节气 Solar Term (Jie Qi)

Understanding Solar Term: Time, Nature, and Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine

What Are the Solar Terms?

The 24 Solar Terms are a traditional East Asian timekeeping system that divides the year into twenty-four distinct periods, each lasting approximately fifteen days. Unlike lunar months, which follow the phases of the moon, the Solar Terms are based on the movement of the sun along the ecliptic, marking precise changes in seasonal energy.

Each Solar Term reflects a specific shift in climate, temperature, moisture, and light, capturing nature in motion rather than as a static season. This makes the system especially precise for understanding environmental influence on the human body.

In .........

立春 Beginning of Spring (Li Chun), marks the first solar term.

It signify Resetting the Body for Renewal. Li Chun marks the official beginning of spring in the traditional East Asian solar calendar. Although the weather may still feel cold, the body is already responding to the subtle shift of rising yang energy. This is a transitional period—neither winter nor full spring—where how you eat, move, and rest can strongly influence your health for the entire year ahead.

Spring is associated with growth, movement, and renewal, but the key during Li Chun is gentle activation, not force.

Seasonal Energy: From Storage to Awakening

During winter, the body conserves energy and stores resources. At Li .........

大寒 Big Chill (Da Han): Completing the Cycle of Winter

What Is Big Chill?

Big Chill, also known as Da Han, is the final Solar Term of the year and marks the coldest phase of winter. It typically occurs in mid-January, when yin energy reaches its deepest expression and environmental cold is at its most intense.

In the sequence of the 24 Solar Terms, Big Chill represents completion rather than climax. The cold is no longer increasing—it has fully arrived. This period signals a time of stillness, conservation, and preparation for renewal that will quietly emerge with the coming of spring.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Da Han translates directly to “Great Cold” or “Major Cold.” .........

小寒 Minor Cold (Xiao Han): Entering the Depth of Winter

What Is Minor Cold?

Minor Cold, also known as Xiao Han, marks the beginning of the coldest phase of the winter season. Occurring in early January, this Solar Term signals that winter has fully taken hold, even though the most extreme cold has not yet arrived.

Rather than a sudden shift, Minor Cold represents a gradual deepening—a transition into colder temperatures, shorter days, and a more inward seasonal rhythm. It is a time when the body begins to feel the cumulative effects of winter and benefits from intentional care and conservation.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Xiao Han translates to “Lesser Cold.” This does not mean mild cold, .........

冬至Winter Solstice (Dong Zhi): The Turning Point of the Year

What Is Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice, also known as Dong Zhi, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It typically occurs in late December and represents a profound turning point in the seasonal cycle.

While winter cold may continue to deepen after this date, Winter Solstice signifies that yin energy has reached its maximum, and the gradual return of yang has quietly begun. Though invisible, this shift is fundamental: it marks the moment when decline gives way to renewal.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Dong Zhi translates to “Winter’s Arrival” or “Winter Extremity.” It reflects a precise understanding of .........

大雪 Major Snow (Da Xue): Deepening Stillness and Winter Storage

What Is Major Snow?

Major Snow, also known as Da Xue, marks a phase of winter when cold intensifies and snowfall becomes more frequent and substantial. Occurring in early to mid-December, this Solar Term signals a deeper settling of winter energy and a further withdrawal of activity in the natural world.

While not yet the coldest period of the year, Major Snow represents a clear shift toward greater stillness, quiet, and conservation, preparing the body and environment for the depths of winter ahead.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Da Xue translates to “Great Snow” or “Major Snow.” As with all Solar Terms, the name is .........

小雪 Minor Snow (Xiao Xue): The Quiet Arrival of Winter

What Is Minor Snow?

Minor Snow, also known as Xiao Xue, marks an early phase of winter when temperatures continue to drop and the first consistent snowfall may begin. Occurring in late November, this Solar Term signals winter’s arrival in a gentler, gradual way, rather than through sudden extremes.

Although snowfall may still be light, the seasonal direction is clear: the environment is turning inward, and warmth becomes increasingly precious.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Xiao Xue translates to “Lesser Snow.” This does not imply insignificance, but rather early accumulation.

During Minor Snow:

• Cold becomes more noticeable and .........

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立冬 Beginning of Winter (Li Dong): Entering the Season of Storage

What Is Beginning of Winter?

Beginning of Winter, also known as Li Dong, marks the official start of the winter season in the Solar Term system. Occurring in early November, Li Dong signals a clear seasonal transition from outward activity to inward preservation.

While temperatures may still fluctuate, the directional change is unmistakable: energy begins to descend, daylight shortens, and the natural world prepares for dormancy. Li Dong is less about cold itself and more about the shift toward storage.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Li Dong translates to “Establishing Winter” or “Beginning of Winter.” The word Li .........

霜降 Frost’s Descent (Shuang Jiang): The Final Cooling of Autumn

What Is Frost’s Descent?

Frost’s Descent, also known as Shuang Jiang, is the final Solar Term of autumn. Occurring in late October, it marks the moment when temperatures drop enough for frost to appear regularly, signaling the end of autumn’s gradual cooling.

This Solar Term represents a decisive shift: the environment is no longer transitioning—it is settling into cold. Growth has ceased, leaves have fallen, and nature prepares fully for winter’s stillness.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Shuang Jiang translates to “Frost’s Descent.” It refers to the visible formation of frost as moisture in .........