Solar terms in 1973
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1973, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 07:25 PM | Jan 5 11:25 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 12:48 PM | Jan 20 04:48 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 07:04 AM | Feb 3 11:04 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 03:01 AM | Feb 18 07:01 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 01:12 AM | Mar 5 05:12 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 02:12 AM | Mar 20 06:12 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 06:13 AM | Apr 4 10:13 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 01:30 PM | Apr 20 05:30 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 11:46 PM | May 5 03:46 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 12:53 PM | May 21 04:53 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 04:06 AM | Jun 5 08:06 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 09:00 PM | Jun 21 01:00 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 02:27 PM | Jul 7 06:27 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 07:55 AM | Jul 22 11:55 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 12:12 AM | Aug 7 04:12 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 02:53 PM | Aug 23 06:53 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 02:59 AM | Sep 7 06:59 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 12:21 PM | Sep 23 04:21 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 06:26 PM | Oct 8 10:26 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 09:30 PM | Oct 23 01:30 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 09:27 PM | Nov 7 01:27 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 06:54 PM | Nov 22 10:54 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 02:10 PM | Dec 7 06:10 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 08:08 AM | Dec 22 12:08 AM | 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.