DISCOVER

THE WONDERS OF

CHINESE SOLAR

TERMS

Agricultural production is closely related to geographical and climatic resources. Superior geographical and climatic resources are essential for the birth of agricultural civilization. China is located in the eastern part of the Eurasian continent and the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. There are considerable differences in thermal properties between land and sea, resulting in the most typical monsoon climate in the world. Monsoon climate is a mixture of continental climate and oceanic climate. In winter, affected by the dry and cold airflow from the inland, the weather is cold, dry, and rainy; in summer, affected by the warm and moist airflow from the ocean, the weather is high, humid, and rainy. Sufficient sunshine, abundant precipitation, high temperatures, and humid rain and heat are China's very superior climate resources. The high-temperature period coincides with the rainy period, and a good combination of water and heat is very beneficial to the growth of crops. Climatic elements include light, temperature, and precipitation, among which precipitation is an important element of climate. The 24 solar terms accurately reflect the changing laws of natural rhythms and played an extremely important role in ancient agricultural production.

The "24 Solar Terms" is a product of ancient farming civilization. It is a knowledge system formed by ancient ancestors who followed the farming season, observed the movement of celestial bodies, and understood the changing laws of seasons, climate, phenology, etc., during the year. 24 solar terms were initially formulated based on the movement of the stars. The Big Dipper rotates in cycles, and one rotation of the handle clockwise is a cycle called "year" (photography). The current "24 solar terms" are based on the sun's return to the ecliptic. The sun's position is formulated by dividing the annual motion trajectory of the sun into 24 equal parts, with every 15° being an equal part and every equal part being a solar term. One year, four seasons, three months each in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each month has two solar terms, each with its unique meaning.

Spring

BEGINNING OF SPRING

Feb 3-5
The temperature begins to warm up, and liver qi becomes strong. Eating green onions, celery, spring bamboo shoots, chrysanthemum
RAIN WATER

Feb 18-20
The amount of rain gradually increases to maintain your temper. Spinach, yam, sugar cane, lotus seeds
AWAKENING OF INSECTS

Mar 5-7
The temperature is warm and cold at first, which nourishes the temper. Bitter melon, fungus, lettuce, barley.
SPRING EQUINOX

Mar 20-22
Day and night are equally divided, soothing the liver and reducing fire. Green peppers, eggplants, mushrooms, ginkgo
PURE BRIGHTNESS

April 4-6
The vegetation begins to grow, preventing colds. Tremella fungus, mugwort, black rice
GRAIN RAIN

April 19-21
The heat of rainwater steams up, nourishes the liver, and removes dampness. Winter melon, red beans, cucumber, toon

Visit Spring

Summer

BEGINNING OF SUMMER

May 5-7
The rain begins to decrease, and the heart's energy becomes stronger. Luffa, bean sprouts, papaya, peanuts
GRAIN BUDS

May 20-22
The weather is getting warmer, so eat less raw and cold food. Adzuki beans, lotus root, cabbage, lentils
GRAIN IN EAR

June 5-7
Always have a dry mouth and poor appetite. Mulberry, tomato, hawthorn, apricot
SUMMER SOLSTICE

June 21-22
The summer heat makes people thirsty and strengthens the spleen and appetite. Wild rice, watermelon, clams, oats
MINOR HEAT

July 6-8
The air is unbearably hot and muggy, clearing away worries. Kelp, cowpea, macaroni, eel
MAJOR HEAT

July 22-24
During the hottest time of the year, clear away heat and relieve heat. Plums, peaches, lettuce, kiwi

Visit Summer

Autumn

BEGINNING OF AUTUMN

Aug 7-9
The weather begins to cool down, nourishing yin and clearing away heat. Soybeans, lilies, loquats, black sesame seeds
END OF HEAT

Aug 22-24
Summer is finally over, it’s time to produce body fluids and moisturize dryness. Sydney, Sichuan clams, glutinous rice, grapes
WHITE DEW

Sep 7-9
Cold in the morning and evening, hot at noon, alternating between hot and cold. Corn, tangerine peel, longan, almond
AUTUMN EQUINOX

Sep 22-24
Day and night are equal parts of the day, which strengthens the spleen and stomach. Citrus, honey, persimmon, water chestnut
COLD DEW

Oct 8-9
The weather begins to turn cooler, nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness. Grapefruit, potato, cantaloupe, chestnut
FROST'S DESCENT

Oct 23-24
The weather gradually becomes colder, nourishing Qi and nourishing the kidneys. Onions, olives, wolfberries, apples

Visit Autumn

Winter

BEGINNING OF WINTER

Nov 7-8
Begin to pay attention to keeping warm and taking warming supplements. Chinese cabbage, carrots, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts
MINOR SNOW

Nov 22-23
Keep warm from the cold and replenish qi and essence. White radish, cashew nuts, oranges, black beans
MAJOR SNOW

Dec 6-8
Snow and rain will increase, with moderate to warm temperatures. Pork liver, Hericium mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, whitebait
WINTER SOLSTICE

Dec 21-23
Eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice, which are sweet and fishy to nourish the stomach. Garlic, mutton, pine nuts, brown sugar
MINOR COLD

Jan 5-7
It expels cold and keeps the limbs warm, nourishing the internal organs. Angelica, scallops, pork, hairtail
MAJOR COLD

Jan 20-21
During the coldest time of the year, it warms yang and nourishes the kidneys. Onions, millet, taro, abalone