What is the use of solar terms?

January 18, 2017

Chinese Science

  At the 11th ordinary meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Conference on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the 24th Solar Terms of the People's Republic of China was formally listed in the "List of Representative Works of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". For a time, large and small screen filled with a moving picture of the festival.

  With the weakening of the functions of 24 solar terms agricultural production, it is mostly used as a kind of traditional culture to display, put some emotion, and the interaction with real life is not "warm." In fact, in modern society, twenty-four solar term is by no means the "cultural products", each person can be more or less with it have some "association."

  China's "fifth largest invention"

  In the "Book of Rites order" in a note there is this sentence: Zhou Gong time for the system, set 24 solar terms, seventy-two waiting time, the climax. Therefore, the Chinese "climate" is actually derived from the twenty-four solar terms.

  The reason why the 24 solar terms, because in the traditional agricultural society, agricultural production entirely dependent on the weather to eat, you want a good harvest, we must strictly control the law of weather with time.

  In the astronomical celestial coordinates, the earth revolves around the sun orbit called the "ecliptic", the Earth's orbit is called "equator", and the ecliptic and equatorial plane exists between the angle of about 23.5 degrees, the sun one year Four seasons direct the location of the Earth is different, which has a seasonal change. The ancient Chinese people use sundial to measure the length of sun shade, the longest day of the year is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the shadows is the summer solstice; in the spring and autumn two days each day day and night time is equal, these two days are the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox . Until the Qin and Han Dynasties, 24 solar terms completely established. The Earth revolves around the sun for a year, the angle of 360 degrees, so the average every 15 months turned halfway, with the corresponding usher in a solar terms.

  Qingming next species, Guyu transplanting. The ancients is the use of 24 solar terms for farmland management, projections crop growth and development stage, to ensure the basic harvest, to solve this first-class food event.

  But in two thousand years later, twenty-four solar terms to guide the role of agricultural production has been minimal. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences researcher Lin Zhiguang explained that this is not only because of more scientific modern weather forecasting technology, in fact, 24 solar terms since the date of birth there are limitations.

  The appearance of 24 solar terms is the first service in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River agricultural production, that is, its application first by the geographical constraints. This is why this invention is difficult to spread to other countries, apply the root causes.

  Even in the Yellow River basin, it can not be very accurate. Lin Zhiguang said that the 24 solar terms are based on astronomy in the sun on the location of the zodiac space division, such as four seasons, the emergence of each solar term is basically a fixed time. However, the actual climate of this region is the winter and summer long spring autumn short, so many solar term name is unworthy of the name, for example, the beginning of spring is still frozen in the cold, the beginning of autumn but autumn tiger rampage.Moreover, due to the prevalence of continental monsoon climate in different years, Very large, if the annual fixed income in accordance with the date of farming, abnormal weather, the year will be poor harvest.

  As a result, the ancients used some methods to remedy. For example, with the growth and changes of animals and plants as a reference, with Phenology to supplement the guidance of farming, "jujube bud, cotton," "neem bloom, cut barley" ... ... In addition, the use of sowing method to reduce the possible losses.

  From this perspective, the 24 solar terms of agricultural production guidance is indeed just a rough idea. But people must not ignore its significance and value in Chinese meteorology.

  Lin Zhiguang specifically mentioned that China is the world's rare winter and summer climate differences so extreme of the country, both "big cold" and "Great Heat", and changes in pace. The ancients used 24 solar terms described in detail the climate of China's most important features and laws, which in other countries is unique.

  The fast-paced climate corresponds to fast-paced agriculture. As the saying goes: people mistakenly 1:00, to mistake one year. Ancient Chinese farmers is to twenty-four solar terms as a guide, relying on rob species, grab, grab the way of labor, which makes this civilization to thrive. "Twenty-four solar terms for China's 'fifth-largest invention', not too!" Lin said the light.

  Solar Terms and Chinese Medical Culture

  For most people, now the twenty-four solar terms mainly in the "Chinese old season culture" in the form of continued development and enrichment. For example, the spring to spring, Ching Ming to be outing, before the rain to enjoy the rain before the tea, Li Qiu to eat fruits and so on, to people's lives has brought a lot of fun. Many local folk still spread some proverbs, such as the winter solstice dumplings, summer solstice; Qingming Kite, Gu Yuhua and so on. These proverbs contain a wealth of folklore. In fact, the solar terms of the practical role of not only that.

  Traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine culture is an important part of traditional culture. Lin Zhiguang believes that since this culture was born in China only, and China is bound to the unique climatic conditions are closely linked. It is the rapid change, great amplitude of the special climate have a corresponding special medicine. The theoretical basis of Chinese medicine is the corresponding concept of Heaven and Man, then people medical treatment, health is obviously related to meteorological factors.

  "Chinese medicine believes that the 'four seasons' changes, that is, distinct changes in the temperature of the spring, summer, autumn and winter, is the most important changes affecting human health, but also the main external cause of human disease, so' Shun four seasons "This may also be why the latitude in the temperate zone is only the most cold in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River was born a major reason for the Chinese medicine."

In addition, he also cites Road, from the now very popular view of traditional Chinese medicine health, autumn from the beginning of the autumn solar terms, close to the Great Heat, hot and wet, Chinese medicine is divided into long summer season, the end of the fall; Dry and cold. Therefore, the beginning of autumn and autumn, although in the same season, but the climate is exactly the opposite, the doctor encountered seasonal disease and Chinese medicine health needs to prevent seasonal disease is also very different. Therefore, medical treatment and health not only need to distinguish between the four seasons, but also follow the solar terms to go.

  The existence and development of traditional Chinese medicine, it is also the embodiment of the practical value of solar terms.

  Solar Terms and Time Philosophy

  In addition to solar terms with the agricultural sector, and medical health, but also with each person on life, nature, life, feelings of the universe, cognition.

  Cultural scholars Yu Shi Cun will be 24 solar terms compiled into a "book of time." "Farmers with the help of solar terms, not only a year fixed to the cultivation, fertilization, irrigation, harvesting, and so the cycle of crop growth collection system, will also be time and production and life freeze to the corresponding and even the unity of the state. "This is derived from his philosophical insights. "Sunrise and for the Japanese into the interest rate," "gentleman to dark into the feast," the production and life sometimes, the life of social sections, personal human gas, solar terms not only into the time coordinates, but also evolved into integrity, to remind life Hundred years, the need to have the spirit of defensive.

  In the Osmanti solar terms need to have economic awareness, in the festive solar terms need to repair their own, in the beginning of autumn need to plan consciousness, in the autumnal equinox to understand the recluse without boring ... ... In his view, the relationship between time and people can observe the human Temperament, people in time to know themselves, to settle down.

  Unfortunately, modern people over time, lost the sense of time. "If people honestly face themselves, it should be recognized that their natural isolation with the world of contemporary people for the community, technology, a class of things coerced, the biological world, the right time to lose the feeling, almost ignorant of the nature of Taoist nature, And thus more lost their ancestors as the spirit, not to mention integrity. "Yu Shicun said, the modern time disorder as a progress, beyond the time as a leap in civilization, this is dangerous.

  So, to find their own time, in the right time to do the right thing, and then wait for the harvest.

  Solar Terms and Natural History Education

  As the 24 solar terms of success, will bring more people to this cultural heritage, carry forward. In addition to attracting the attention of adults, it can also produce a connection with the children.

  Last fall, the Chinese Academy of Sciences by the planning of the geographical resources of the twenty-four solar terms of the original science popular textbook "This is the 24 solar terms" hot network, and this year won the 11th "Wenjin Book Award."

The author Gao Chunxiang has been engaged in the education work, because the child accidentally a question, let her realize that in rural areas grew up in their understanding of the 24 solar terms actually just that section of the first section of the air song.

  "The reason why I decided to do this picture book, is to tell the children, 24 solar terms in addition to a culture, the first nature of our language, it is worth every one of us to listen." Gao Chunxiang said that the ancients only Looking at the stars, focusing on observation, adhere to the record, from generation to generation, it created a world masterpiece, "but do not forget, this is our children have the ability to do."

  Therefore, the creative team is the twenty-four solar terms as a natural education to convey the concept of education or natural entry. They selected the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River as a representative of the 24 solar terms, through the origin of different solar terms, astronomy, climate, phenology, farming, folk festival description, let the children a complete understanding of the characteristics of an area  of solar terms .

  The most important thing is that the picture book to the children left out the space for interactive participation. By filling in the calendar, Tu temperature, measuring sun shadow, sericulture, the concept of knowledge and other scientific experiments Beidou know, earthen eggs, dumplings, egg bags, making lotus lanterns and other traditional skills, the children back to the field, , Spontaneously to observe, experience, love and creativity.

  24 solar terms give us the opportunity to connect with nature, try to challenge the old education model. In Gao Chunxiang, its practical value is beyond our understanding of this culture in the past.