24節(jié)氣英文（課堂PPT）

1、1 Twenty-four Chinese Solar TermsBy 文振帆文振帆 王恒俊王恒俊2 24 Solar Terms Based on the changes of the suns position in the zodiac throughout the year and practical needs of agriculture in ancient China, the “24 solar terms” is an important kind of calendar in China. It indicates different periods of seasons

2、, the changes of weather, some natural phenomena and more, guiding farmers in agriculture production greatly. Common people also follow the calendar to watch out weather changes and live a healthy life. Grain in ear3OriginAs early as the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC - 1046 BC), the Chinese ancesto

3、rs had already established four major solar terms. During the Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 BC), eight solar terms marking the four seasons were established: Start of Spring, Spring Equinox, Start of Summer, Summer Solstice, Start of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Start of Winter, and Winter Solstice. Until the

4、 Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), the present 24 solar terms was established completely. The rains4The twenty-four solar terms can be divided into three groups:One group reflects the seasonal changes (including 8 terms): Start of Spring, Start of Summer, Start of Autumn and Start of Winter mark the fo

5、ur seasons; Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox, and Winter Solstice reflect the height changes of the sun from the astronomy aspect. Insects awaken5One embodies natural phenomena (including 4 terms): Insects Awaken, Pure Brightness, Grain Full and Grain in EarVernal Equinox6The rest ref

6、lects the climate changes (including 12 terms): Slight Heat, Great Heat, The End of Heat, Lesser Cold and Greater Cold tell the temperature changes; Rain Water, Grain Rain, Light Snow and Heavy Snow reflect the precipitation levels; White Dew, Cold Dew and Frost Descent reflect the dropping process

7、and degree of the temperature. Pure Brightness7The date of each solar term is basically fixed with minor differences of within one or two days. Each month has two solar terms.Grain rain8Following, let us check the exact dates for 24 solar terms in 2015 and detailed meanings for each term.Grain Full9

8、SpringStart of SpringFeb. 4The spring season begins.Rain WaterFeb. 19The amount of rainfall increases.Insects AwakenMar. 6Insects are awakening from winter sleep by the spring thunder.Spring EquinoxMar. 21The mid-point for the spring season;Day and night are equally long on the day.Pure BrightnessAp

9、r. 5It is warm, bright and everywhere gets green;It is also the time for tending graves.Grain RainApr. 20Rainfall increases which is helpful to grain crops. Start of Spring10SummerStart of SummerMay 6The summer season begins.Grain FullMay 21Grains are getting plump but not ripe yet.Grain in EarJun.

10、6Wheat grows ripe marking the beginning of a busy farming season.Summer SolsticeJun. 22The sun altitude arrive the highest in north;It has the longest daytime of the year. Slight HeatJul. 7The hottest days are yet to come.Great heatJul. 23The hottest time of a year.Start of Summer11AutumnStart of Au

11、tumnAug. 7The autumn season begins.The End of HeatAug. 23The hot summer is coming to an end and heat stops.White DewSep. 8It is getting cooler and dewdrops appear on grass and trees in the morning.Autumn EquinoxSep. 23The mid-point for the autumn season;The temperature begins to decrease;Day and nig

12、ht are equally long on the day.Cold DewOct. 8The dews are becoming frost.Frost DescentOct. 24Frost appears and the temperature begins to descent.Start of Autumn12WinterStart of WinterNov. 8The winter season begins.Light SnowNov. 22It begins to snow but cant accumulate a lot on the ground.Heavy SnowD

13、ec. 7It begins to snow heavily.Winter SolsticeDec. 22It has the shortest daytime of a year;After the day, many places in China go into the coldest period;People in northern China eat dumplings on the day and sweet soup balls for the people in the South.Lesser ColdJan. 6It is getting colder, but the coldest days are yet to come.Greater ColdJan. 20It is the coldest time