The Solar Year

In one of my recent thrice-weekly video calls to a 'conversation partner' (but now friends) in China - part of my arduous endeavour to learn mandarin Chinese - they had been busy preparing food for Dong Zhi or Winter Soltice. This is an important celebration in China. 

In the UK I think there is a general awareness of the Winter Soltice as a turning point in the year, after which daylight hours ever so slowly start to increase. I know this is a relief to many and for farmers, smallholders and gardeners it is also a time to look forward to the new growing season. But the Winter Soltice is not widely celebrated here as perhaps it might have been in the past, apart from those who descend on Stone Henge and rightly marvel at the stones' alignment with the rising sun. For a few there is a more spiritual dimension.

China, which holds on to its ancient cultural traditions despite the Mao years and its economic transformation of recent decades, retains many seasonal and agricultural-based festivals and celebrations, including Dong Zhi. The UK was once the same when it too was a largely agricultural society and we are regularly reminded of many of these cultural tradtions and beliefs by Sue in her My Quiet Life in Suffolk blog. 

Here we remain pretty much full on smallholders and the seasonal cycle remains an important influence on how we organise our time. In China they go beyond the four season and, from ancient times, structure the year into 24 solar periods. I think it makes interesting reading.

China's 24 Solar Terms

The 24 Solar Terms divides a whole year (365 or 366 days) into 24 equal parts, with one solar term every 15 days or so. It runs through the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and each season includes 6 solar terms. It reflects the natural changes like temperature, rainfall and plant growth, and provides guidance for the traditional farming year. It has a history of thousands of years, was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, and is still closely linked to Chinese people’s daily life and agricultural activities nowadays.

Spring

1. Lìchūn (立春) – Start of Spring

Beginning of the agricultural year; soil begins to thaw, plowing preparation starts.

2. Yǔshuǐ (雨水) – Rain Water

Rainfall increases; farmers prepare fields and begin early sowing in warmer regions.

3. Jīngzhé (惊蛰) – Awakening of Insects

Insects emerge; pest control begins; spring plowing accelerates.

4. Chūnfēn (春分) – Spring Equinox

Day and night equal; peak time for planting spring crops.

5. Qīngmíng (清明) – Qingming Festival

Important for tomb-sweeping; continued sowing; warmer and clearer weather.

6. Gǔyǔ (谷雨) – Grain Rain

Last key rain before summer; vital for grain crops like rice and wheat.

Summer

7. Lìxià (立夏) – Start of Summer

Crops grow rapidly; attention shifts to irrigation and weeding.

8. Xiǎomǎn (小满) – Grain Buds

Grains begin filling but are not ripe; flood control becomes important.

9. Mángzhòng (芒种) – Grain in Ear

Busy farming season; planting of rice and harvesting of early grains.

10. Xiàzhì (夏至) – Summer Solstice

Longest day; crops grow vigorously; water management is critical.

11. Xiǎoshǔ (小暑) – Minor Heat

Hot weather begins; pests increase; continued field maintenance.

12. Dàshǔ (大暑) – Major Heat

Hottest period; crops near maturity; protect against drought and heat.

Autumn

13. Lìqiū (立秋) – Start of Autumn

Beginning of harvest season; heat slowly declines.

14. Chǔshǔ (处暑) – End of Heat

Cooling begins; main harvests approach; autumn crops mature.

15. Báilù (白露) – White Dew

Cool nights; dew forms; rice and fruits ripen.

16. Qiūfēn (秋分) – Autumn Equinox

Day and night equal; peak harvest time.

17. Hánlù (寒露) – Cold Dew

Colder temperatures; late harvests; prepare winter storage.

18. Shuāngjiàng (霜降) – Frost’s Descent

First frost appears; end of most farming activities.

Winter

19. Lìdōng (立冬) – Start of Winter

Farming pauses; animals sheltered; food preserved.

20. Xiǎoxuě (小雪) – Minor Snow

Light snow begins; soil hardens; winter storage continues.

21. Dàxuě (大雪) – Major Snow

Heavy snow possible; fields rest; tools repaired.

22. Dōngzhì (冬至) – Winter Solstice

Shortest day; important ritual time; yin reaches peak.

23. Xiǎohán (小寒) – Minor Cold

Cold intensifies; final preparations before deep winter.

24. Dàhán (大寒) – Major Cold

Coldest period; end of agricultural cycle before renewal.