Solar terms in 1956
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1956, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 04:30 PM | Jan 6 08:30 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 21 09:48 AM | Jan 21 01:48 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 5 04:12 AM | Feb 4 08:12 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 20 12:05 AM | Feb 19 04:05 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 10:25 PM | Mar 5 02:25 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 11:20 PM | Mar 20 03:20 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 03:31 AM | Apr 4 07:31 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 10:43 AM | Apr 20 02:43 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 09:10 PM | May 5 01:10 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 10:12 AM | May 21 02:12 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 01:36 AM | Jun 5 05:36 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 06:24 PM | Jun 21 10:24 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 11:58 AM | Jul 7 03:58 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 05:20 AM | Jul 22 09:20 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 09:40 PM | Aug 7 01:40 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 12:15 PM | Aug 23 04:15 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 12:19 AM | Sep 7 04:19 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 09:35 AM | Sep 23 01:35 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 03:36 PM | Oct 8 07:36 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 06:34 PM | Oct 23 10:34 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 06:26 PM | Nov 7 10:26 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 03:50 PM | Nov 22 07:50 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 11:02 AM | Dec 7 03:02 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 04:59 AM | Dec 21 08:59 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.