Common Concepts
What Are the Solar Terms (Jie Qi)?
Also called: Jie Qi, Jieqi, 24 Solar Terms
Plain Explanation
Solar Terms are twenty-four points in the year defined by the Sun’s position. They mark the progress of the seasons, with examples including Spring Commences (Li Chun), Vernal Equinox (Chun Fen), Summer Solstice (Xia Zhi), and Winter Solstice (Dong Zhi).
Example
The twenty-four Solar Terms alternate between twelve minor solar terms (jie, 节) and twelve major solar terms (zhongqi, 中气). For example, Spring Commences, Spring Showers, Insects Waken, and Vernal Equinox occur in that order and have the following classifications.
| Order | Name | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Commences (立春) | Minor Solar Term (Jie) |
| 2 | Spring Showers (雨水) | Major Solar Term (Zhong Qi) |
| 3 | Insects Waken (惊蛰) | Minor Solar Term (Jie) |
| 4 | Vernal Equinox (春分) | Major Solar Term (Zhong Qi) |
What It Is Used For
Solar Terms mark the seasons, guide traditional farming activities, and contribute to calendar calculations. In BaZi, the twelve minor solar terms (jie) divide the months. Near a transition, the precise time must be checked to determine the Month Branch.
Common Misunderstandings
A Solar Term is not the first day of a Chinese lunar month
Solar Terms depend on the Sun’s position, while the first day of a Chinese lunar month is related to the Moon’s phases. They are different kinds of date boundaries.
A BaZi month does not change at every Solar Term
Here, months are divided at the twelve minor solar terms (jie), such as Spring Commences and Insects Waken. Spring Showers, which occurs between them, is a major solar term (zhongqi) and does not begin another BaZi month.
Related Concepts
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial Policy