MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Winter Solstice

At the winter solstice, yang is reborn

Introduction

Longest shadow, shortest day: the sun begins its return

The Winter Solstice is the twenty-second solar term, beginning when the sun reaches 270° of ecliptic longitude, around 21–23 December. The sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn; the northern day is shortest and the noon shadow longest, after which the sun turns north, days lengthen and the 'counting of the nines' begins. Its three pentads are earthworms curling up, elk shedding their antlers, and springs beginning to stir. The north is frozen while winter crops still grow in Jiangnan, and it is a time for irrigation works, manuring and frost protection. Since the Han it has been a major festival, 'as great as the New Year', with dumplings in the north and tangyuan in the south.

Timeline

Spring and Autumn period to present
655 BCE · OriginThe Zuozhuan for 655 BCE records that on the first day of the first month 'the sun reached its southern limit', and the Duke of Lu climbed the observation tower; an early precisely dated record of the winter solstice.104 BCE · EvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Winter Solstice became a fixed term in it.100 · EvolutionThe Han treated the winter solstice as the 'Winter Festival', with official congratulations and a customary holiday, making the solar term a national festival.1420 · ImpactThe Temple of Heaven in Beijing was completed in 1420; thereafter Ming and Qing emperors performed the great sacrifice to Heaven at its Circular Mound Altar every winter solstice.
  1. 655 BCEOriginThe Zuozhuan for 655 BCE records that on the first day of the first month 'the sun reached its southern limit', and the Duke of Lu climbed the observation tower; an early precisely dated record of the winter solstice.
  2. 104 BCEEvolutionWith the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han, the twenty-four solar terms entered the official calendar, and Winter Solstice became a fixed term in it.
  3. 100EvolutionThe Han treated the winter solstice as the 'Winter Festival', with official congratulations and a customary holiday, making the solar term a national festival.
  4. 1420ImpactThe Temple of Heaven in Beijing was completed in 1420; thereafter Ming and Qing emperors performed the great sacrifice to Heaven at its Circular Mound Altar every winter solstice.

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: Sanmen Winter Solstice Ancestral Rite
  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