Solar Terms

🌿 The 24 Solar Terms

The traditional East Asian calendar divides the year into 24 “solar terms” by the Sun’s position along the ecliptic — markers of the changing seasons.

Now (June 16): 芒種（ぼうしゅ）

Spring

立春りっしゅん

2/4

Beginning of Spring

Spring begins on the traditional calendar.

雨水うすい

2/19

Rain Water

Snow turns to rain and ice begins to melt.

啓蟄けいちつ

3/6

Awakening of Insects

Hibernating insects stir and emerge.

春分しゅんぶん

3/20

Vernal Equinox

Day and night are nearly equal in length.

清明せいめい

4/5

Pure Brightness

All of nature looks fresh, clear and bright.

穀雨こくう

4/20

Grain Rain

Spring rains nourish the growing grains.

Summer

立夏りっか

5/5

Beginning of Summer

Summer begins on the traditional calendar.

小満しょうまん

5/21

Grain Buds

Plants grow lush and life begins to fill out.

芒種ぼうしゅ

6/6

Grain in Ear

Time to sow awned grains such as rice.

← current term

夏至げし

6/21

Summer Solstice

The longest day of the year.

小暑しょうしょ

7/7

Lesser Heat

The heat gradually intensifies.

大暑たいしょ

7/23

Greater Heat

The hottest time of the year.

Autumn

立秋りっしゅう

8/7

Beginning of Autumn

Autumn begins on the traditional calendar.

処暑しょしょ

8/23

End of Heat

The lingering heat begins to ease.

白露はくろ

9/8

White Dew

Dew begins to form on the grass.

秋分しゅうぶん

9/23

Autumnal Equinox

Day and night are nearly equal in length.

寒露かんろ

10/8

Cold Dew

The dew turns cold.

霜降そうこう

10/23

Frost's Descent

Frost begins to form.

Winter

立冬りっとう

11/7

Beginning of Winter

Winter begins on the traditional calendar.

小雪しょうせつ

11/22

Lesser Snow

Light snow starts to fall.

大雪たいせつ

12/7

Greater Snow

Snow falls in earnest.

冬至とうじ

12/22

Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year.

小寒しょうかん

1/5

Lesser Cold

The cold sets in (start of the coldest period).

大寒だいかん

1/20

Greater Cold

The coldest time of the year.

What are the solar terms?

Each term marks a 15° step of the Sun along the ecliptic. The equinoxes and solstices are defined exactly by the Sun’s position; the terms in between (like “Beginning of Spring” or “Grain in Ear”) name the seasons’ progress. They have long guided farming and seasonal customs in East Asia.

※ Dates are approximate (they shift by about a day year to year) and based on the Sun’s ecliptic longitude; meanings follow traditional almanac usage. Each birthday detail page computes the solar term for that date. About our data