Which twelve of the twenty-four solar terms are solar terms and which twelve are neutral.

Twelve solar terms: beginning of spring, Jing Zhe, Qingming, Long Summer, Mangzhong, Xiaoshu, beginning of autumn, Bailu, Hanlu, beginning of winter, Heavy Snow and Slight Cold.

Twelve Qi: Rain, Spring Equinox, Grain Rain, Xiaoman, Summer Solstice, Great Summer, Early Summer, Autumn Equinox, Early Frost, Light Snow, Winter Solstice and Great Cold.

The current 24 solar terms are divided by the method of "fixing qi".

The "fixed space method" divides the sun's annual trajectory into 24 equal parts, each equal part is a solar term, and each solar term has three cycles. The ancients called solar terms "qi", and the twenty-four solar terms are twenty-four "qi", which are divided into "solar terms" and "neutral qi":

The first day of each month, that is, the "qi" at the beginning of the month, is called "solar term";

The second "Qi" in the middle of the month is called "Zhong Qi". In this way, there are 12 solar terms and 12 neutral terms throughout the year, which together are exactly "24 solar terms".

Extended data

"Twenty-four solar terms" were formed in the Yellow River Basin of China. Based on the observation of the time series changes of astronomical phenomena, temperature, precipitation and phenology in this area, as a time guide for the production and life of agricultural society, it has been gradually adopted throughout the country and enjoyed by many ethnic groups.

"Twenty-four solar terms" reflect the influence of the sun on the earth and belong to the solar calendar category. It is a knowledge system formed by observing the movement of the sun in a year and understanding the changing laws of the four seasons, climate and phenology in a year.

"Twenty-four solar terms" not only play a guiding role in agricultural production, but also affect the basic necessities of life and even cultural concepts of ancient people. The current lunar calendar absorbs the solar terms of the trunk calendar as a supplement to the calendar, and is adjusted to conform to the tropic year through the "leap method" to form a combined calendar of yin and yang.

Baidu encyclopedia-24 solar terms