What does the twenty-four solar terms mean?

The twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar is a supplementary calendar that absorbs the elements of the "twenty-four solar terms" of the dry calendar to guide farming, and is the crystallization of the long-term experience and wisdom of the working people in ancient China.

The 24 solar terms are: beginning of spring, Rain, Sting, Equinox, Qingming, Grain Rain, Changxia, Xiaoman, Mangzhong, Summer Solstice, Xiaoxia, Daxia, beginning of autumn, Chushu, Bailu, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, First Frost, beginning of winter, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Slight Cold and Severe Cold.

Twenty-four special festivals representing seasonal changes were established in ancient times. The intangible cultural heritage of the 24 solar terms is very rich, including related proverbs, ballads, legends, traditional production tools, household utensils, handicrafts, paintings and other works of art, as well as China festival culture, production ceremonies and folk customs closely related to the festival.

The naming of the 24 solar terms reflects the seasons, climate phenomena and climate changes.

Beginning of spring, vernal equinox, long summer, summer solstice, beginning of autumn, autumnal equinox, beginning of winter and winter solstice are eight solar terms.

There are five solar terms symbolizing temperature change: slight summer heat, great summer heat, summer heat, slight cold and severe cold;

Reflecting precipitation are: rain, Grain Rain, Bailu, cold dew, first frost, light snow and heavy snow;

The solar terms reflecting phenological phenomena or agricultural activities are: fright, Qingming, Xiaoman and Mang.

The vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice are divided from an astronomical point of view, reflecting the turning point of solar height change.

Beginning of spring, Changchun, beginning of autumn and beginning of winter reflect the beginning of the four seasons. Because China is a vast country with a very obvious monsoon and continental climate, the weather and climate vary greatly from place to place, so the four seasons in different regions are also very different.

The three solar terms, White Dew, Cold Dew and First Frost, on the surface reflect the phenomenon of water vapor condensation, but in essence they reflect the process and degree of gradual temperature drop.

Frightening and Qingming reflect natural phenological phenomena, especially stinging, which indicates that spring will return with the recovery of early thunder in the sky and underground stinging insects.