Solar longitude
315°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Tiger 寅 · solar month 1
Definition
What Beginning of Spring marks
The season behind the name
Start of Spring opens the traditional spring season, turning the agricultural calendar toward a new cycle of growth.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Beginning of Spring begins at the instant the Sun reaches 315 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, Beginning of Spring opens solar branch month 1, associated with the Tiger (寅) 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.
Beginning of Spring 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
The east wind melts the ice
东风解冻
- Second pentad
Hibernating creatures begin to stir
蛰虫始振
- Third pentad
Fish rise beneath the ice
鱼陟负冰