Solar terms in 1939
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1939, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 01:27 PM | Jan 6 05:27 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 21 06:50 AM | Jan 20 10:50 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 5 01:10 AM | Feb 4 05:10 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 09:09 PM | Feb 19 01:09 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 07:26 PM | Mar 6 11:26 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 08:28 PM | Mar 21 12:28 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 6 12:37 AM | Apr 5 04:37 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 21 07:54 AM | Apr 20 11:54 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 06:20 PM | May 6 10:20 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 22 07:26 AM | May 21 11:26 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 10:51 PM | Jun 6 02:51 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 03:39 PM | Jun 22 07:39 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 8 09:18 AM | Jul 8 01:18 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 24 02:36 AM | Jul 23 06:36 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 07:03 PM | Aug 8 11:03 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 24 09:30 AM | Aug 24 01:30 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 09:41 PM | Sep 8 01:41 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 24 06:49 AM | Sep 23 10:49 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 9 12:56 PM | Oct 9 04:56 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 03:45 PM | Oct 24 07:45 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 03:43 PM | Nov 8 07:43 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 23 12:58 PM | Nov 23 04:58 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 8 08:16 AM | Dec 8 12:16 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 23 02:05 AM | Dec 22 06:05 PM | 270° | The shortest day in the north. |
Each term is the moment the Sun reaches a set position, so its date is a calculation, not a custom. The names come from farming life in the Yellow River valley and fit other climates loosely.