Solar longitude
135°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Monkey 申 · solar month 7
Definition
What Beginning of Autumn marks
The season behind the name
Start of Autumn turns the traditional agricultural calendar toward ripening and harvest, even where summer heat remains.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Beginning of Autumn begins at the instant the Sun reaches 135 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 Autumn opens solar branch month 7, associated with the Monkey (申) 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 Autumn 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
Cool winds arrive
凉风至
- Second pentad
White dew descends
白露降
- Third pentad
Autumn cicadas begin to sing
寒蝉鸣