Solar longitude
105°
Classification
Month-opening term · 节 jie
Month boundary
Goat 未 · solar month 6
Definition
What Minor Heat marks
The season behind the name
Minor Heat introduces the midsummer heat sequence, leading toward the stronger emphasis of Major Heat.
These names grew from seasonal observation and farming practice. They describe a traditional seasonal sequence, not a weather forecast for every region.
Minor Heat begins at the instant the Sun reaches 105 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 Heat opens solar branch month 6, associated with the Goat (未) 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
Warm winds arrive
温风至
- Second pentad
Crickets move to the walls
蟋蟀居壁
- Third pentad
Young hawks begin to hunt
鹰始挚