A solar term is any of 24 points in traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon.The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons, which is crucial for agrarian societies.
The solar terms are also used to calculate intercalary months in Chinese calendar which month is repeated depends on the position of the sun at the time.
Chinese Calendar 24 Solar Terms 2023
| Sun's ecliptical longitude |
Chinese name&pinyin |
Gregorian Date 2023 |
Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 285° | 小寒 xiǎohán | Jan 5, 2023 | a bit frigid |
| 300° | 大寒 dàhán | Jan 20,2023 | most frigid |
| 315° | 立春 lìchūn | Feb 4, 2023 | spring begins |
| 330° | 雨水 yǔshuǐ | Feb 19, 2023 | more rain than snow |
| 345° | 驚蟄 (惊蛰) jīngzhé | Mar 6, 2023 | hibernating insects awaken |
| 0° | 春分 chūnfēn | Mar 21, 2023 | spring center (equinox) |
| 15° | 清明 qīngmíng | Apr 5, 2023 | clear and bright |
| 30° | 穀雨 (谷雨) gǔyǔ | Apr 20, 2023 | wheat rain |
| 45° | 立夏 lìxià | May 6, 2023 | summer begins |
| 60° | 小滿 (小满) xiǎomǎn | May 21, 2023 | creatures plentish |
| 75° | 芒種 (芒种) mángzhòng | Jun 6, 2023 | seeding millet |
| 90° | 夏至 xiàzhì | Jun 21, 2023 | summer maximum (solstice) |
| 105° | 小暑 xiǎoshǔ | Jul 7, 2023 | a bit sweltering |
| 120° | 大暑 dàshǔ | Jul 23, 2023 | most sweltering |
| 135° | 立秋 lìqiū | Aug 8, 2023 | autumn begins |
| 150° | 處暑 (处暑) chǔshǔ | Aug 23, 2023 | heat withdraws |
| 165° | 白露 báilù | Sep 8, 2023 | dews |
| 180° | 秋分 qiūfēn | Sep 23, 2023 | autumn center (equinox) |
| 195° | 寒露 hánlù | Oct 8, 2023 | cold dews |
| 210° | 霜降 shuāngjiàng | Oct 24, 2023 | frost |
| 225° | 立冬 lìdōng | Nov 8, 2023 | winter begins |
| 240° | 小雪 xiǎoxuě | Nov 22, 2023 | snows a bit |
| 255° | 大雪 dàxuě | Dec 7, 2023 | snows a lot |
| 270° | 冬至 dōngzhì | Dec 22, 2023 | winter maximum (solstice) |