Solar Terms
🌿 24 Solar Terms & 72 Micro-seasons
The traditional East Asian calendar divides the year into 24 “solar terms” by the Sun’s position along the ecliptic. Splitting each into three gives the 72 “micro-seasons” (kō) — a five-day rhythm of nature.
Spring
立春りっしゅん
2/4Beginning of Spring
Spring begins on the traditional calendar.
- 1st 東風解凍The east wind thaws the ice.
- 2nd 黄鶯睍睆The bush warbler starts singing in the hills.
- 3rd 魚上氷Fish emerge from the cracking ice.
雨水うすい
2/19Rain Water
Snow turns to rain and ice begins to melt.
- 1st 土脉潤起Rain moistens the earth.
- 2nd 霞始靆Spring mist begins to linger.
- 3rd 草木萌動Grasses and trees put forth buds.
啓蟄けいちつ
3/6Awakening of Insects
Hibernating insects stir and emerge.
- 1st 蟄虫啓戸Hibernating creatures come out.
- 2nd 桃始笑Peach blossoms begin to bloom.
- 3rd 菜虫化蝶Caterpillars turn into butterflies.
春分しゅんぶん
3/20Vernal Equinox
Day and night are nearly equal in length.
- 1st 雀始巣Sparrows start building nests.
- 2nd 桜始開Cherry blossoms begin to open.
- 3rd 雷乃発声Distant thunder begins to sound.
清明せいめい
4/5Pure Brightness
All of nature looks fresh, clear and bright.
- 1st 玄鳥至Swallows return from the south.
- 2nd 鴻雁北Wild geese fly back north.
- 3rd 虹始見Rainbows begin to appear.
穀雨こくう
4/20Grain Rain
Spring rains nourish the growing grains.
- 1st 葭始生Reeds begin to sprout.
- 2nd 霜止出苗Frosts end and rice seedlings grow.
- 3rd 牡丹華Peonies bloom.
Summer
立夏りっか
5/5Beginning of Summer
Summer begins on the traditional calendar.
- 1st 蛙始鳴Frogs begin to croak.
- 2nd 蚯蚓出Earthworms surface.
- 3rd 竹笋生Bamboo shoots sprout.
小満しょうまん
5/21Grain Buds
Plants grow lush and life begins to fill out.
- 1st 蚕起食桑Silkworms wake and feed on mulberry.
- 2nd 紅花栄Safflowers bloom in profusion.
- 3rd 麦秋至Wheat ripens for harvest.
芒種ぼうしゅ
6/6Grain in Ear
Time to sow awned grains such as rice.
- 1st 蟷螂生Praying mantises hatch.
- 2nd 腐草為螢Fireflies rise from the damp grass.
- 3rd 梅子黄Plums turn yellow and ripen.
夏至げし
6/21Summer Solstice
The longest day of the year.
- 1st 乃東枯The self-heal plant withers.
- 2nd 菖蒲華Irises bloom.
- 3rd 半夏生Crow-dipper (hange) sprouts.
小暑しょうしょ
7/7Lesser Heat
The heat gradually intensifies.
- 1st 温風至Warm winds arrive.
- 2nd 蓮始開Lotus flowers begin to open.
- 3rd 鷹乃学習Young hawks learn to fly.
大暑たいしょ
7/23Greater Heat · current term
The hottest time of the year.
- 1st 桐始結花Paulownia trees set their flower buds.
- 2nd 土潤溽暑 ← nowThe soil is damp and the air sultry.
- 3rd 大雨時行Heavy rains fall at times.
Autumn
立秋りっしゅう
8/7Beginning of Autumn
Autumn begins on the traditional calendar.
- 1st 涼風至Cool winds begin to blow.
- 2nd 寒蝉鳴The evening cicada sings.
- 3rd 蒙霧升降Thick mists settle.
処暑しょしょ
8/23End of Heat
The lingering heat begins to ease.
- 1st 綿柎開The calyx covering cotton opens.
- 2nd 天地始粛The heat of heaven and earth subsides.
- 3rd 禾乃登Rice ripens.
白露はくろ
9/8White Dew
Dew begins to form on the grass.
- 1st 草露白Dew glistens white on the grass.
- 2nd 鶺鴒鳴Wagtails begin to call.
- 3rd 玄鳥去Swallows depart for the south.
秋分しゅうぶん
9/23Autumnal Equinox
Day and night are nearly equal in length.
- 1st 雷乃収声Thunder falls silent.
- 2nd 蟄虫坏戸Insects hole up and seal their burrows.
- 3rd 水始涸Fields are drained and dry.
寒露かんろ
10/8Cold Dew
The dew turns cold.
- 1st 鴻雁来Wild geese arrive from the north.
- 2nd 菊花開Chrysanthemums bloom.
- 3rd 蟋蟀在戸Crickets chirp by the door.
霜降そうこう
10/23Frost's Descent
Frost begins to form.
- 1st 霜始降Frost begins to form.
- 2nd 霎時施Light rains fall now and then.
- 3rd 楓蔦黄Maples and ivy turn color.
Winter
立冬りっとう
11/7Beginning of Winter
Winter begins on the traditional calendar.
- 1st 山茶始開Sasanqua camellias begin to bloom.
- 2nd 地始凍The ground begins to freeze.
- 3rd 金盞香Daffodils become fragrant.
小雪しょうせつ
11/22Lesser Snow
Light snow starts to fall.
- 1st 虹蔵不見Rainbows hide and are seen no more.
- 2nd 朔風払葉The north wind strips the leaves.
- 3rd 橘始黄Tachibana citrus turns yellow.
大雪たいせつ
12/7Greater Snow
Snow falls in earnest.
- 1st 閉塞成冬The sky closes and true winter sets in.
- 2nd 熊蟄穴Bears retreat into their dens.
- 3rd 鱖魚群Salmon gather and swim upstream.
冬至とうじ
12/22Winter Solstice
The shortest day of the year.
- 1st 乃東生The self-heal plant sprouts.
- 2nd 麋角解Deer shed their antlers.
- 3rd 雪下出麦Wheat sprouts under the snow.
小寒しょうかん
1/5Lesser Cold
The cold sets in (start of the coldest period).
- 1st 芹乃栄Water dropwort flourishes.
- 2nd 水泉動Springs begin to stir under the ice.
- 3rd 雉始雊Pheasants begin to call.
大寒だいかん
1/20Greater Cold
The coldest time of the year.
- 1st 款冬華Butterbur scapes (fuki-no-tō) emerge.
- 2nd 水沢腹堅Water in marshes freezes thick.
- 3rd 鶏始乳Hens begin to lay eggs.
Solar terms & micro-seasons
The 24 solar terms mark each 15° step of the Sun along the ecliptic — the equinoxes and solstices set exactly by the Sun’s position, with terms like “Beginning of Spring” between them. Dividing each term into three (early/mid/late kō, about five days each) gives the 72 micro-seasons (shichijūni-kō), which poetically name small changes in plants, animals and weather — “east wind melts the ice,” “cherry blossoms open,” and so on.
※ Dates are approximate (they shift by about a day year to year), based on the Sun’s ecliptic longitude. The micro-season names follow the Japanese “Ryakuhon-reki” almanac; readings and wording can differ between sources (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Reki-seikatsu, etc.). Meanings describe the scene the characters depict and are not predictive. Each birthday detail page computes the solar term for that date. About our data