MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Spring Equinox

Day equals night, cold equals warmth

Introduction

Day and night are equal; spring is half gone and the swallows return

The Spring Equinox is the fourth solar term, beginning when the sun reaches 0° of ecliptic longitude (the vernal point), around 20–22 March. The sun is overhead at the equator and day and night are equal in length; afterwards days are longer in the northern hemisphere. Its three pentads are swallows returning, thunder beginning to sound, and lightning first appearing. The north sows spring wheat and maize and the south sows early rice, with care against late cold spells; customs include standing eggs on end, sun worship and kite flying.

Timeline

Late Warring States period to present
239 BCE · OriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Zhongchun ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month day and night are divided equally', marking the spring equinox.139 BCE · EvolutionThe Western Han Huainanzi (Tianwen xun, c. 139 BCE) sets out the twenty-four terms by the pointing of the Dipper's handle, recording 'it points to mao on the central cord; so it is said that at the Spring Equinox thunder moves', the earliest systematic attestation of Spring Equinox.104 BCE · EvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Spring Equinox became a fixed term in it.2014 · ImpactIn 2014 the Anren Spring Equinox fair in Hunan, a community festival honouring Shennong and praying for grain at the spring equinox, was added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item.
  1. 239 BCEOriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Zhongchun ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month day and night are divided equally', marking the spring equinox.
  2. 139 BCEEvolutionThe Western Han Huainanzi (Tianwen xun, c. 139 BCE) sets out the twenty-four terms by the pointing of the Dipper's handle, recording 'it points to mao on the central cord; so it is said that at the Spring Equinox thunder moves', the earliest systematic attestation of Spring Equinox.
  3. 104 BCEEvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Spring Equinox became a fixed term in it.
  4. 2014ImpactIn 2014 the Anren Spring Equinox fair in Hunan, a community festival honouring Shennong and praying for grain at the spring equinox, was added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item.

Heritage Listings

  1. 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
  2. 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item4th batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Anren Spring Equinox Fair
  3. 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