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  In Korea, one year in Solar calender is divided into 24 periods
called "solar terms" ("ki" in Korean). This division is based on the movements of the
sun along ecliptic. Each term represents the data in which the sun passes through the
point denoted by a multiple of 15 degrees along the ecliptic. For example, "Spring
Equinox" is the date in which the sun passes through the point of degree in the
ecliptic longitude. In the next term "Pure Brightness", which is about two weeks
after Spring Equinox, the sun passes through the point of 15 degrees in the celestial
longitude.
  Since they indicate changes of seasons, the 24 solar terms provides
useful informations for the agricultural sector. The farmers referred to the solar
terms even in the period when the Lunar calendar prevailed.
***PRINCIPLE AND SECTIONAL TERMS***
NO. |
ECLIPTIC LONGITUDE |
APPROXIMATE GREGORIAN DATE |
KOREAN |
ENGLISH |
23 |
285 |
  Jan. 5 |
  So-Han |
Moderate Cold |
24 |
300 |
  Jan.20 |
  Dae-Han |
Severe Cold |
1 |
315 |
  Feb. 4 |
  Ip-Chun |
Beginning of Spring |
2 |
330 |
  Feb. 19 |
  Ou-Su |
Rain Water |
3 |
345 |
  Mar. 6 |
  Gyeong-Chip |
Insects Awaken |
4 |
0 |
  Mar. 21 |
  Chun-Bun |
Vernal Equinox |
5 |
15 |
  Apr. 5 |
  Cheong-Myeong |
Pure Brightness |
6 |
30 |
  Apr.20 |
  Gog-Wo |
Grain Rain |
7 |
45 |
  May 6 |
  Ip-Ha |
Beginning of Summer |
8 |
60 |
  May 21 |
  So-Man |
Grain Fills |
9 |
75 |
  Jun. 6 |
  Mang-Jong |
Awn Appears |
10 |
90 |
  Jun. 21 |
  Ha-Ji |
Summer Solstice |
11 |
105 |
  Jul.7 |
  So-Seo |
Moderate Heat |
12 |
120 |
  Jul.23 |
  Dae-Seo |
Great Heat |
13 |
135 |
  Aug. 8 |
  Ip-Chu |
Beginning of Autumn |
14 |
150 |
  Aug.23 |
  Cheo-Seo |
Heat Ends |
15 |
165 |
  Sept. 8 |
  Baek-Ro |
White Dew |
16 |
180 |
  Sept.23 |
  Chu-Bun |
Autumn Equinox |
17 |
195 |
  Oct. 8 |
  Han-Ro |
Cold Dew |
18 |
210 |
  Oct.23 |
  Sang-Gang |
Frost Descends |
19 |
225 |
  Nov. 7 |
  Ip-Dong |
Beginning of Winter |
20 |
240 |
  Nov.22 |
  So-Seol |
Light Snow |
21 |
255 |
  Dec. 6 |
  Dae-Seol |
Heavy Snow |
22 |
270 |
  Dec.22 |
  Dong-Gie |
Winter Solstice |
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