Solar longitude
345°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Rabbit 卯 · solar month 2
Definition
What Awakening of Insects marks
The season behind the name
Awakening of Insects evokes dormant creatures stirring as warmth returns in the traditional seasonal sequence.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Awakening of Insects begins at the instant the Sun reaches 345 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, Awakening of Insects opens solar branch month 2, associated with the Rabbit (卯) 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.
Awakening of Insects dates, 2023–2032
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
Peach trees begin to bloom
桃始华
- Second pentad
Orioles begin to sing
仓庚鸣
- Third pentad
Hawks are said to become cuckoos
鹰化为鸠