Solar terms in 1998
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1998, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 09:18 PM | Jan 5 01:18 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 02:46 PM | Jan 20 06:46 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 08:56 AM | Feb 4 12:56 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 04:54 AM | Feb 18 08:54 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 02:57 AM | Mar 5 06:57 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 03:54 AM | Mar 20 07:54 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 07:44 AM | Apr 4 11:44 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 02:56 PM | Apr 20 06:56 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 01:03 AM | May 5 05:03 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 02:05 PM | May 21 06:05 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 05:13 AM | Jun 5 09:13 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 10:02 PM | Jun 21 02:02 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 03:30 PM | Jul 7 07:30 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 08:55 AM | Jul 23 12:55 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 01:19 AM | Aug 7 05:19 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 03:59 PM | Aug 23 07:59 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 04:16 AM | Sep 7 08:16 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 01:37 PM | Sep 23 05:37 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 07:56 PM | Oct 8 11:56 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 10:59 PM | Oct 23 02:59 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 11:08 PM | Nov 7 03:08 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 08:34 PM | Nov 22 12:34 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 04:01 PM | Dec 7 08:01 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 09:56 AM | Dec 22 01:56 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.