Solar longitude
195°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Dog 戌 · solar month 9
Definition
What Cold Dew marks
The season behind the name
Cold Dew deepens the autumn cooling expressed by White Dew, drawing attention to the approaching cold season.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Cold Dew begins at the instant the Sun reaches 195 degrees of apparent ecliptic longitude. It is one of 24 equal 15-degree divisions of the solar year, so its Gregorian position changes only slightly from year to year.
As a jie term, Cold Dew opens solar branch month 9, associated with the Dog (戌) branch. This is an almanac solar-month boundary, not the first day of a lunar month.
The time is shown in China Standard Time (UTC+8). A reader west or east of that zone may see the same instant fall on a different local civil date.
Three pentads · 三候
Seasonal observations
Each traditional pentad spans about five days and names a seasonal sign associated with that part of the term.
- First pentad
Later flocks of wild geese arrive
鸿雁来宾
- Second pentad
Sparrows are said to enter the sea and become clams
雀入大水为蛤
- Third pentad
Chrysanthemums bloom yellow
菊有黄花