A solar term is any of 24 points in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar

Lunisolar calendar

A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...

s that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic

Ecliptic

The ecliptic is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. In more accurate terms, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the ecliptic plane, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun...

 and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons. Solar terms originated in China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

, then spread to Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

, Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

, and Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. This is exhibited by the fact that traditional Chinese, Hanja

Hanja

Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...

, and Kanji

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 characters for most of the solar terms are identical.

Because the Sun

Sun

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...

's speed along the ecliptic varies depending on the Earth-Sun distance, the number of days that it takes the Sun to travel between each pair of solar terms varies slightly throughout the year. Each solar term is divided into three pentads (候 hou). Each pentad consists of five days (rarely six), so there are 72 pentads in a year.

List of solar terms

Longi- tude	Usual translation	Chinese name ¹	Japanese name	Korean name ²	Vietnamese name	Date ³	Remark
315°	start of spring Lichun The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìchūn or Risshun is the 1st solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...	立春 lìchūn	立春 risshun	입춘 (立春) ipchun	Lập xuân	Feb 4
330°	rain water	雨水 yǔshuǐ	雨水 usui	우수 (雨水) usu	Vũ thủy	Feb 19	more rain than snow
345°	awakening of insects Jingzhe Jīngzhé or Keichitsu is the 3rd of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 360°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial...	驚蟄 (惊蛰) jīngzhé	啓蟄 keichitsu	경칩 (驚蟄) gyeongchip	Kinh trập	Mar 6	lit. awakening of hibernating Hibernation Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...  insects. See the note at Chinese calendar#Solar term.
0°	vernal equinox Chunfen The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Chūnfēn or Shunbun is the 4th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 15°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	春分 chūnfēn	春分 shunbun	춘분 (春分) chunbun	Xuân phân	Mar 21	lit. spring division (or center)
15°	clear and bright Qingming Traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Qīngmíng or Chīngmíng or Seimei is the 5th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 30°...	清明 qīngmíng	清明 seimei	청명 (清明) cheongmyeong	Thanh minh	Apr 5	time for tending graves Qingming Festival The Qingming Festival , Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice , usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar...
30°	grain rain Guyu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Gǔyù or more commonly pronounced as Gǔyǔ, or Kokuu is the 6th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 30° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 45°...	穀雨 (谷雨) gǔyǔ	穀雨 kokuu	곡우 (穀雨) gogu	Cốc vũ	Apr 20	lit. grain Cereal Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...  rain: rain helps grain grow
45°	start of summer Lixia The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìxià or Rikka is the 7th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 45° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 60°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the...	立夏 lìxià	立夏 rikka	입하 (立夏) ipha	Lập hạ	May 6
60°	grain full Xiaoman The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎomǎn or Shōman is the 8th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 60° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 75°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	小滿 (小满) xiǎomǎn	小満 shōman	소만 (小滿) soman	Tiểu mãn	May 21	grains are plump
75°	grain in ear Mangzhong The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Mángzhǒng or more commonly pronounced as Mángzhòng, or Bōshu is the 9th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 90°...	芒種 (芒种) mángzhòng	芒種 bōshu	망종 (芒種) mangjong	Mang chủng	Jun 6	lit. awns (beard of grain) grow
90°	summer solstice Xiazhi The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms .-The tenth:Xiàzhì or Geshi is the 10th solar term, and marks the summer solstice. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°...	夏至 xiàzhì	夏至 geshi	하지 (夏至) haji	Hạ chí	Jun 21	lit. summer extreme (of sun's height)
105°	minor heat Xiaoshu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎoshǔ or Shōsho is the 11th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 120°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...	小暑 xiǎoshǔ	小暑 shōsho	소서 (小暑) soseo	Tiểu thử	Jul 7
120°	major heat Dashu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Dàshǔ or Taisho is the 12th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 120° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 135°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	大暑 dàshǔ	大暑 taisho	대서 (大暑) daeseo	Đại thử	Jul 23
135°	start of autumn Liqiu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìqiū or Risshū is the 13th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 135° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 150°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	立秋 lìqiū	立秋 risshū	입추 (立秋) ipchu	Lập thu	Aug 8
150°	limit of heat Chushu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Chǔshǔ or Shosho is the 14th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 150° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 165°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...	處暑 (处暑) chǔshǔ	処暑 shosho	처서 (處暑) cheoseo	Xử thử	Aug 23	lit. dwell in heat
165°	white dew Bailu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Báilù or Hakuro is the 15th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 165° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 180°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	白露 báilù	白露 hakuro	백로 (白露) baekro	Bạch lộ	Sep 8	condensed moisture makes dew white
180°	autumnal equinox Qiufen The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Qiūfēn or Shūbun is the 16th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 195°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...	秋分 qiūfēn	秋分 shūbun	추분 (秋分) chubun	Thu phân	Sep 23	lit. autumn division (or center)
195°	cold dew Hanlu The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Hánlù or Kanro is the 17th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 210°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	寒露 hánlù	寒露 kanro	한로 (寒露) hallo	Hàn lộ	Oct 8
210°	frost descent	霜降 shuāngjiàng	霜降 sōkō	상강 (霜降) sanggang	Sương giáng	Oct 23	appearance of frost and descent of temperature
225°	start of winter Lidong The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Lìdōng or Rittō is the 19th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 225° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 240°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at...	立冬 lìdōng	立冬 rittō	입동 (立冬) ipdong	Lập đông	Nov 7
240°	minor snow Xiaoxue The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎoxuě or Shōsetsu is the 20th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 240° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 255°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is...	小雪 xiǎoxuě	小雪 shōsetsu	소설 (小雪) soseol	Tiểu tuyết	Nov 22
255°	major snow	大雪 dàxuě	大雪 taisetsu	대설 (大雪) daeseol	Đại tuyết	Dec 7
270°	winter solstice	冬至 dōngzhì	冬至 tōji	동지 (冬至) dongji	Đông chí	Dec 22	lit. winter extreme (of sun's height)
285°	minor cold Xiaohan The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Xiǎohán or Shōkan is the 23rd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 285° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 300°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly...	小寒 xiǎohán	小寒 shōkan	소한 (小寒) sohan	Tiểu hàn	Jan 6
300°	major cold	大寒 dàhán	大寒 daikan	대한 (大寒) daehan	Đại hàn	Jan 20

1. Simplified Chinese character
   Simplified Chinese character
   Simplified Chinese characters are standardized Chinese characters prescribed in the Xiandai Hanyu Tongyong Zibiao for use in Mainland China. Along with traditional Chinese characters, it is one of many standard character sets of the contemporary Chinese written language...
   
   s are shown in parentheses if they differ from the Traditional Chinese character
   Traditional Chinese character
   Traditional Chinese characters refers to Chinese characters in any character set which does not contain newly created characters or character substitutions performed after 1946. It most commonly refers to characters in the standardized character sets of Taiwan, of Hong Kong, or in the Kangxi...
   
   s.
2. Hanja
   Hanja
   Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
   
    is indicated in parentheses.
3. Date can vary within a ±1 day range.

The "Song of Solar Terms" is used to ease the memorization of jiéqì:


Chinese:

















Pinyin
chūn yǔ jīng chūn qīng gǔ tiān,

xià mǎn máng xià shǔ xiāng lián,

qiū chù lù qiū hán shuāng jiàng,

dōng xuě xuě dōng xiǎo dà hán.

měi yuè liǎng jié bù biàn gēng,

zùi duō xiāng chā yī liǎng tiān

shàng bàn nián lái liù, niàn yī

xià bàn nián shì bā, niàn sān

Regional note

In Japan, the term Setsubun

Setsubun

is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the...

 (節分) originally referred to the eves of Risshun (立春, 315°, the beginning of Spring) Rikka

Rikka

is a type of ritual flower offering practiced by Japanese Buddhists. It first appeared in the 15th century. The rikka style reflects the magnificence of nature and its display. For example, pine branches symbolize rocks and stones, and white chrysanthemums symbolize a river or small stream...

 (立夏, 45°, the beginning of Summer), Risshū (立秋, 135°, the beginning of Autumn), and Rittō

Ritto

Rittō may refer to:*Rittō, Shiga, a city in Japan*Rittō, the 19th solar term, among the 24, of the traditional East Asian calendars. See Lidong...

 (立冬, 225°, the beginning of Winter), but currently mostly refers to the day before Risshun. The name of each solar term also refers to the period of time between that day and the next solar term, or 1/24th of a year.

See also

• Chinese calendar
  Chinese calendar
  The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
  
  
• Korean calendar
  Korean calendar
  The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries. Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are based in Korean culture....
  
  
• Japanese calendar
  Japanese calendar
  On January 1, 1873, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar. Before 1873, the Chinese style lunisolar calendar had been in use since 7th century. Japanese eras are still in use.-System:...
  
  
• Vietnamese calendar

External links

• 24 Solar Terms - Hong Kong Observatory
• Chinese calendar with upcoming solar terms in current year