Twenty-four Solar Terms (Ⅰ)

供稿：許林玉

“24”，對(duì)于2022 年的中國(guó)是一個(gè)有著特殊意義的數(shù)字。北京冬奧會(huì)開幕式使用中國(guó)獨(dú)有的“二十四節(jié)氣”作為倒計(jì)時(shí)，視頻中展現(xiàn)的“二十四節(jié)氣”里的中國(guó)，美輪美奐，驚艷世界。這獨(dú)屬于中國(guó)人的浪漫，也將在歷史長(zhǎng)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(biāo)示；象征

2) cradle [?kre?dl] n.搖籃；發(fā)源地

3) adopt [??d?pt] v.采用；采納

4) establish [??st?bl??] v.建立；設(shè)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(fā)起

6) equal [?i?kw?l] v.等于；比得上

7) phenomenon [f??n?m?n?n] n.現(xiàn)象

詞組加油站

refer to 涉及；指的是

(be) based on 以……為基礎(chǔ)

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(lián)系起來

中國(guó)古代，有一個(gè)表示一組節(jié)令的統(tǒng)稱，即自“立春”至“大寒”的二十四節(jié)氣。二十四節(jié)氣用于表示季節(jié)交替和氣候變化，還用以表征一年中天文、季節(jié)、氣候與農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)的關(guān)系。它是中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)歷法的獨(dú)特組成部分和創(chuàng)造性發(fā)明。

二十四節(jié)氣的起源

位于中國(guó)北部的黃河流域被認(rèn)為是節(jié)氣體系的發(fā)源地。中國(guó)古代的農(nóng)民根據(jù)天文征候、氣溫及降水變化為基礎(chǔ)創(chuàng)造了歷法，后來被中國(guó)不同地區(qū)的眾多少數(shù)民族采用。

早在春秋時(shí)期，中國(guó)人的祖先就已經(jīng)創(chuàng)立了兩個(gè)主要的節(jié)氣：日南至（太陽(yáng)最南面，即冬至）和日北至（太陽(yáng)最北面，即夏至）。到戰(zhàn)國(guó)末期，根據(jù)太陽(yáng)的不同位置和自然現(xiàn)象的變化，出現(xiàn)了八個(gè)標(biāo)示四季的關(guān)鍵節(jié)氣（“立春”“春分”“立夏”“夏至”“立秋”“秋分”“立冬”和“冬至”）。

其余的節(jié)氣始于西漢。因此，大多數(shù)節(jié)氣指的是當(dāng)時(shí)的西漢都城——長(zhǎng)安的氣候。

二十四節(jié)氣概覽

二十四節(jié)氣是通過觀察太陽(yáng)周年運(yùn)動(dòng)，認(rèn)知一年中時(shí)令、氣候、物候等方面變化規(guī)律所形成的知識(shí)體系和社會(huì)實(shí)踐。

中國(guó)古人將太陽(yáng)在天空中的運(yùn)動(dòng)軌跡劃分為24 等份，每一等份為一個(gè)節(jié)氣，大約為期兩周。二十四節(jié)氣則分別表示太陽(yáng)在黃道經(jīng)度上每移動(dòng)15 度時(shí)的位置。

二十四節(jié)氣的分類

節(jié)氣中的“立春”“立夏”“立秋”和“立冬”用來反映季節(jié)的變化。它們將一年分為四個(gè)季節(jié)，每個(gè)季節(jié)正好三個(gè)月。

節(jié)氣中的“春分”“秋分”“夏至”和“冬至”從天文角度劃分，反映了太陽(yáng)高度變化的轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)。

“小暑”“大暑”“處暑”“小寒”和“大寒”反映了不同時(shí)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(xiàn)象，反映了降雨、降雪、結(jié)露、結(jié)霜的時(shí)間和強(qiáng)度。

“小滿”和“芒種”反映了農(nóng)作物的成熟和收獲時(shí)間，而“驚蟄”反映的則是觀察到的昆蟲活動(dòng)。

二十四節(jié)氣的應(yīng)用

根據(jù)太陽(yáng)在黃道帶中的位置，中國(guó)古代的農(nóng)民創(chuàng)立了二十四節(jié)氣，用以指導(dǎo)農(nóng)事活動(dòng)。二十四節(jié)氣反映了氣候、自然現(xiàn)象、農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)和人類的衣食住行等方面的變化。

二十四節(jié)氣相當(dāng)于為農(nóng)民提供了各種指導(dǎo)手冊(cè)，讓他們知道在一年的特定時(shí)期會(huì)發(fā)生什么情況，要進(jìn)行哪些農(nóng)事活動(dòng)。它們通常被稱為中國(guó)的“第五大發(fā)明”，僅次于造紙術(shù)、印刷術(shù)、火藥和指南針。

幾個(gè)世紀(jì)以來，許多節(jié)氣除了作為一種天文年歷，還與中國(guó)的習(xí)俗聯(lián)系在一起，例如：四月的清明祭祖活動(dòng)、立冬吃餃子等。

二十四節(jié)氣展現(xiàn)了中國(guó)古人的智慧。2016 年，二十四節(jié)氣被聯(lián)合國(guó)教科文組織列入非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)名錄。