The amazing twenty-four solar terms

In early spring, red, white and plum blossoms set off the black wooden house; In the long summer, mottled sunshine is sprinkled on green bamboo leaves; Sunflowers are in full bloom in early autumn ... Recently, a group of breathtaking pictures of 24 solar terms have been madly transmitted on the Internet, including the beautiful scenery of the four seasons, each of which is beautiful and has been hotly debated by netizens. The author of this group of photos is "Qingjian", a female doctor born in 1980s in Shanghai, and Zhou Jie (@ Qingjianjian), a gastroenterologist who likes traveling and photography. The locations of her 24 solar terms are all over China 1 1 provinces, with Heilongjiang in the north, Fujian in the south and Tibet in the west. "Most of the solar terms in spring are based on the scenery of Jiangnan water town, while most of the solar terms in winter are taken from the north. The inspiration came from accidentally seeing a website in Japan that took photos of 24 solar terms, and selected and produced this group of pictures from photos taken over two years.

"Twenty-four solar terms mainly reflect the seasonal climate and farming season characteristics of natural phenomena in the Yellow River Basin in China. It is definitely not enough to choose only the picture of Jiangnan. " In order to show the 24 solar terms more accurately, bamboo slips of Qing Dynasty were shot in Heilongjiang in the north, Fujian in the south and Tibet in the west, involving as many provinces as 1 1. "Only by traveling around China can we fully feel the 24 solar terms," said Qing Jian. One of them, Summer, was taken from Taicang, Jiangsu. The content of this picture is very concise. The drooping willow in the picture is motionless, and the dark green willow leaves let people know that it is midsummer.

The white walls and gray tiles with blurred background in the distance bring people to the quiet summer days in Jiangnan water town at a glance, which inevitably makes people indulge in the coolness under the shade of the water. Like photography and travel, Qingjian has been to many places in China, and Jiangsu is her frequent place. "The unique charm of Jiangnan water town attracts me to come here again and again.

Last summer, my friends and I happened to go to Shaxi in Taicang. On that day, the scorching sun was scorching, and there was no wind or waves, but the seashore shaded by willow trees was cool and refreshing, which was really amazing. "Qingjian said that she took photos with ordinary equipment, because the content of the photos was taken by her with real feelings and emotions." Perhaps this is also the reason why so many netizens resonate. "

Twenty-four solar terms: beginning of spring, rain, fright, vernal equinox, Qingming, Grain Rain, Changxia, Xiaoman, Mangzhong, Summer Solstice, Xiaoshu, beginning of autumn, Chushu, Bailu, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Chufrost, beginning of winter, light snow, heavy snow, winter solstice, slight cold and severe cold.

Twenty-four solar terms originated in the Yellow River Basin. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the ancient sages of our country set four solar terms, such as midsummer, midsummer, midsummer and midsummer, and constantly improved and perfected them. By the Qin and Han Dynasties, the 24 solar terms had been completely established. In BC 104, the taichu calendar written by Deng Ping officially set 24 solar terms in the calendar, and defined the astronomical position of the 24 solar terms. Twenty-four solar terms are the original cultural heritage of working people in China, which can reflect the changes of seasons, guide agricultural activities and affect the daily life of thousands of households.

Beginning of spring is the first of the 24 solar terms.

"Li" means "start". China takes beginning of spring as beginning of spring, and beginning of spring is the year when the sun reaches 3 15 degrees on February 4th or 5th. According to historical documents, the Spring Festival ceremonies in China were all grand. At this time, beginning of spring has surpassed the function of only marking festivals and climate in the 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar, and has been regarded as a festival. Therefore, many activities and folk customs held around beginning of spring have evolved in history, such as "Spring Baby", "Spring Whip", "Spring Roll", "Playing Spring", "Spring Wine" and "Spring Cattle".

Rain is the second of the 24 solar terms.

Every February 19 or so, when the longitude of the sun reaches 330 degrees, it is the rain of 24 solar terms. At this time, the temperature rises, the snow melts and the precipitation increases, hence the name rain. The rain solar term generally starts from February 18 or 19 and ends on March 4 or 5. Rain, like Grain Rain, light snow and heavy snow, is a solar term reflecting precipitation. On the rainy day, the married daughter went back to visit her parents with gifts. Women who have given birth to children must bring canned meat, chairs and other gifts to thank their parents for their kindness. For women who are not pregnant for a long time, their mother will sew a pair of red trousers for them to wear next to their bodies. It is said that this will enable them to get pregnant and have children as soon as possible.

Sting is the third of the 24 solar terms.

On March 5 or 6 every year, when the sun reaches 345 degrees of the yellow meridian, it is the time to get up. At this time, the temperature rose rapidly, and the spring thunder gradually sprouted. The wake-up call means that the weather is getting warmer, and the spring thunder begins to sound, awakening the insects that are dormant and hibernating underground. Sting means hiding. The wake-up call symbolizes the beginning of February. It will wake up all hibernating snakes, insects, mice and ants, and reptiles and ants at home will get up and look around for food. Therefore, in ancient times, people would smoke the four corners of their homes with incense and wormwood to drive away snakes, insects, mosquitoes, rats and musty smells. Over time, it gradually evolved into the habit of slapping unhappy people and driving away bad luck, which is the predecessor of "beating villains".

The vernal equinox is the fourth of the 24 solar terms.

It starts on March 20th (or 2 1) and ends on April 4th (or 5th) every year. The vernal equinox begins on March 20 or 2 1 day of the solar calendar every year, and the sun reaches 0 degrees of the yellow meridian (vernal equinox). The length of day and night is average, just half of the 90th day of spring, so it is called "vernal equinox". "eat spring vegetables at the vernal equinox" "Spring vegetable" is a kind of wild amaranth, which villagers call "Artemisia chun". Spring vegetables collected on the day of the vernal equinox are usually boiled with fish fillets at home, which is called "spring soup".

Qingming Festival is the fifth of the 24 solar terms, China.

The annual solar calendar is around April 5. Tomb-Sweeping Day's customs are rich and interesting. In addition to paying attention to the prohibition of fire to sweep graves, there are a series of customs and sports activities such as jogging, swinging, playing cuju, playing polo and inserting willows.

Grain Rain is located in the sixth solar term in the 24 solar terms list.

This is the last solar term in spring. At this time, the seedlings in the field are first planted, and the new crops need rain most, so there is a saying that "spring rain is as expensive as oil". Grain Rain means "Rain gives birth to hundreds of valleys", and it is Grain Rain when the sun reaches 30 on April 20th or 2 1 day every year. There was a custom of "going to Grain Rain" in ancient times. On this day, young women in Grain Rain go to visit relatives in the village or go for a walk in the wild, which means being integrated with nature and keeping fit.

Long summer is the seventh of the 24 solar terms.

May 5th or 6th every year is the long summer of the lunar calendar. "The bucket refers to the southeast, and the dimension is long in summer. Everything grows here, hence the name Long Summer. " At this time, the longitude of the sun is 45 degrees. Astronomically, Chang Xia said that bidding farewell to spring is the beginning of summer. On the long summer day, the ancient emperor would lead officials to the southern suburbs of Beijing to welcome the summer and hold a ceremony to welcome the summer. The monarch and his subjects all wear red ceremonial costumes and red jade ornaments. Even horses and car flags should be red to express their prayers and good wishes for a bumper harvest. In the imperial court, "open the ice in summer and give it to the civil and military ministers." Ice was stored last winter and given to officials by the emperor.

Xiaoman is the eighth of the 24 solar terms.

The second solar term in summer. It means that the seeds of summer crops are full, but immature, just small and not full. On May 2 1 or 22 every year, when the sun reaches 60 ecliptic, it is considered as a small full day. There is a saying in Jiangnan that "a villain moves three cars". It is an image summary of Xiaoman farming in the south of the Yangtze River. The so-called "three cars" are waterwheels, spinning wheels and oil trucks. In agricultural proverbs, people use "fullness" to refer to the abundance of rain. Xiaoman is the season of topdressing early rice and transplanting middle rice in Jiangnan. If the field is not filled with water, it will crack and cannot be transplanted, which will affect the harvest of crops.

Miscanthus means that the crops are ripe.

Mango is the ninth of the 24 solar terms. Around June 5 every year, when the sun reaches the meridian of 75 degrees, it is mango. On the second day of the second lunar month, flowers are sent to greet the god of flowers. It's nearly May, and the flowers are beginning to fade. People often hold a ceremony of offering sacrifices to the flower god on Ear Seed Day to send the flower god back to his place, and at the same time express gratitude to the flower god, hoping to meet again next year.

The summer solstice is the tenth of the twenty-four solar terms.

June 2 1 or 22 every year is the summer solstice. From summer to sunrise, the sun directly reaches the northernmost part of the year, almost directly to the Tropic of Cancer (23 26 ′ 28 ″ 44 north latitude), and the daytime in the northern hemisphere is the longest, and the farther north it goes, the longer it is. On the day of summer solstice, cold noodles are commonly eaten in all parts of Shandong Province, commonly known as water crossing, and there is a proverb "winter solstice, summer solstice in jiaozi". In Laiyang, Yantai, new wheat is recommended from summer to sun, while in Huangxian (now Longkou City, Yantai), new wheat grains are cooked and eaten. Children weave a delicate small hedge with wheat straw and fish it into their mouths again and again in soup. It is not only a game but also a game, which is very interesting for farm life.

This is the 1 1 solar term in 24 solar terms.

On July 7th or 8th every year, when the sun reaches 105, it is regarded as a slight summer heat. In ancient China, the summer heat was divided into three periods: "First, it was warm and windy; Second, wait for crickets to live in space; The third waiting eagle began to crow. " In summer, there is no cool wind on the earth, and all the winds carry heat waves. First, radish can be planted in two volts and buckwheat can be planted in three volts; Fu Tou jiaozi, two negative strips, Sanfu pancakes with eggs. Eating jiaozi in summer is a traditional custom. People in summer often lose appetite and are thinner than usual, so it is called bitter summer. In traditional customs, jiaozi is a food to stimulate appetite and relieve hunger. Some places in Shandong eat raw cucumbers and boiled eggs to cure the bitter summer, and eat eggs in the autumn morning without eating other foods.

Summer is the twelfth of the twenty-four solar terms.

On July 23rd or 24th every year, the sun reaches longitude 120. The folklore of summer solar terms is mainly reflected in eating. The folk food customs in this period can be roughly divided into two types: one is to eat cold food to cool off the heat. There is a popular Cantonese proverb in the southeast of Hunan: Eat fairy grass in the midsummer of June, live like a fairy, and never get old. Fairy grass, or "bean jelly grass", has the magical effect of relieving summer heat. The "burning grass" made of it is similar to Guiling ointment in appearance, taste and curative effect. Taiwan Province Province has the custom of eating pineapples in summer, because pineapples are the best in this season.

Beginning of autumn is the 13 of the 24 solar terms.

Beginning of autumn on August 8th or 9th every year. "Autumn" means that summer is cool, which means the beginning of autumn. Sticking autumn fat is popular in early autumn, and people weigh themselves by hanging scales, which is compared with that in long summer. Because people have no appetite in summer, and the food is light and simple. After two or three months, they will be thinner. With the autumn wind, my appetite is wide open. I want to eat something good, supplement some nutrition and make up for the loss in summer. The remedy is to "paste autumn fat": on this day in beginning of autumn, all kinds of meats, stews, barbecued braised pork, etc., "paste fat with meat".

Summer is the first 14 of the 24 solar terms.

Around August 23rd (August 22nd and 24th) every year, when the sun reaches 150 on the yellow meridian, it is the midsummer among the 24 solar terms. Worshipping ancestors to welcome autumn in summer is mostly related to the folk customs before and after the solar terms. Around the summer vacation, there will be folk activities to celebrate the Central Plains, commonly known as "July 30" or "Central Plains Festival". In the old days, there was a ceremony to open the gate of hell from the beginning of July until the gate of hell closed at the end of the month, and Purdue giving activities were held. In addition, after summer, autumn is getting stronger, which is a good time for people to go swimming in the suburbs to meet autumn scenery.

The Millennium is the first 15 of the 24 solar terms.

At this time, the temperature began to drop, the weather turned cold and there was dew on the vegetation in the morning. The Millennium is around September 7 of the Gregorian calendar every year. There is a tradition in Fuzhou called "Longan must be eaten for thousands of years". Eating longan on the day of the Millennium has a miraculous effect of nourishing the body. Eating an longan on this day is equivalent to eating a chicken.

The autumnal equinox is the sixteenth of the twenty-four solar terms.

The time is usually September 22nd or 23rd every year. The climate in the south began to decline from this solar term. The autumnal equinox used to be the traditional "Festival of Sacrificing the Moon". For example, in ancient times, there was a saying that "the sun is sacrificed in spring and the moon is sacrificed in autumn". Now Mid-Autumn Festival comes from the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. Many places eat a kind of wild vegetable called "wild amaranth" in the autumn equinox, and some places also call it "autumn Artemisia". As soon as the autumnal equinox arrives, the whole family goes to pick autumn vegetables. Picked autumn vegetables are usually cooked with fish fillets, and the stewed soup is called autumn soup. There is a jingle that says "autumn soup is dirty, wash the liver and intestines." A family, old and young, is safe and healthy. "

Cold dew ranks 17 in 24 solar terms.

Celebrate every year1October 8-9. "Twenty-four solar terms" said: "In September, the dew is cold and will condense." Cold dew means that the temperature is lower than that of the white dew, and the dew on the ground is colder and will soon condense into frost. If the weather turns cold and dew begins to appear in the Millennium, the dew will increase and the temperature will be lower when it is cold and dew. At this time, frost will appear in some parts of China. In the north, it is already a scene of late autumn, with white clouds and red leaves and occasional early frost. In the south, autumn is getting stronger and cicadas are dying. The custom of climbing mountains in Beijing is more prosperous. Jingshan Park, Badachu and Xiangshan are all good places to climb mountains. The Double Ninth Festival will attract many tourists.

The first frost is the18th solar term among the 24 solar terms.

It's getting colder and colder, and it's frosting. The first frost usually occurs on the 23rd day of the Gregorian calendar 10 year 10. At this time, the first frost appeared in the Yellow River basin in China, and most areas were busy planting crops such as wheat. The first frost is the last solar term in autumn. During this period, many areas in China have the custom of eating persimmons. As the saying goes; "Eating persimmons in the first frost will not cause a runny nose."

Beginning of winter, the nineteenth of the twenty-four solar terms.

Beginning of winter is an ancient folk custom in China every year on1October 7th or 8th. Our country has a vast territory. All winters don't start at the same time except the coastal areas of South China where there is no winter all the year round and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau where there is no summer. Eat jiaozi: The solar term in beginning of winter means harvesting in autumn and storing in winter. In the past, China was an agricultural society. People who have worked for a year should have a rest in beginning of winter and reward their families for their hard work in the past year. There is a proverb that "beginning of winter fills the winter and the mouth" is the best metaphor. In southern China, people like to eat some chicken, duck and fish in early winter. On this day in early winter in Taiwan Province Province, street restaurants such as "Mutton Stove" and "Ginger Duck" complement winter weddings. Many families will also stew sesame oil chicken and siwu chicken to supplement energy.

Light snow, the twentieth of the twenty-four solar terms.

Every year165438+1October 22nd and 23rd, when the sun reaches 240, it is regarded as a light snow. There is a saying in the twenty-four solar terms: "In the middle of June of 5438+00, it was cold and thin, so it condensed into snow. The words of the villain are not prosperous. " After a light snow, the temperature plummeted and the weather became dry, which was a good time to process bacon. After the light snow festival, some farmers began to make sausages and bacon and enjoy food during the Spring Festival. Some places in the south also have the custom of eating Ciba in October of the lunar calendar. In ancient times, Ciba was a traditional festival sacrifice in the south of China, which was originally used by farmers to worship the cow god. There is a saying that "in October, Ciba Shao" refers to sacrificial events.

Heavy snow is the 2nd1solar term in 24 solar terms.

On February 7th or 8th every year, 12, when the sun reaches 255 degrees of the yellow meridian. In the heavy snow season, there is snow in the Yellow River basin and the weather is cold. Jiangnan has just entered winter, the temperature will drop obviously, the weather will be cold, and there may be first snow and freezing. All localities should strengthen the field management of winter wheat, rape and other spring flower crops, check seedlings to make up for vacancies, intertillage and loosen soil, apply seedling fertilizer early and cultivate strong seedlings.

The winter solstice is the 22nd of the 24 solar terms.

It is a very important solar term in the China lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The winter solstice is usually called "Winter Festival", "Dragon Solstice Festival" and "Asian Year". As early as 2500 years ago, during the Spring and Autumn Period, China observed the sun with the soil return, and determined the winter solstice. It is the earliest of the 24 solar terms, and the time is in February of the solar calendar 65438+26544. In most parts of northern China, it is also the custom to eat jiaozi and jiaozi on this day. There is a proverb: When winter solstice comes, we will eat jiaozi, and there are poems and films about this solar term.

Slight cold is the twenty-three solar terms.

Between 65438+1October 5-7, the sun is located at 285. For China, a slight cold marks the beginning of the coldest day of the year. Guangzhou tradition: eat glutinous rice, and Xiaohan eats glutinous rice in the morning. In order to avoid being too glutinous, it is generally 60% glutinous rice and 40% fragrant rice. Chop bacon and sausage, fry peanuts, add some chopped onions, and mix with rice.

The Great Cold is the last of the 24 solar terms.

Every year around 65438+10.20, when the sun reaches 300, it is a severe cold. After the slight cold, 15 is a severe cold, which is also the last of the 24 solar terms in the whole year. At this time, people are busy throwing away old decorations, pickling new year's dishes and preparing new year's goods, because the Spring Festival, the most important festival for China people, is coming. During this period, northerners also have a very important day-Laba, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. On this day, people cook a pot of sweet and delicious Laba porridge with whole grains, peanuts, chestnuts, red dates and lotus seeds, which is an indispensable staple food for Chinese New Year.

Beginning of Spring

February 4 -5 is the solar term that begins in spring.

Rain Water

In February1August-20, winter went to spring, and the temperature began to rise, and the air humidity continued to increase, but the cold air activity was still very frequent.

Awakening of Insects

March 5th (6th) means that the hibernating creatures in the winter dormant soil begin to move. It was cold and warm before and after the shock, and the temperature and wind changed greatly.

Spring Equinox

On March 20th (or 2 1) every year, the sun shines directly at the equator, and day and night are almost the same length. Overwintering crops in vast areas of China will enter the spring growth stage.

Qingming Festival

On April 5th (or 4th) every year, the temperature rises and the weather gets warmer.

Grain Rain

Around April 20, the rain increased, which was beneficial to grain growth.

Early summer

"Long Summer" on May 5th or 6th. Everything grows and prospers. It is also the beginning of summer.

Grain Buds

May 20th or 2 1 is called "Xiaoman". Summer crops such as wheat are full at this time, but not mature.

Grain in Ear

Around June 6, when the sun moved to 75 degrees of the yellow meridian. Crops with awns, such as wheat, are mature enough to collect seeds.

Summer solstice

Around June 22, the sun directly hit the Tropic of Cancer, and there was a phenomenon of "the sun arrived in the north, the day was long and the shadow was short", so it was called "summer solstice".

Minor Heat

Around July 7th, summer came, which marked the hot season in most parts of China.

Major Heat

Around July 23, it was around Zhongfu. This period is the hottest period in a year in China's vast areas, but there are also abnormal years, "there is no heat in summer" and there is more rain.

Beginning of Autumn

On August 7th and 8th, the vegetation began to bear fruit, which was the harvest season.

The heat is over

On August 23 or 24, "going out" means ending. By the end of the summer heat, the weather will be cool. As it is autumn harvest, precipitation is very precious.

White Dew

Around September 8, the temperature dropped rapidly and the weather was cool because the direct point of the sun moved southward obviously. Water vapor close to the ground at night forms white dew on vegetation, hence the name "white dew".

Autumn Equinox

Around September 22, the direct sunlight point returned to the equator, forming the same length as day and night.

Cold Dew

65438+1around October 8. At this time, the direct point of the sun continues to move southward, the temperature in the northern hemisphere continues to drop, the weather is colder, and the dew has a strong chill, hence the name "cold dew wind".

Frost's Descent

The first frost is around June 23, 10, and the first frost period in the Yellow River basin is generally in the late June of 10, which is consistent with the solar term of "first frost". Frost is very harmful to growing crops.

Beginning of Winter

Every year 1 1.7 or so.

Minor Snow

165438+1October 22nd is the "light snow" solar term. The influence of cold air in the north is enhanced, the temperature drops rapidly, and snowflakes appear in precipitation. However, this is the first snow stage, with less snow and fewer times. Most of the Yellow River Basin snows after the "light snow" solar term.

Major Snow

65438+around February 7. At this time, the direct point of the sun is close to the tropic of Capricorn, and the days in the northern hemisphere are short and the nights are long.

Winter solstice

12 Around February 22nd, at this time, the sun almost points directly at the tropic of Capricorn, and the northern hemisphere forms a shadow from the south to the sun, short to the sun and long, making it the shortest day in a year. After the winter solstice, the days in the northern hemisphere became longer and the temperature continued to drop, entering the "March 9" with the lowest annual temperature.

Minor Cold

Around 65438+10.5, the climate began to get cold.

Major Cold

65438+1around October 20th, the coldest time of the year.

Twenty-four solar terms originated in the Yellow River Basin. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, four solar terms were set, namely, mid-spring, mid-summer, mid-autumn and mid-winter. After continuous improvement and perfection, by the Qin and Han Dynasties, the 24 solar terms had been completely established. In BC 104, the taichu calendar written by Deng Ping officially set 24 solar terms in the calendar, and defined the astronomical position of the 24 solar terms.

The time when the sun runs along the longitude of the Yellow River from zero 15 degrees is called "a solar term". It runs 360 degrees every year and experiences 24 solar terms twice a month. Among them, the first solar term of each month is "solar term", that is, beginning of spring, Jingzhe, Qingming, Changxia, Mangzhong, Xiaoshu, beginning of autumn, Bailu, Hanlu, beginning of winter, Heavy Snow, Xiaohan, etc. 12 solar terms; The second solar term of each month is "Zhongqi", that is, there are 12 solar terms such as rain, vernal equinox, Grain Rain, Xiaoman, summer solstice, great heat, intense heat, autumnal equinox, first frost, light snow, winter solstice and great cold. "Solar term" and "neutral qi" appear alternately, each lasting 15 days. Now people have called "solar terms" and "neutral gas" solar terms.

Twenty-four solar terms reflect the apparent movement of the sun in one year, so the dates of solar terms are basically fixed in the current Gregorian calendar. The first half of the year is the 6th and 2 1, and the second half is the 8th and 23rd, with a difference of12 days.