Solar longitude
225°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Pig 亥 · solar month 10
Definition
What Beginning of Winter marks
The season behind the name
Start of Winter turns the agricultural year toward stored harvests, shelter and care for livestock.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Beginning of Winter begins at the instant the Sun reaches 225 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 Winter opens solar branch month 10, associated with the Pig (亥) 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 Winter 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
Water begins to freeze
水始冰
- Second pentad
The ground begins to freeze
地始冻
- Third pentad
Pheasants are said to enter the sea and become giant clams
雉入大水为蜃