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 Autumn
Cool winds come, white dew falls
Introduction
Autumn begins: cool winds arrive and crops start to ripen
The Beginning of Autumn is the first solar term of autumn, beginning when the sun reaches 135° of ecliptic longitude, around 7–9 August; it marks the turn from summer to autumn, though the heat often lingers. Its three pentads are cool winds arriving, white dew descending, and autumn cicadas singing. Central China harvests early rice and transplants late rice, autumn crops enter a critical stage, and mountain villages begin sun-drying their harvest. Customs include weighing people, 'putting on autumn fat' with meat and 'biting autumn' with watermelon; the Miao of western Hunan hold the Ganqiu festival.
Timeline
- 239 BCEOriginThe Lüshi Chunqiu (Mengqiu ji, c. 239 BCE) records that 'in this month autumn is established' and gives cool winds, white dew and autumn cicadas as its signs, matching the later three pentads.
- 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 Autumn became a fixed term in it.
- 2014ImpactIn 2014 the Miao Ganqiu (autumn festival) of Huayuan, Hunan, was added to the national list as an extension of the solar-terms item.
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
- 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, extension item4th batch · X-68 Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Miao Ganqiu Autumn Festival
- 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