China’s Twenty-Four Solar Terms has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the UN committee.
China’s “24 solar terms” is a knowledge system and social practice formed through observation of the sun’s annual motion, and an understanding of a whole year’s changes of season,
climate and phenology.
The 24 terms include Start of Spring 立春, Rain Water 雨水, Awakening of Insects 驚蟄, Spring Equinox 春分, Clear and Bright 清明, Grain Rain 谷雨, Start of Summer 立夏, Grain Buds 小 滿, Grain in Ear 芒種, Summer Solstice 夏至, Minor Heat 小暑, Major Heat 大暑, Start of Autumn 立秋, End of Heat 處暑, White Dew 白露, Autumn Equinox 秋分, Cold Dew 寒露, Frost’s Descent 霜降, Start of Winter 立 冬, Minor Snow 小雪, Major Snow 大雪, Winter Solstice 冬至, Minor Cold 小寒 and Major Cold 大寒.
The inscription was approved during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.