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, .........