Monday, September 8, 2008

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 the celestial longitude of 165°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around September 7 and ends around September 23.


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 the celestial longitude of 195°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around October 8 and ends around October 23.


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 at the celestial longitude of 180°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around September 23 and ends around October 8.


Shuangjiang

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Shuāngjiàng or Sōkō is the 18th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 210° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 225°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 210°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around October 23 and ends around November 7.


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 exactly at the celestial longitude of 240°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around November 22 and ends around December 7.


Daxue

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Dàxuě or Taisetsu is the 21st solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 255° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 270°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 255°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around December 7 and ends around December 21 .


Dongzhi

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Dōngzhì or Tōji is the 22nd solar term, and marks the winter solstice. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 285°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around December 21 and ends around January 5.

The solstices mark the ''middle'' of the seasons in East Asian calendars. Here, the Chinese character means "extreme", so the term for the winter solstice directly signifies the summit of winter, a linkage absent in Western languages.

In China, Dongzhi was originally as an end-of-harvest festival. Today, it is observed with a family reunion over the long night, when pink and white ''tangyuan'' are eaten in sweet broth to symbolise family unity and prosperity.

Xiaohan

''For other uses, see 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 at the celestial longitude of 285°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around January 5 and ends around January 20.


Dahan

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Dàhán or Daikan is the 24th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 300° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 315°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 300°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around January 20 and ends around February 4.


Qingming

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Qīngmíng 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°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 15°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around April 4 and ends around April 20.

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are: first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Qingming include:

; China
* First pentad: 桐始華
* Second pentad: 田鼠化為鴽
* Last pentad: 虹始見

; Japan
* First pentad: 玄鳥至
* Second pentad: 鴻雁北
* Last pentad: 虹始見

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°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 30°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around April 20 and ends around May 5.

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are: first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Guyu include:

; China
* First pentad: 萍始生
* Second pentad: 鳴鳩拂其羽
* Last pentad: 戴勝降于桑

; Japan
* First pentad: 葭始生
* Second pentad: 霜止出苗
* Last pentad: 牡丹華


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 celestial longitude of 45°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around May 5 and ends around May 21.

Lixia signifies the beginning of summer in East Asian cultures.


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 the celestial longitude of 60°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around May 21 and ends around June 5 .


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°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 75°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around June 5 and ends around June 21.


Xiazhi

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . 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°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 90°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around June 21 and ends around July 7.

The solstices mark the ''middle'' of the seasons in East Asian calendars. Here, the Chinese character means "extreme", so the term for the summer solstice directly signifies the summit of summer, a linkage absent in Western languages.


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 at the celestial longitude of 105°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around July 7 and ends around July 22 .


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 the celestial longitude of 120°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around July 22 and ends around August 7.


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 the celestial longitude of 135°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around August 7 and ends around August 23.

Liqiu signifies the beginning of autumn in East Asian cultures.


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 at the celestial longitude of 150°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around August 23 and ends around September 7.Also,it's a nickname for Shaymaa,a common arabic name


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 at the celestial longitude of 315°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around February 4 and ends around February 18 .

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are: first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Lichun include:

; China
* First pentad: Dōng Fēng Jiě Dòng
*: ''Yuè Lìng Qī Shí &'' explains the name of this pentad:
It is not called the 'winter ice meets the spring wind and melts in the spring wind' thaw, but the 'east wind' thaw, because ''Lü Shi Chun Qiu'' said that the east is associated with wood, and wood generates fire, so the air is warm and causes ice to thaw.


* Second pentad
* Last pentad

; Japan
* First pentad: 東風解凍
* Second pentad: 黄鶯睍睆
* Last pentad: 魚上氷

Customs


Lichun signifies the beginning of in East Asian cultures. Chinese New Year is celebrated around this time. Farmers often celebrate the beginning of Lichun with special village events, worship and offerings to the gods and ceremonies for a blissful and prosperous new year. In China, people eat ''chūnbǐng'' on this day.

In the lunisolar calendar, New Year's Day might be before or after Lichun. A year without Lichun is called 無春年 . 無春年 is also known as 寡婦年 in northern China or 盲年 in southern China. Marriage is believed to be unlucky in a year without Lichun.

In the Republic of China, Lichun has been Farmer's Day since 1941.

Popular culture


Literature


Lichun was frequently mentioned in literature. The most famous reference is probably Du Fu's '''' , simply titled ''Lìchūn'' :
春日春盤細生菜
忽憶兩京梅發時
盤出高門行白玉
菜傳纖手送青絲

This poem tells us about the traditional custom of eating ''chūnbǐng'' on this day.

Further reading


* ''Yuè Lìng Qī Shí &'' by Wu Cheng

Yushui

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . Yǔshuǐ or Usui is 2nd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 345°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 330°. In Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around February 18 and ends around March 5.

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Yushui including:

; China
* First pentad: 獺祭魚
* Second pentad: 鴻雁來
* Last pentad: 草木萌動

; Japan
* First pentad: 土脉潤起
* Second pentad: 霞始靆
* Last pentad: 草木萠動


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 longitude of 345°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around March 5 and ends around March 20.

The word has the meaning of awakening of insects. is startling, and is hibernated . The traditional Chinese farming culture said that during Jingzhe, thunderstorms will wake up the hibernated insects, which also means the weather is getting warm.

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Jingzhe including:

; China
* First pentad: 桃始華
* Second pentad: 倉庚鳴
* Last pentad: 鷹化為鳩

; Japan
* First pentad: 蟄虫啓戸
* Second pentad: 桃始笑
* Last pentad: 菜虫化蝶


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 the celestial longitude of 0°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around March 20 and ends around April 4 .

Pentads



Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads . They are: first pentad , second pentad and last pentad . Pentads in Chunfen include:

; China
* First pentad: 玄鳥至
* Second pentad: 雷乃發聲
* Last pentad: 始雷

; Japan
* First pentad: 雀始巣
* Second pentad: 桜始開
* Last pentad: 雷乃発声

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 the celestial longitude of 225°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around November 7 and ends around November 22.

Lidong signifies the beginning of winter in East Asian cultures.