The traditional
Chinese lunisolar calendar
The traditional Chinese calendar (also known as the Agricultural Calendar 曆; 农历; ''Nónglì''; 'farming calendar' Former Calendar 曆; 旧历; ''Jiùlì'' Traditional Calendar 曆; 老历; ''Lǎolì'', is a lunisolar calendar ...
divides a year into 24
solar term
A solar term is any of twenty-four periods in traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic and are used by lunisolar ...
s.
''Dàxuě'' () is the 21st solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the
celestial longitude
Astronomical coordinate systems are organized arrangements for specifying positions of satellites, planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects relative to physical reference points available to a situated observer (e.g. the true horizon ...
of 255° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 270°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 255°. In the
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...
, it usually begins around 7 December and ends around 21 December (22 December East Asia time).
Pentads
*鶡旦不鳴, 'The jie-bird ceases to crow': the ''jie'' is a bird, similar to the pheasant, which is believed to be aggressive and combatant. As winter progresses, even this active bird slows and ceases to crow.
*虎始交, 'Tigers begin to mate'
*荔挺生, 'The litchi plant (tree) starts to germinate.'
Date and time
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daxue (Solar Term)
21
Winter time