What are the 24 Solar Terms?

The 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气, èr shí sì jié qì) are 15-degree slices of the tropical zodiac used in East Asia for over two thousand years. Each term is a small seasonal checkpoint with a Chinese name, a typical Western date, and a traditional cultural association with food, movement, rest, or ritual.

Do I need to learn all 24 terms?

No. Start with the four 'start of season' terms — Start of Spring, Start of Summer, Start of Autumn, Start of Winter — which are the easiest to remember. Then add the term that lands closest to the week you are in.

Are the 24 Solar Terms used today?

Yes. The 24 Solar Terms are still widely used in daily life across China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and are increasingly referenced in English-language wellness writing. They appear on traditional calendars, in school textbooks, in festival planning, and in modern seasonal food and movement culture.

How do the 24 terms relate to the Four Seasons?

The 24 terms divide the four Western seasons into six sub-seasons each. For example, summer is divided into Start of Summer, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, and Greater Heat. This gives a more nuanced reading of the year — six seasonal checkpoints per season instead of one.

Learn the foundations · 24 solar terms

The 24 Solar Terms: Complete Beginner Guide to the Chinese Seasonal Calendar

A complete Western-friendly guide to all 24 Chinese Solar Terms with seasonal food, movement, rest and ritual suggestions.

Quick answer: The 24 Solar Terms turn the year into 24 small check-ins — easier than a resolution, more practical than a vague season.

For Western readers: The 24 Solar Terms turn the year into 24 small check-ins — easier than a resolution, more practical than a vague season. Keep the practice small, repeatable and culturally respectful.

Why this matters

For most of the world, the year is divided into four seasons. In the Chinese seasonal calendar it is divided into 24 — each one a 15-degree slice of the solar year, named for a natural event (Grain Buds, White Dew, Lesser Snow, Spring Showers). The system is older than the Gregorian calendar, still used in daily life across China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, and increasingly popular with English-speaking readers searching for a calmer, more seasonal rhythm.

24 terms × 15 days = 360 days, with the remainder folded into the last term of the year.
Each term has a Chinese name, a literal English translation, and a typical Western date that shifts by a day or two each year.
Modern use is cultural and educational, not a strict ritual calendar. manage clinical concerns each term as a small prompt, not a rule.

How to use this guide

Read the four "start of season" terms first. Those are the easiest to remember and the most useful for a beginner. Then add the term that lands closest to the week you are in. SeasonQi also updates the current term on the homepage each season.

The 24 terms, in order

Spring (立春 → 谷雨)

Lìchūn (立春) — Start of Spring · ~Feb 4
Yǔshuǐ (雨水) — Rain Water · ~Feb 19
Jīngzhé (惊蛰) — Awakening of Insects · ~Mar 6
Chūnfēn (春分) — Spring Equinox · ~Mar 21
Qīngmíng (清明) — Clear and Bright · ~Apr 5
Gǔyǔ (谷雨) — Grain Rain · ~Apr 20

Summer (立夏 → 大暑)

Lìxià (立夏) — Start of Summer · ~May 6
Xiǎomǎn (小满) — Grain Buds (Xiaoman) · ~May 21
Mángzhòng (芒种) — Grain in Ear · ~Jun 6
Xiàzhì (夏至) — Summer Solstice · ~Jun 21
Xiǎoshǔ (小暑) — Lesser Heat · ~Jul 7
Dàshǔ (大暑) — Greater Heat · ~Jul 23

Late summer & early autumn (立秋 → 白露)

Lìqiū (立秋) — Start of Autumn · ~Aug 7
Chǔshǔ (处暑) — End of Heat · ~Aug 23
Báilù (白露) — White Dew · ~Sep 8
Qiūfēn (秋分) — Autumn Equinox · ~Sep 23

Autumn & early winter (寒露 → 冬至)

Hánlù (寒露) — Cold Dew · ~Oct 8
Shuāngjiàng (霜降) — Frost Descent · ~Oct 23
Lìdōng (立冬) — Start of Winter · ~Nov 7
Xiǎoxuě (小雪) — Lesser Snow · ~Nov 22
Dàxuě (大雪) — Greater Snow · ~Dec 7
Dōngzhì (冬至) — Winter Solstice · ~Dec 22

Late winter & returning spring (小寒 → 大寒)

Xiǎohán (小寒) — Lesser Cold · ~Jan 6
Dàhán (大寒) — Greater Cold · ~Jan 20

Traditional suggestions across the year

Each term is traditionally paired with a small prompt. Below is a plain-language summary — not a medical prescription.

Spring terms: favor fresh greens, slightly sour flavors, gentle movement, side-body opening. Reduce heavy winter food.
Summer terms: favor cooling drinks (green tea, mung bean), light meals, shaded walks, an earlier wake time. Reduce heavy meat and very hot food.
Late summer terms: favor lightly cooked, aromatic, easy-to-digest food (barley, ginger, citrus peel). Watch for "dampness" — heaviness, slow digestion.
Autumn terms: favor moistening foods (pear, honey, lotus root). Slow down movement, lengthen exhales, protect the lower back.
Winter terms: favor warming, slow-cooked, hearty meals. Earlier sleep, shorter outdoor movement, and hand and foot warmth before bed.

What this article is not

SeasonQi treats the solar terms as cultural and educational material. Nothing on this site is a medical calendar, treatment schedule, or substitute for qualified professional advice. If you live with a health condition, use the terms as small lifestyle prompts, not as a clinical plan.

SeasonQi ritual prompt

Pick the term that lands closest to this week. Read its traditional suggestion. Then make one small change: a different tea, a five-minute walk, an earlier evening. One term, one change, one week.

Safety and scope

This article is for educational and cultural purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making lifestyle changes that affect your health.