Solar Terms
Beginning of Spring
Rain Water
Awakening of Insects
Spring Equinox
Clear and Bright
Grain Rain
Beginning of Summer
Grain Buds
Grain in Ear
Summer Solstice
Minor Heat
Major Heat
Beginning of Autumn
End of Heat
White Dew
Autumn Equinox
Cold Dew
Frost Descent
Beginning of Winter
Minor Snow
Major Snow
Winter Solstice
Minor Cold
Major Cold
Beginning of SpringRain WaterAwakening of InsectsSpring EquinoxClear and BrightGrain RainBeginning of SummerGrain BudsGrain in EarSummer SolsticeMinor HeatMajor HeatBeginning of AutumnEnd of HeatWhite DewAutumn EquinoxCold DewFrost DescentBeginning of WinterMinor SnowMajor SnowWinter SolsticeMinor ColdMajor ColdBeginning of Spring
The east wind thaws; the spring ox takes the field
Introduction
First of the solar terms: the east wind thaws the ice and the farming year begins
The Beginning of Spring is the first of the twenty-four solar terms. It falls when the sun reaches 315° of ecliptic longitude, around 3–5 February, and was taken as the start of spring. Its three pentads are the east wind thawing the ice, hibernating insects beginning to stir, and fish rising with ice on their backs. Winter wheat begins to green and farmers prepare for spring ploughing; the custom of whipping the spring ox marks the opening of the farming year.
Timeline
- 239 BCEOriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Mengchun ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month spring is established', the grand scribe announcing the day to the king three days ahead; an early reliable attestation of the name.
- 104 BCEEvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Beginning of Spring became a fixed term in it.
- 2011ImpactIn 2011 the Jiuhua Beginning-of-Spring ritual (Quzhou, Zhejiang), the Suichang spring farming exhortation and the Shiqian spring-telling (Guizhou) were added to the national list as extensions of the solar-terms item; the Neixiang spring-ox custom followed in 2021.
Heritage Listings
- 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms of the Lunar Calendar · nominated by the China Agricultural Museum · collective item
- 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item3rd batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Jiuhua Beginning-of-Spring Ritual
- 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item3rd batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Banchun Spring Farming Exhortation (Suichang)
- 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item3rd batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Shiqian Spring-Telling
- 2016UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityThe Twenty-Four Solar Terms · knowledge in China of time and practices developed through observation of the sun's annual motion · collective inscription
- 2021National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item5th batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Neixiang Spring-Ox Whipping Custom