 1? What do solar terms and autumnal equinox mean?

202 1 Legend of the origin of solar terms and autumnal equinox

The autumnal equinox used to be a traditional festival to worship the moon. For example, in ancient times, there was a saying that spring offered sacrifices to the sun and autumn offered sacrifices to the moon. Today's Mid-Autumn Festival comes from the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. According to textual research, the Moon Festival was originally scheduled on the day of the autumnal equinox, but there is not always a full moon because of the different date of August in the lunar calendar every year. And the moon without the moon is a big spoil the fun. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival later moved from the autumnal equinox to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to historical records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, ancient emperors had the custom of offering sacrifices to the sun at the vernal equinox, to the earth at the summer solstice, to the moon at the autumnal equinox, and to heaven at the winter solstice. Its places of worship are called Ritan, Ditan, Yuetan and Tiantan. It is located in four directions: southeast and northwest. The Moon Altar in Beijing is the place where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties offered sacrifices to the moon. The Book of Rites contains: Tian Zichun, Asahi, Autumn and Evening. Asahi dynasty, dusk of the moon. The moon here refers to offering sacrifices to the moon at night. This custom is not only pursued by the imperial court and the upper nobility, but also gradually affects the people with the development of society. According to the discrepancy between Yin and Yang in the Spring and Autumn Period, it is said that Yin and Yang accompanied each other at the vernal equinox, so it was cold and hot day and night.

What do solar terms and autumnal equinox mean?

First, according to China's ancient beginning of spring, Changxia, beginning of autumn and beginning of winter, the four seasons are divided. The autumnal equinox lives in autumn for 90 days and divides the autumn equally.

2. At this time, 24 hours a day are divided equally, each 12 hours. This day is the same as the vernal equinox. At the autumnal equinox, the sun shines almost directly at the equator. After that, the position of direct sunlight moved south, and the days and nights in the northern hemisphere were short.