The 24 Solar Terms 二十四節氣 (Nijūshi Sekki)



The 24 Solar Terms 二十四節気 (Nijūshi Sekki)

What are the 24 Solar Terms?

The 24 Solar Terms is a calendar created by dividing the ecliptic—the path of the sun as seen from Earth—into 24 equal sections, with a season assigned to each period. Although originally created in ancient China as a guide for agriculture, it is more than just a simple division of the seasons. It is understood as a series of "turning points where the energy of the natural world shifts significantly," and it is believed that by aligning one's life with this flow, one can balance the mind and body and improve the flow of fortune (a practice known as kaiun 開運).

"Risshun 立春 (Beginning of Spring), Rikka 立夏 (Beginning of Summer), Rissh 立秋(Beginning of Autumn), and Rittō 立冬(Beginning of Winter)"—and those that mark a change in the length of day and night—"Shunbun 春分 (Spring Equinox), Shūbun 秋分(Autumn Equinox), Geshi 夏至 (Summer Solstice), and Tōji 冬至 (Winter Solstice)". Together, these are known as the "Hassetsu" (the eight key terms).

Here, we will introduce the spiritual meanings and "good fortune actions" for the most well-known of these solar terms.

1. 立春 (Risshun) – The True Beginning of the Year

This is the beginning of spring on the calendar and the first of the 24 Solar Terms. In the traditional calendar, it is considered the start of the new year, a powerful day of reset and new beginnings when the "yin 陰" energy of winter peaks and shifts to the "yang 陽" energy of spring.

  • Set New Goals: As the start of the year, this is the perfect time to begin new habits or take on new challenges. It is also a good day to visit a shrine to express gratitude and declare your goals.

  • Savor Spring Ingredients: By eating foods full of life force, such as butterbur sprouts (fukinotō) and rapeseed blossoms (nanohana), you can incorporate the season's energy into your body and feel revitalized.

  • Clean the Entryway and Windows: As this is a time when new energy flows in, cleaning the entrances to your home makes it easier to welcome in positive ki 氣 (life force).

2. 春分 (Shunbun) – The Day Connecting This World and the Next

The lengths of day and night become nearly equal, and from this day forward, the days grow longer. It is a day when the balance of yin 陰 and yang 陽 energy is perfected, and the boundary between the material and spiritual worlds is said to thin; some call it the "Cosmic New Year".

  • Express Gratitude to Ancestors: As this is the middle day of the Higan equinoctial week, expressing gratitude to your ancestors is believed to strengthen their protective power.

  • Bathe in the Sunlight: The sun on the Spring Equinox is said to be filled with powerful energy to help one advance to a new stage in life.

  • Meditation and Introspection: As intuition sharpens, taking quiet time to look within can lead to wonderful inspiration.

  • Eat Auspicious Foods: It is customary to eat botamochi (a sweet rice ball covered in azuki bean paste), named after the spring peony (botan). The azuki beans are believed to ward off evil spirits.

3. 夏至 (Geshi) – The Day Yang 陽 Energy Reaches its Peak

The longest day of the year, when the sun's "yang 陽" energy reaches its zenith, making it a powerful day for inviting good fortune. The energy of life force and development hits its peak, and from this day forward, the energy shifts toward the inward-facing "yin 陰".

  • Bathe in the Sun's Energy: Watch the sunrise or spend time in nature to absorb the sun's energy and fully charge your vitality.

  • Take Action: This is the perfect time to execute plans you have made or to express yourself proactively.

  • Actions for Gratitude and Financial Luck: Express gratitude for your growth and achievements. It is said that polishing your wallet or mirrors, or purchasing new work tools, will increase your financial and career-related fortune.

4. 冬至 (Tōji) – The Day Yin 陰 Peaks and Shifts to Yang 陽

The longest night of the year, when "yin 陰" energy is at its peak. However, from this day forward, "yang 陽" energy begins to increase, which is why this day is known as "Ichiyōraifuku" (the return of yang/positive energy), marking it as an important day when one's fortune turns upward.

  • Practice "Un-mori" by Eating Foods with "n" Sounds: Foods with two "n" sounds in their name—such as nankin (pumpkin) and renkon (lotus root)—are said to "pile up luck" (un-mori) and invite good fortune.

  • Take a Yuzu Bath: The strong fragrance of the yuzu citrus is believed to ward off evil spirits in a purification ritual (misogi). It is also associated with the wish that "long years of hardship will bear fruit".

  • Eat Konjac: Known as "'sweeping the sand from the intestines,'" this food is said to cleanse the body from the inside out, preparing you to welcome in new luck.

  • Rest the Body: As this is a major turning point for energy, it is important to rest and avoid overexertion, allowing you to build up your inner strength.

By consciously living through these seasonal turning points, you can ride the great flow of nature and make your daily life even richer.


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