Twenty-four Solar Terms (Ⅰ)

供稿：许林玉

“24”，对于2022 年的中国是一个有着特殊意义的数字。北京冬奥会开幕式使用中国独有的“二十四节气”作为倒计时，视频中展现的“二十四节气”里的中国，美轮美奂，惊艳世界。这独属于中国人的浪漫，也将在历史长河中留下浓墨重彩的一笔。

In the ancient China,there was a general name for a group of seasons,i.e.the twenty-four solar terms from Beginning of Spring to Major Cold.It was used to1)indicate the alternation of seasons and climate changes.It also shows the relationship of universe,season,climate and agriculture.It is a unique component and creative invention of Chinese traditional calendar.

Origin of Twenty-four Solar Terms

The Yellow River Basin,in northern China,is believed to be the2)cradleof the solar terms system.Ancient Chinese farmers used astronomical signs,changes in temperature and precipitation as the basis to create the calendar,which was later3)adoptedby multiple ethnic groups in different regions across China.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period,Chinese ancestors had already created two major solar terms,ri nan zhi(Sun South Most) andri bei zhi(Sun North Most).As of the end of the Warring States Period,eight key solar terms(Beginning of Spring,Spring Equinox,Beginning of Summer,Summer Solstice,Beginning of Autumn,Autumn Equinox,Beginning of Winter and Winter Solstice)marking the four seasons,were4)establishedaccording to the different positions of the sun and changes in natural phenomena.

1) indicate [ˈɪndɪkeɪt] v.表明，标示；象征

2) cradle [ˈkreɪdl] n.摇篮；发源地

3) adopt [əˈdɒpt] v.采用；采纳

4) establish [ɪˈstæblɪʃ] v.建立；设立

The rest of the solar terms were5)initiatedin the Western Han Dynasty.Hence most terms refer to the climate of Xi’an,capital of the Han Dynasty.

General Introduction

China’s twenty-four solar terms is a knowledge system and social practice formed through observations of the sun’s annual motion,and cognition of the year’s changes in season,climate and phenology.

Ancient Chinese divided the sun’s movement through the sky into twentyfour segments,with each segment6)equalingone roughly two-week-long“solar term”.The twenty-four solar terms each suggests the position of the sun every time it travels 15 degrees on the ecliptic longitude.

Classification of Twenty-four Solar Terms

The solar terms known as Beginning of Spring,Beginning of Summer,Beginning of Autumn,and Beginning of Winter are used to reflect the change of seasons,dividing the year into four seasons of exactly three months.

The solar terms of Spring Equinox,Autumn Equinox,Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are divided from an astronomical aspect,reflecting the turning point of the variation of the altitude of the sun.

Minor Heat,Major Heat,End of Heat,Minor Cold,and Major Cold reflect the changes of temperature in different periods.

Pure Brightness,Rain Water,Grain Rain,Minor Snow,and Major Snow,White Dew,Cold Dew,and Frost’s Descent reflect the7)phenomenonof precipitation,indicating the time and intensity of rainfall,snowfall,dew,and frost.

Grain Buds and Grain in Ear reflect the maturity and harvest time of crops,while Awakening of Insects reflects observed insect activity.

Application of Twenty-four Solar Terms

Based on the sun’s position in the zodiac,the twenty-four solar terms,were created by farmers in ancient China to guide the farming activities.The twentyfour solar terms reflect the changes in climate,natural phenomena,agricultural production,and other aspects of human life,including clothing,food,housing,and transportation.

5) initiate [ɪˈnɪʃieɪt ] v.使开始；发起

6) equal [ˈiːkwəl] v.等于；比得上

7) phenomenon [fəˈnɒmɪnən] n.现象

词组加油站

refer to 涉及；指的是

(be) based on 以……为基础

They serve as an instruction manual of sorts for farmers,allowing them to know what conditions to expect or what agricultural activities to carry out during certain periods of the year.They are often called China’s“fifth great invention”after papermaking,printing,gunpowder and the compass.

Besides its role as an almanac,many of these solar terms have become8)associated with Chinese customs over the centuries,such as honoring one’s ancestors forQingming(Pure Brightness) in April or eating dumplings forLidong(Beginning of Winter).

The twenty-four solar terms represent the wisdom of ancient Chinese.In 2016,the terms were listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

8) associate [əˈsəʊsieɪt] v.将……联系起来

中国古代，有一个表示一组节令的统称，即自“立春”至“大寒”的二十四节气。二十四节气用于表示季节交替和气候变化，还用以表征一年中天文、季节、气候与农业生产的关系。它是中国传统历法的独特组成部分和创造性发明。

二十四节气的起源

位于中国北部的黄河流域被认为是节气体系的发源地。中国古代的农民根据天文征候、气温及降水变化为基础创造了历法，后来被中国不同地区的众多少数民族采用。

早在春秋时期，中国人的祖先就已经创立了两个主要的节气：日南至（太阳最南面，即冬至）和日北至（太阳最北面，即夏至）。到战国末期，根据太阳的不同位置和自然现象的变化，出现了八个标示四季的关键节气（“立春”“春分”“立夏”“夏至”“立秋”“秋分”“立冬”和“冬至”）。

其余的节气始于西汉。因此，大多数节气指的是当时的西汉都城——长安的气候。

二十四节气概览

二十四节气是通过观察太阳周年运动，认知一年中时令、气候、物候等方面变化规律所形成的知识体系和社会实践。

中国古人将太阳在天空中的运动轨迹划分为24 等份，每一等份为一个节气，大约为期两周。二十四节气则分别表示太阳在黄道经度上每移动15 度时的位置。

二十四节气的分类

节气中的“立春”“立夏”“立秋”和“立冬”用来反映季节的变化。它们将一年分为四个季节，每个季节正好三个月。

节气中的“春分”“秋分”“夏至”和“冬至”从天文角度划分，反映了太阳高度变化的转折点。

“小暑”“大暑”“处暑”“小寒”和“大寒”反映了不同时期的气温变化。

“清明”“雨水”“谷雨”“小雪”“大雪”“白露”“寒露”“霜降”反映了降水现象，反映了降雨、降雪、结露、结霜的时间和强度。

“小满”和“芒种”反映了农作物的成熟和收获时间，而“惊蛰”反映的则是观察到的昆虫活动。

二十四节气的应用

根据太阳在黄道带中的位置，中国古代的农民创立了二十四节气，用以指导农事活动。二十四节气反映了气候、自然现象、农业生产和人类的衣食住行等方面的变化。

二十四节气相当于为农民提供了各种指导手册，让他们知道在一年的特定时期会发生什么情况，要进行哪些农事活动。它们通常被称为中国的“第五大发明”，仅次于造纸术、印刷术、火药和指南针。

几个世纪以来，许多节气除了作为一种天文年历，还与中国的习俗联系在一起，例如：四月的清明祭祖活动、立冬吃饺子等。

二十四节气展现了中国古人的智慧。2016 年，二十四节气被联合国教科文组织列入非物质文化遗产名录。