24 Solar Terms

in China
Lian Yating
Introduction The 24 solar terms, based on the
sun's position in the zodiac, were
created by farmers in ancient China
to guide the agricultural affairs and
farming activities. The 24 solar terms
reflect the changes in climate, natural
phenomena, agricultural production,
and other aspects of human life,
including clothing, food, housing,
and transportation. The 24 solar
terms play important roles and have
greatly influenced people's basic
needs in life, and they still have an
important function nowadays.
Origin
As early as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Chinese
ancestors had already established two major solar terms, ri nan zhi
（日南至 'Sun South Most') and ri bei zhi （日北至 'Sun North Most').
As of the end of the Warring states Period (475-221 BC), eight key
solar terms (Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of
Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox,
Beginning of Winter and Winter Solstice) marking the four seasons,
were established according to the different positions of the sun and
changes in natural phenomena. The rest of the solar terms were
initiated in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD). Hence most
terms refer to the climate of Xi'an, capital of the Han Dynasty.
Meaning

The solar terms known as Beginning of Spring, Beginning of Summer,

Beginning of Autumn, and Beginning of Winter are used to reflect the
Pure Brightness, Rain Water, Grain Rain, Minor Snow, and Major Snow,
change of seasons, dividing the year into four seasons of exactly three
White Dew, Cold Dew, and Frost's Descent reflect the phenomenon of
months.
precipitation, indicating the time and intensity of rainfall, snowfall,
dew, and frost.
The solar terms of Spring Equinox, Autumn Equinox, Summer Solstice
and Winter solstice are divided from an astronomical aspect, reflecting
Grain Buds and Grain in Ear reflect the maturity and harvest time of
the turning point of the variation of the altitude of the sun.
crops, while Awakening of Insects reflects observed insect activity.
Minor Heat, Major Heat, End of Heat, Minor Cold, and Major Cold
reflect the changes of temperature in different periods.
 Start of Spring Rain Water Awakening of Insects
Feb. 3-5 Feb. 18-20 Mar. 5-7
Spring Spring Equinox Pure Brightness Grain Rain
Mar. 20-22 Apr. 4-6 Apr. 19-21

Start of Summer Grain Buds Grain in Ear

May 5-7 May 20-27 Jun. 5-7
Summer Summer Solstice Minor Heat Major Heat
Jun. 21-22 Jul. 6-8 Jul. 22-24

Start of Autumn End of Heat White Dew

Aug. 7-9 Aug. 22-24 Sept. 7-9
Autumn Autumn Equinox Cold Dew Frost's Descent
Sept. 22-24 Oct. 8-9 Oct. 23-24

Start of Winter Minor Snow Major Snow

Nov. 7-8 Nov. 22-23 Dec. 6-8
Winter Winter Solstice Minor Cold Major Cold
Dec. 21-23 Jan. 5-7 Jan. 20-21
 Start
of Spring

气
传统节
 立春的由来
The Start of Spring is the first one of 24 solar terms. It usually begins on
February 3-5 every year , and it means spring is coming up. From this day on ,
the days get longer and the weather gets warmer. In addition , from this day
to summer, we usually call this period the spring. Besides, it's also an
important traditional festival in China --- on behalf of the beginning of the new
year, so the Start of Spring is also known as playing chun.
 CUSTOMS
立春的由来

Flying kites can help build one’s health

and prevent diseases. It also has the
effect of promoting blood circulation
and speeding up metabolism. A breath
of fresh air outside can discharge the
foul smell accumulated in winter.
 CUSTOMS
立春的由来
In China, it is said that the egg can be
set upright on the first day of the Start
of Spring, Spring Equinox day and
Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that
if someone can make the egg stand on
the first day of Start of Spring, he will
have good luck in the future.
 CUSTOMS
立春的由来

In many parts of China, people observe

the custom of "biting the spring" on the
first day of Start of Spring. They eat
spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few
mouthfuls of carrots.
Rain Water
Rain Water ranks the second of 24 solar terms, and it usually comes
betwen Feb 18, 19 or 20. In northern China, the spring drought is
common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to
15 percent of annual average rainfall. Therefore, Rain Water is
considered as a key period for irrigation when the day gets warmer
and rainfall increases.
According to the tradition, gifts are usually
two cane chairs wound with four meters of
red belt, which symbolize good health and
longevity. Another typical gift is a pot of
cooked dish that contains pig's knuckles
stewed with soya and kelp, by which the son-
in-law expresses his respect and gratitude.
People in Beijing often eat porridge
cooked with rehmannia glutinosa
libosch, a kind of Chinese herb
medicine, to resist cold and wet
weather and eliminate heat from
the blood. It is also good for people
with constipation, arthritis and
headaches.
Awakening
of Insects
传
统
As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name alludes to
the fact that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by
spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life.
It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. The
Awakening of Insects falls after the end of winter and before
the beginning of spring. Wind during this period is an
important factor in weather forecasting.
At this day, people will draw the
white tiger on paper, and then
smear pig's blood and pork on its
mouth. This means the tiger is
fed so that it would not bite
people, avoiding bad luck and
conflict.
Eating pears around the Awakening of
Insects is a widely-practiced custom in
China. As the weather gets warmer and the
air becomes dry, people tend to feel their
mouths are parched and tongues dry, which
can cause colds or coughs. A pear is sweet,
juicy and cold, moistening the lungs to
arrest a cough.
The Spring
Equinox
The Spring Equinox ranks the fouth of the
twenty-four solar terms, it usually begins on
Mar. 20 ,21 or 22 every year, and the length of
day and night is almost equal on that day.
After the equinox, the sun moves northwards,
resulting in gradually longer day time in the
Northern Hemisphere and longer night in the
Southern Hemisphere.
In some areas, it is a very common custom
to eat 'spring vegetables' during the Spring
Equinox. 'Spring vegetables' refers to
seasonal vegetables that differ from place
to place. The ancient teachings in the
Chinese classic, Huangdi Neijing, suggest
that people eat seasonal foods to help
preserve health and bring good luck.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368 － 1644) and
Qing Dynasty (1636—1912), the imperial
family held this ritual in Ritan park every
Spring Equinox. The Ritan park gradually
became a common place for public
recreation. However, the practice still exists
among the public.
Clear and Bright
 起源源流

“Clear and Bright" ranks the fifth of 24 solar terms, and is

also the only one that coincides with the Chinese traditional
festival "Tomb Sweeping Day". The words "clear" and
"bright" describe the weather during this period.
Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it a
crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring.
习俗习惯
Cleaning the tombs and paying respect
to the dead with offerings are the two
important practices to remember late
relatives. Weeds around the tomb are
cleared away and fresh soil is added to
show care for the dead. The dead
person's favorite food, wine and
chopsticks are offered on their tombs,
along with paper money.
 习俗习惯

People in the Jiangnan (south of the

Yangtze River) region often eat this kind
of green colored balls made from
glutinous rice on Tomb Sweeping Day.
The green color is from the juice of
brome grass that is added in the rice.
 习俗习惯
《清明》
（唐）杜牧

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有？牧童遥指杏花村。

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
Grain Rain
"Grain Rain" is the sixth of the 24 solar terms in China and
the last solar term in spring. During this period , the rainfall is
increasing more and the cereal crops grow fast .
It originates from the old saying, "Rain brings up the growth
of hundreds of grains," which shows that this period of
rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops. The
Grain Rain signals the end of cold weather and a rapid rise in
temperature.
节日 PPT 模板 http://www.1ppt.com/jieri/
There is an old custom in southern
China that people drink tea on the
day of Grain Rain. Spring tea during
Grain Rain is rich in vitamins and
amino acids, which can help to
remove heat from the body and is
good for the eyes. It is also said that
drinking tea on this day would
prevent bad luck.
People in northern China have the
tradition to eat the vegetable toona
sinensis during Grain Rain. An old
Chinese saying goes "toona sinensis
before the rain is as tender as silk".
The vegetable is nutritious and can
help to strengthen the immune
system. It is also good for the
stomach and skin.

节日 PPT 模板 http://www.1ppt.com/jieri/
Start of Summer
The Start of Summer is the 7th
solar term, which marks the
arrival of summer. From the day
on, the weater will be hotter and
hotter. The rainfall is sharply
increasing .
Eating eggs on the Start of Summer is a
wish for health and happiness. People
put leftover tea into boiled water
together with eggs and the original "tea
egg" was created. Later people improved
cooking methods and added spices to
the eggs to make them taste delicious.
Today tea egg has become a traditional
snack in China.
When the weather grows hotter,
dampness and heat can affect human
health. Food rich in vitamins and cool
in nature is highly recommended.
Vegetables, such as cucumber, tomato,
watercress and celery and fruits that
include watermelon, pear and
strawberry are top recommendations.
Grain Buds
During this period, the wheat has
been ripe and peasants should
bring in the wheat as soon as
possible. After finishing the
harvest of wheat, they have to
sow the rice. Yangtze River region
in China will enter the rainy
season .
During the Grain Buds period, the summer
harvest is about to begin. A saying about
rain during this time mentions, "A heavy
rainfall makes the river full." Because of
the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full
of water, which makes fish and shrimp big
and fat. This is a good time to eat fish and
shrimp. It is also harvest season for
fishermen.
• A Chinese proverb says, "Mulberries become
black during the Grain Buds period." Thus it is a
good season to eat mulberries.

• Grain Buds is a season for eating the herb of the

common sow thistle, which is one of the earliest
edible potherbs in China. It tastes a little bitter
and tart, but also sweet. It has the function of
cooling the blood and detoxifying the body.
Grain in Ear
“Grain in ear” means the grains are mature. It
happens around June 5 every year when the Sun
reaches the celestial longitude of 75 degrees.
During this period, crops like barley and wheat all
get mature and are waiting to be harvested.
During this period, areas around middle stream
and downstream of the Yangtze River enter the
rainy season. Sensing the wetness, the mantis
comes out, the shrike starts to sing and the
mockingbird stops tweet.
 Boiling Green Plums
In southern China, green plums ripen in
May and June every year. However, fresh
plums are too sour to eat directly, so they
have to be processed, usually by boiling.
Besides, people also make plum wine. The
fruity and alcoholic aromas of the well-
made plum wine give it a fascinating taste.
 Seeing Off the God of Flowers
Grain in Ear comes in the fifth lunar month when
spring flowers begin to wither as the sun becomes
more intense. The ancient Chinese had a poetic
metaphor for this natural phenomenon--the
departure of the god of flowers. In ancient times,
people in many parts of China held a ceremony on
the day of the Grain in Ear to express their gratitude
and invite the god of flowers to come again next
year.
Summer Solstice
At this time, much of the northern
hemisphere receives the most hours of
daylight, but it does not bring the hottest
temperatures which will come only 20 to
30 days later. The entire day in Mohe in
Heilongjiang province, located in the
northernmost tip of China, lasts nearly 17
hours when you include dawn, twilight and
its afterglow. Summer Solstice is the best
season for viewing the aurora in Mohe,
"the sleepless town of China".
People in different areas of Shandong
province eat chilled noodles on this day
because the new wheat has been on
stage during the Summer Solstice.
Other people around China, including
those in Beijing, also have a tradition of
eating noodles.
Due to the local climate, dragon boat
races have been held on the Summer
Solstice day in Shaoxing, Zhejiang
province rather than on Dragon Boat
Festival since the Ming (1368-1644) and
Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. This
tradition is still in practice today, with all
the attendant excitement.
Minor
Heat
Minor Heat signifies the hottest period is
coming but the extreme hot point has yet
to arrive. Entering Minor Heat means the
third month of summer has begun.
Storms, thunder and hail often happen
during Minor Heat, though in some years
there might be droughts. One of the
prevailing farming activities during Minor
Heat is staying on top of flood control
and drought relief.
In Minor Heat, high temperatures
are good for the growth of the
lotus flower. From Minor Heat to
the Double Ninth Festival, the lotus
flower is in full bloom, and always
simple but elegant.
During the Minor Heat period, with
the longest amount of sunlight and
the strongest sunlight radiation,
many families hang their clothes
out in the sun to prevent mildew.
Major Heat
During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest
season of the year. Like Minor Heat, many natural
calamities such as floods, droughts and typhoons also
happen during Major Heat. Therefore, it’s important to
harvest and plant in time to avoid setbacks caused by
natural disasters.
Litchi is a nutritious fruit containing glucose and
vitamins. People usually soak litchi in cold well
water first and eat it. It is said that litchi during
Major Heat is as nourishing as ginseng.

With the amazing ability to quell the summer

heat, grass jelly is described in a popular saying in
Guangdong province that goes, "eating herb jelly
in Major Heat will make you stay young like the
immortals."
Cricket fighting is a popular pastime for
some people in China during this period.
The custom dates back more than 1,000
years to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).
Start of Autumn
The period of hot days after Start of Autumn,
usually lasting for 30 days, is called "Autumn Tiger"
or "Indian Summer". Because of the decreasing
precipitation, it is even more sweltering during this
period than during Major Heat. There is a saying
that goes: "If it rains on the day of the Start of
Autumn, a good harvest is expected."
On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the
family will stand in the middle of the hall, worshiping a
bowl of cereal, and praying for the harvest in autumn.
Most of the families will eat dumplings together.

If one has lost weight during the summer, then at the

beginning of autumn, he or she needs to flesh out by
eating many different kinds of delicious foods, especially
meat.
End of Heat
In China, regions beyond the Great
Wall will enter autumn in early
September. People can enjoy the
gradual change of scenery from
summer to autumn. But in some
areas, especially in South China,
autumn is late in coming and people
are still bothered by hot weather. End
of Heat is also the busy harvest
season for farmers.
There is a saying that, "People tend to feel
sleepy in spring, doze in summer and feel
tired in autumn." As the weather becomes
cool during End of Heat, many people will
feel languid and weary, which is called
"autumn weariness". It is a sign that the
human body needs rest, since people have
consumed excessive energy in the summer.
Get enough sleep, do more exercises and
keep plants indoor to help.
For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest. During this period,
the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the
East China Sea in Zhejiang province. The festival is held on the day when
the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. People can
enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.
Duck has a sweet flavor and according to
Chinese traditional medicine it has a
"cool" nature. A folk tradition is to eat
duck during the End of Heat period. There
are many recipes for cooking duck such as
roast duck, cooked duck with lemon,
smoked duck with walnut dressing and
sautéed duck with ginger shoots. The
tradition of eating duck during the End of
Heat period is still popular in China.
WHITE DEW
White Dew indicates the real beginning of cool autumn. The temperature
declines gradually and vapors in the air often condense into white dew on the
grass and trees at night. Although the sunshine in daytime continues the heat of
summer, temperatures decrease rapidly after sunset. At night, water vapor in
the air turns into small drops of water when it encounters cold air. These white
water drops adhere to flowers, grass and trees ， and when the morning
comes, the sunshine makes them look crystal clear, spotless white and
adorable.
White Dew season comes right when
grapes become widely available for
sale. Eating grapes in autumn can
help dispel one's internal heat and
expel toxins.
Many Chinese believe that the best food
during White Dew is sweet potatoes. In
the old days, peasants had the custom of
eating sweet potatoes on the day of
White Dew. According to traditional
Chinese medicine, sweet potatoes can
nourish the spleen. It can prolong life
and reduce the risks of diseases.
Autumn Equinox
On the Autumn Equinox, the sun almost
hits the equator, and the day and night
are the same length, after which the
temperature gradually cools down.
After that day, the location of direct
sunlight moves to the south, making
days shorter and nights longer in the
northern hemisphere.
Crabs are delicious in this season. It has
become a choice for many people to
reunite with their families and share
delicious crabs. It is said that eating crabs
helps nourish the marrow and clear the
heat inside the body.
At this time, it is hot in the day and cool in
the night in South China, so people have
to wear light clothing when it is hot, and
put on more clothes when it is getting
cooler. This period is named as
"Guihuazheng" in Chinese, which means
osmanthus mugginess.
Cold Dew
Cold Dew is the 17th solar term of the 24
solar terms and falls on October 8th or
October 9th each year. It means that it's
colder than White Dew and the dew is
becoming frost. At this time, temperatures
are much lower than during White Dew in
most areas of China. The dew is greater and
colder and there will be less rain. Autumn
crops will be ripe.
Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of
Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness,
many regions in China have the custom
of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This
is a tradition of the Double Ninth
Festival (on the ninth day of the ninth
month in the Chinese calendar), which
often falls around Cold Dew. According
to ancient records, drinking wine made
with chrysanthemums, poria cocos
mushroom and pine oleoresin grants
people longlasting youth.
During Cold Dew, North China takes on a
look of late autumn with white clouds,
red leaves and early frost. On the day of
the Double Ninth Festival, people often
climb hills with cornels, a kind of plant.
This custom aims to dispel evils, and
originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty
(AD25-220).
Frost's
Descent
Frost's Descent is the last solar term of autumn, during which the weather
becomes much colder than before and frost begins to appear. But in the
lower reaches of the Yellow River region, frost first appears in late October or
early November. As Frost's Descent comes, the world is filled with the
atmosphere of late autumn.
Eating persimmons during Frost's Descent can
help people resist the cold and protect the
bones. In the countryside, people believe that
their lips will crack if they don't eat
persimmons during this period.
Eating chestnuts during Frost's Descent is
beneficial for one's health. Chestnuts have a
warm nature and sweet flavor, and are good for
nourishing the spleen and stomach, invigorating
the circulation of blood, relieving coughs and
reducing sputum.

The pear is another recommended fruit during

Frost's Descent, which can promote the
secretion of body liquids, clear away heat and
reduce sputum.
Start of Winter
In ancient times, the Chinese people took the
Start of Winter to be the beginning of the
winter. In fact, the Start of Winter is not the
beginning of winter in terms of meteorology.
The climate every year is different, so the
beginning of winter could be quite different.
And with the vast territory of China, winter
in every area doesn’t begin at the same time.
A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern
Han Dynasty (AD25-220), "Medical Saint"
Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan
province from a typhoid epidemic and their
ears from being frostbitten around Start of
Winter.
He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to
dispel the cold and increase body heat. He
wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin
and made them into an ear shape. Since then,
people have learned to make the food, which
became known as a "dumpling". Today there is
still a saying that goes "Eat dumplings on Start
of Winter Day or your ears will be frostbitten".
节日 PPT 模板 http://www.1ppt.com/jieri/
Minor Snow
In some areas of south China, people have glutinous
rice cakes in the early 10th lunar month, which is
around Minor Snow. In ancient times, glutinous rice
cake was a traditional festival offering to the bull god
used by peasants.

In the past, when storage conditions were poor,

people created many ways to store their food.
Preserved pork is one of them. Thus even in the bitter
winter, the whole family could enjoy meat without
going out. Some even say preserved pork tastes
better than fresh meat.
Major Snow
During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and
begins to accumulate on the ground. The
temperature drops significantly. The snow in North
China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches
and blocking the road. The natural scenery is
"hundreds of leagues ice-bound go; over
thousands of leagues fly snow". In the south,
snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A
proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow
promises a good harvest". As the snow covers the
ground, the low winter temperature kills pests.
Plum blossoms usually flower in mid-to-
late December in some southern cities of
China, and sometimes bloom even earlier.
The plum blossom, which originated in
China, is revered in Chinese culture for its
resilience during severe winters. Along
with the pine and bamboo, the plum
blossom is considered one of the Three
Friends of Winter.
During Major Snow, people in southern
China, including Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei
and Chongqing, make sausages, an
important part of preparation for Spring
Festival. The best meat for sausage comes
from the butt of the pig. The sausage
should be dried in a well-ventilated place
in the shade, and is edible after a week.
Cut off a certain amount, and boil or fry it
as you like.
Winter Solstice
It is the shortest daylight and longest night
in the northern hemisphere throughout
the year on Winter Solstice. From this day
on, the days will be drawing out, breeding
much infinite hope. The Winter Solstice
also marks the arrival of the coldest
season in the year.
On that day, it is customary for people there to
eat mutton and vermicelli soup and soup
dumplings. They give the midwinter soup a
strange name: "brain" ， and share it with
their neighbors.

In many places, people eat tangyuan, a kind of

stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous
rice flour to celebrate Winter Solstice. There
are many kinds of tangyuan, such as sesame
tangyuan, peanut tangyuan and bean-paste
tangyuan.
Minor Cold
Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar
terms. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest
days of the year. The ground and rivers are frozen. The cold air from
the north moves southward continuously.
"Sanjiu period" refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th-27th
days) after the day of the Winter Solstice, which is in Minor Cold.
Actually Minor Cold is normally the coldest period of winter. It is
important to keep warm during this period.
According to traditional Chinese medicine
theories, people need to eat food that contains
more yang energy to prevent cold from
harming their organs. The yang energy in the
three types of food is strengthened through
their method of cooking: boiling, stir frying and
baking. It is the best time of the year to have
hot pot and braised mutton with soy sauce.
In ancient times, people in Nanjing took
Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time
went by, the celebration of Minor Cold
gradually faded. However, the custom of
eating vegetable rice is still followed
today. The steamed vegetable rice is
incredibly delicious. Some of the
ingredients like aijiaohuang (a kind of
green vegetable), sausage and salted duck
are the specialties in Nanjing.
Major Cold
During Major Cold, as the cold current moves
southward, the weather becomes bitterly cold.
Although modern meteorological observation
shows that in some regions of China the weather
during Major Cold is not colder than Minor Cold,
the lowest temperatures of the whole year still
occur in the Major Cold period in some coastal
areas.
Sticky rice, the cake's major
ingredient, contains more sugar than
rice, which can make people feel
warm all over their bodies. In
Chinese, the word "rice cake" has
the same pronunciation with the
word "higher in a new year", which
symbolizes good luck and continual
promotion.
In some areas of China, people always
fall over each other in eagerness to
buy sesame straw during this period
because of the old saying, "Rise joint
by joint like sesame flowers on the
stem." This saying is used to describe
either ever-rising living standards or
making steady progress in thought,
studies or skills.