節 · Solar Terms
24 Solar Terms Calendar
The year's true turning points, to the exact date.
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Computed to the exact solar longitudeChoose a year and press Show.
In brief
The 24 solar terms (節氣) divide the year by the Sun's position on the ecliptic, one term every 15 degrees of solar longitude. They are astronomical rather than calendrical, so their dates shift slightly each year, and they anchor the Chinese agricultural calendar, the BaZi month pillars and feng-shui timing.
Frequently asked
What are the 24 solar terms?
They are 24 points marking the Sun's journey around the ecliptic, from Start of Spring through the solstices and equinoxes to Major Cold. Each falls when the Sun reaches a fixed longitude, so FengSpark computes the exact date from an ephemeris.
When does the Chinese zodiac year really start?
At 立春, the Start of Spring, in early February — not the lunar new year and not January 1. The BaZi year and month pillars turn on the solar terms, which is why a precise term date matters for a birth near the boundary.
Why do solar term dates change each year?
Because they are astronomical. The Earth's orbit means a term like the Winter Solstice can fall on December 21 or 22 depending on the year. A fixed table is only approximate; FengSpark uses the true computed date.
Related
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