Solar longitude
285°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Ox 丑 · solar month 12
Definition
What Minor Cold marks
The season behind the name
Minor Cold opens the final pair of cold-named terms, placing the calendar firmly in late winter.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Minor Cold begins at the instant the Sun reaches 285 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, Minor Cold opens solar branch month 12, associated with the Ox (丑) 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
Wild geese turn north
雁北乡
- Second pentad
Magpies begin to build nests
鹊始巢
- Third pentad
Pheasants begin to call
雉始雊