Twenty-four Solar Terms (Ⅰ)

供稿：許林玉

“24”，對于2022 年的中國是一個有著特殊意義的數字。北京冬奧會開幕式使用中國獨有的“二十四節氣”作為倒計時，視頻中展現的“二十四節氣”里的中國，美輪美奐，驚艷世界。這獨屬于中國人的浪漫，也將在歷史長河中留下濃墨重彩的一筆。

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 [??nd?ke?t] v.表明，標示；象征

2) cradle [?kre?dl] n.搖籃；發源地

3) adopt [??d?pt] v.采用；采納

4) establish [??st?bl??] v.建立；設立

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 [??n??ie?t ] v.使開始；發起

6) equal [?i?kw?l] v.等于；比得上

7) phenomenon [f??n?m?n?n] n.現象

詞組加油站

refer to 涉及；指的是

(be) based on 以……為基礎

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 [??s??sie?t] v.將……聯系起來

中國古代，有一個表示一組節令的統稱，即自“立春”至“大寒”的二十四節氣。二十四節氣用于表示季節交替和氣候變化，還用以表征一年中天文、季節、氣候與農業生產的關系。它是中國傳統歷法的獨特組成部分和創造性發明。

二十四節氣的起源

位于中國北部的黃河流域被認為是節氣體系的發源地。中國古代的農民根據天文征候、氣溫及降水變化為基礎創造了歷法，后來被中國不同地區的眾多少數民族采用。

早在春秋時期，中國人的祖先就已經創立了兩個主要的節氣：日南至（太陽最南面，即冬至）和日北至（太陽最北面，即夏至）。到戰國末期，根據太陽的不同位置和自然現象的變化，出現了八個標示四季的關鍵節氣（“立春”“春分”“立夏”“夏至”“立秋”“秋分”“立冬”和“冬至”）。

其余的節氣始于西漢。因此，大多數節氣指的是當時的西漢都城——長安的氣候。

二十四節氣概覽

二十四節氣是通過觀察太陽周年運動，認知一年中時令、氣候、物候等方面變化規律所形成的知識體系和社會實踐。

中國古人將太陽在天空中的運動軌跡劃分為24 等份，每一等份為一個節氣，大約為期兩周。二十四節氣則分別表示太陽在黃道經度上每移動15 度時的位置。

二十四節氣的分類

節氣中的“立春”“立夏”“立秋”和“立冬”用來反映季節的變化。它們將一年分為四個季節，每個季節正好三個月。

節氣中的“春分”“秋分”“夏至”和“冬至”從天文角度劃分，反映了太陽高度變化的轉折點。

“小暑”“大暑”“處暑”“小寒”和“大寒”反映了不同時期的氣溫變化。

“清明”“雨水”“谷雨”“小雪”“大雪”“白露”“寒露”“霜降”反映了降水現象，反映了降雨、降雪、結露、結霜的時間和強度。

“小滿”和“芒種”反映了農作物的成熟和收獲時間，而“驚蟄”反映的則是觀察到的昆蟲活動。

二十四節氣的應用

根據太陽在黃道帶中的位置，中國古代的農民創立了二十四節氣，用以指導農事活動。二十四節氣反映了氣候、自然現象、農業生產和人類的衣食住行等方面的變化。

二十四節氣相當于為農民提供了各種指導手冊，讓他們知道在一年的特定時期會發生什么情況，要進行哪些農事活動。它們通常被稱為中國的“第五大發明”，僅次于造紙術、印刷術、火藥和指南針。

幾個世紀以來，許多節氣除了作為一種天文年歷，還與中國的習俗聯系在一起，例如：四月的清明祭祖活動、立冬吃餃子等。

二十四節氣展現了中國古人的智慧。2016 年，二十四節氣被聯合國教科文組織列入非物質文化遺產名錄。