A Solar Term is any of 24 points in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. These solar terms have meaningful titles, Some of them reflect the change of seasons, some embody the phenomena of climate, and some indicate the change of climate. I create this series illustration to visualize these meaningful titles and the background stories behind them.
立春 (Li Chun) Spring Begins The beginning of spring
雨水 (Yu Shui) The Rain There is an increase of rainfall from then on
惊蛰 (JingZhe) Awakening of Insects Thunder begins and hibernating insects wake up
春分 (Chun Fen) Vernal Equinox With an equal length of day and night
清明 (Qing Ming) Clear and Bright It is clear and bright, and it is time for tending graves
谷雨 (Gu Yu) Grain Rain Rainfall is helpful to grain, and the early crops show their shoots.
立夏 (Li Xia)Summer Begins The beginning of summer
小满 (Xiao Man) Grain Full The seeds of summer crops begin to become plump, but are not yet ripe
芒种 (Mang Zhong) Grain in Ear The wheat becomes ripe; and the summer planting starts
夏至 (Xia Zhi) Summer Solstice The daytime is the longest and the nighttime is the shortest of the year
小暑 (Xiao Shu) Lesser Heat Torridity comes
大暑 (Da Shu) Great Heat The hottest moment of a year
立秋 (Li Qiu)Start of Autumn Autumn begins
处暑 (Chu Shu) Limit of Heat Heat hides, every family place lights on the flowing river,lay offerings on the table or altar, and offer sacrifices to their ancestors
白露 (Bai Lu) White Dew Condensed moisture makes dew white
秋分 (Qiu Fen) Autumnal Equinox With an equal length of day and night
寒露 (Han Lu) Cold Dew The weather becomes cold enough to reach dew point, but not cold enough to reach frost point
霜降 (Shuang Jiang) Hoar-frost Falls The weather becomes cold and frost begins to form
立冬 (Li Dong) Start of Winter Winter begins，all the animals are ready to hide and start winter sleep
小雪 (Xiao Xue) Minor Snow Snow begins to fall, the weather becomes cold
大雪 (Da Xue) major snow It snows heavily for the first time in the year
冬至 (Dong Zhi) Winter Solstice The daytime is the shortest and the night time is the longest of the year，the opposite of the Southern Hemisphere
小寒 (Xiao Han) Slight Cold It is rather cold
大寒 (Da Han) Great Cold The coldest moment of a year
