Solar terms in 1940
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1940, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 07:23 PM | Jan 6 11:23 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 21 12:43 PM | Jan 21 04:43 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 5 07:07 AM | Feb 4 11:07 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 20 03:03 AM | Feb 19 07:03 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 01:23 AM | Mar 5 05:23 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 02:23 AM | Mar 20 06:23 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 06:34 AM | Apr 4 10:34 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 01:50 PM | Apr 20 05:50 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 12:15 AM | May 5 04:15 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 01:22 PM | May 21 05:22 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 05:43 AM | Jun 5 08:43 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 10:36 PM | Jun 21 01:36 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 04:07 PM | Jul 7 07:07 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 09:34 AM | Jul 23 12:34 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 01:51 AM | Aug 7 04:51 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 04:28 PM | Aug 23 07:28 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 04:29 AM | Sep 7 07:29 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 01:45 PM | Sep 23 04:45 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 07:42 PM | Oct 8 10:42 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 09:39 PM | Oct 23 01:39 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 09:26 PM | Nov 7 01:26 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 06:48 PM | Nov 22 10:48 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 01:58 PM | Dec 7 05:58 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 07:54 AM | Dec 21 11:54 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.