Solar term 4 of 24

Spring Equinox春分

Day and night stand equal.

Sun at
0°
Date in 2026
20 Mar
Type
Mid-month
Sunrise
卯
立春雨水驚蟄春分清明穀雨立夏小滿芒種夏至小暑大暑立秋處暑白露秋分寒露霜降立冬小雪大雪冬至小寒大寒
Its place in the solar year

Sunrise

In Beijing, as the book records it, the sun rises due east.

Three pentads

Each term splits into three five-day pentads, each named for a sign in nature.

  1. 1玄鳥至Swallows return
  2. 2雷乃發聲Thunder speaks
  3. 3始電Lightning begins

Sources Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu, vol. 12.