The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms.[1] Chūnfēn, Shunbun, Chunbun, or Xuân phân is the 4th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 15°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around 20 March and ends around 4 April (5 April East Asia time). It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 0°.
Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads (候). They are: first pentad (初候), second pentad (次候) and last pentad (末候). Pentads in Chunfen include:
- First pentad: 玄鳥至, 'The dark birds arrive'. 'Dark bird' in this case refers to swallows, which are also making their northward migration.[2]
- Second pentad: 雷乃發聲, 'Thunder sounds', referring to the onset of spring thunderstorms.[2]
- Last pentad: 始電, 'Lightning begins'. This refers to thunderstorms as well, but also to the gradual lengthening of daytime, and the prevalence of sunlight.[2]
A pentad as follows was referred to Japanese traditional calendar presented in a smaller, easy to use, format.
- First pentad: Suzume hajimete sukuu (雀始巣), 'Sparrow begins holding a nest'.[3]
- Second pentad: Sakura hajimete hiraku (桜始開), 'Cherry blossoms open for the first time'.[3]
- Last pentad: Kaminari sunawachi koeo hassu (雷乃発声), 'Distant thunder start to sound'.[3]
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2020)
Date and Time (UTC)
year |
begin |
end
|
辛巳
|
2001-03-20 13:30
|
2001-04-04 17:24
|
壬午
|
2002-03-20 19:16
|
2002-04-04 23:18
|
癸未
|
2003-03-21 00:59
|
2003-04-05 04:52
|
甲申
|
2004-03-20 06:48
|
2004-04-04 10:43
|
乙酉
|
2005-03-20 12:33
|
2005-04-04 16:34
|
丙戌
|
2006-03-20 18:25
|
2006-04-04 22:15
|
丁亥
|
2007-03-21 00:07
|
2007-04-05 04:04
|
戊子
|
2008-03-20 05:48
|
2008-04-04 09:45
|
己丑
|
2009-03-20 11:43
|
2009-04-04 15:33
|
庚寅
|
2010-03-20 17:32
|
2010-04-04 21:30
|
辛卯
|
2011-03-20 23:20
|
2011-04-05 03:11
|
壬辰
|
2012-03-20 05:14
|
2012-04-04 09:05
|
癸巳
|
2013-03-20 11:01
|
2013-04-04 15:02
|
甲午
|
2014-03-20 16:57
|
2014-04-04 20:46
|
乙未
|
2015-03-20 22:48
|
2015-04-05 02:39
|
丙申
|
2016-03-20 04:30
|
2016-04-04 08:26
|
丁酉
|
2017-03-20 10:30
|
2017-04-04 14:19
|
戊戌
|
2018-03-20 16:24
|
2018-04-04 20:15
|
己亥
|
2019-03-20 22:06
|
2019-04-05 01:51
|
庚子
|
2020-03-20 03:54
|
2020-04-04 07:37
|
Source: JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System
|