The traditional
Chinese lunisolar calendar
The traditional Chinese calendar (also known as the Agricultural Calendar ��曆; 农历; ''Nónglì''; 'farming calendar' Former Calendar ��曆; 旧历; ''Jiùlì'' Traditional Calendar ��曆; 老历; ''Lǎolì'', is a lunisolar calendar ...
divides a year into 24
solar term
A solar term is any of twenty-four periods in traditional Chinese calendar, Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic and are ...
s.
''Dàxuě'' () is the 21st solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the
celestial longitude of 255° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 270°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 255°. In the
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years di ...
, it usually begins around 7 December and ends around 21 December (22 December East Asia time).
Pentads
*鶡旦不鳴, 'The jie-bird ceases to crow': the ''jie'' is a bird, similar to the pheasant, which is believed to be aggressive and combatant. As winter progresses, even this active bird slows and ceases to crow.
*虎始交, 'Tigers begin to mate'
*荔挺生, 'The litchi plant (tree) starts to germinate.'
Date and time
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daxue (Solar Term)
21
Winter time