Guide · Calendar
The 24 Solar Terms
The 24 solar terms (二十四節氣) divide the sun's yearly path into 24 equal steps of 15°. Farmers in ancient China used them to time planting and harvest, and they still define the months in BaZi and feng shui. UNESCO recognised them as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
Jie and Qi
The terms alternate between 節 (jié, "nodes") and 氣 (qì, "breaths"). The twelve jie terms mark the start of each solar month, and each month belongs to a zodiac branch. The year's first jie, Li Chun, starts the Tiger month and the new zodiac year. The qi terms fall mid-month and include the solstices and equinoxes.
| Term | Pinyin | Meaning | About | Sun at | In BaZi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 立春 | Lìchūn | Start of Spring | 4 Feb | 315° | Tiger month begins |
| 雨水 | Yǔshuǐ | Rain Water | 19 Feb | 330° | Mid-month |
| 驚蟄 | Jīngzhé | Awakening of Insects | 6 Mar | 345° | Rabbit month begins |
| 春分 | Chūnfēn | Spring Equinox | 21 Mar | 0° | Mid-month |
| 清明 | Qīngmíng | Clear and Bright | 5 Apr | 15° | Dragon month begins |
| 穀雨 | Gǔyǔ | Grain Rain | 20 Apr | 30° | Mid-month |
| 立夏 | Lìxià | Start of Summer | 6 May | 45° | Snake month begins |
| 小滿 | Xiǎomǎn | Grain Buds | 21 May | 60° | Mid-month |
| 芒種 | Mángzhòng | Grain in Ear | 6 Jun | 75° | Horse month begins |
| 夏至 | Xiàzhì | Summer Solstice | 21 Jun | 90° | Mid-month |
| 小暑 | Xiǎoshǔ | Minor Heat | 7 Jul | 105° | Goat month begins |
| 大暑 | Dàshǔ | Major Heat | 23 Jul | 120° | Mid-month |
| 立秋 | Lìqiū | Start of Autumn | 8 Aug | 135° | Monkey month begins |
| 處暑 | Chǔshǔ | End of Heat | 23 Aug | 150° | Mid-month |
| 白露 | Báilù | White Dew | 8 Sep | 165° | Rooster month begins |
| 秋分 | Qiūfēn | Autumn Equinox | 23 Sep | 180° | Mid-month |
| 寒露 | Hánlù | Cold Dew | 8 Oct | 195° | Dog month begins |
| 霜降 | Shuāngjiàng | Frost's Descent | 23 Oct | 210° | Mid-month |
| 立冬 | Lìdōng | Start of Winter | 7 Nov | 225° | Pig month begins |
| 小雪 | Xiǎoxuě | Minor Snow | 22 Nov | 240° | Mid-month |
| 大雪 | Dàxuě | Major Snow | 7 Dec | 255° | Rat month begins |
| 冬至 | Dōngzhì | Winter Solstice | 22 Dec | 270° | Mid-month |
| 小寒 | Xiǎohán | Minor Cold | 6 Jan | 285° | Ox month begins |
| 大寒 | Dàhán | Major Cold | 20 Jan | 300° | Mid-month |
Dates vary by a day or so from year to year. Check an official source such as the Hong Kong Observatory for exact times.
Why the solar terms matter for feng shui
Because BaZi months begin on the jie terms, your month pillar depends on them. A baby born on 4 March and one born on 7 March can have different month pillars, because 驚蟄 (Awakening of Insects) usually falls on 5 or 6 March. Feng shui practitioners also time seasonal adjustments to the terms, for example refreshing a home at Li Chun or Li Xia.
Seasonal ideas for your home
- Li Chun (Start of Spring): declutter, open windows and add fresh plants for Wood energy.
- Qing Ming (Clear and Bright): a traditional time to honour ancestors and tidy family spaces.
- Li Xia (Start of Summer): lighten fabrics and improve airflow as Fire rises.
- Li Qiu (Start of Autumn): organise and let go of what you no longer need, in the spirit of Metal.
- Li Dong (Start of Winter): make the home warm and restful as Water energy settles.
- Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice): a family festival in many Chinese households, often marked with tang yuan.