What does the 24 solar terms table mean?

These 24 solar terms are: beginning of spring, Rain, Sting, Vernal 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 Great 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.

The origin of the twenty-four solar terms

Historically, the main centers of political, economic, cultural and agricultural activities in China were mostly concentrated in the Central Plains of the Yellow River Basin, and the 24 solar terms were established on the basis of climate and phenology in this area. As early as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the working people in China had the idea that "the sun will arrive in the south" and "the sun will arrive in the north".

Subsequently, people divided the year into 24 equal parts according to the natural phenomena such as the running position of the sun and the moon at the beginning and middle of the month, the weather and the growth of animals and plants. And give each equal part a proper noun, that is, twenty-four solar terms.

By the end of the Warring States period, there were eight solar terms, such as beginning of spring, Spring Equinox, Long Summer, Summer Solstice, beginning of autumn, Spring Equinox, beginning of winter and Winter Solstice, which were the most important of the 24 solar terms. Mark the seasonal changes and clearly divide the four seasons of the year. By the Qin and Han Dynasties, the 24 solar terms had been completely established.