《六年级英文版清晰24节气思维导图》
Central Idea: The 24 Solar Terms (Twenty-Four Solar Terms)
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What are they?
- A traditional Chinese lunar calendar system that divides the year into 24 periods.
- Each term signifies a change in weather, natural phenomena, and agricultural activities.
- Reflects the Earth's orbit around the sun.
- Historically crucial for agriculture in China, still relevant today.
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Why are they important?
- Guide for farming: Planting, harvesting, irrigation.
- Cultural significance: Festivals, customs, food traditions.
- Understanding the seasons and nature's cycles.
- Help maintain harmony with the environment.
- Provides insight into ancient Chinese philosophy.
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How are they determined?
- Based on the sun's position along the ecliptic (Earth's orbit).
- Each term corresponds to a specific angle of the sun's ecliptic longitude (15-degree increments).
- Calculations involve astronomical observations and mathematical formulas.
Main Branches (categorized by Season):
I. Spring (春 - Chūn):
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Beginning of Spring (立春 - Lìchūn): (Around February 4th)
- English Description: The beginning of spring; nature starts to awaken.
- Activities: Preparing for spring planting, celebrating the start of a new agricultural year.
- Weather: Gradually warming, but still cool.
- Keyword: Awakening.
- Visual Cue: Sprouting plants, green shoots.
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Rain Water (雨水 - Yǔshuǐ): (Around February 19th)
- English Description: Rainfall increases, snow melts.
- Activities: Irrigating fields, preparing soil for planting.
- Weather: More frequent rain, temperature continues to rise.
- Keyword: Moisture.
- Visual Cue: Light rain, melting snow.
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Awakening of Insects (惊蛰 - Jīngzhé): (Around March 5th)
- English Description: Insects come out of hibernation.
- Activities: Pest control, preparing seeds.
- Weather: Warming rapidly, thunderstorms possible.
- Keyword: Revitalization.
- Visual Cue: Insects emerging from the ground.
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Spring Equinox (春分 - Chūnfēn): (Around March 20th)
- English Description: Day and night are of equal length.
- Activities: Spring planting in full swing, enjoying outdoor activities.
- Weather: Moderate temperatures, balanced rainfall.
- Keyword: Balance.
- Visual Cue: A perfectly balanced scale, blossoming flowers.
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Pure Brightness (清明 - Qīngmíng): (Around April 4th)
- English Description: Time for tomb sweeping and honoring ancestors.
- Activities: Visiting family graves, kite flying, outdoor picnics.
- Weather: Clear and bright, suitable for outdoor activities.
- Keyword: Remembrance.
- Visual Cue: Family visiting gravesites, flying kites.
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Grain Rain (谷雨 - Gǔyǔ): (Around April 20th)
- English Description: Rain nourishes crops and promotes growth.
- Activities: Planting rice seedlings, tea picking.
- Weather: Increased rainfall, essential for crop growth.
- Keyword: Nourishment.
- Visual Cue: Rice seedlings being planted, plentiful rain.
II. Summer (夏 - Xià):
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Beginning of Summer (立夏 - Lìxià): (Around May 5th)
- English Description: The beginning of summer.
- Activities: Protecting crops from pests, summer planting.
- Weather: Rising temperatures, increased humidity.
- Keyword: Growth.
- Visual Cue: Lush greenery, ripening fruit.
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Grain Full (小满 - Xiǎomǎn): (Around May 21st)
- English Description: Grain is beginning to ripen.
- Activities: Weeding fields, irrigating crops.
- Weather: Warm and humid, occasional showers.
- Keyword: Ripening.
- Visual Cue: Fields of ripening grain.
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Grain in Ear (芒种 - Mángzhòng): (Around June 5th)
- English Description: Wheat is ripe and ready for harvest.
- Activities: Harvesting wheat, planting late-season crops.
- Weather: Hot and humid, monsoon season begins in some areas.
- Keyword: Harvest.
- Visual Cue: Harvesting wheat with sickles.
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Summer Solstice (夏至 - Xiàzhì): (Around June 21st)
- English Description: The longest day of the year.
- Activities: Summer festivals, enjoying long daylight hours.
- Weather: Hot and humid, peak of summer.
- Keyword: Peak.
- Visual Cue: Bright sun overhead, long shadows.
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Slight Heat (小暑 - Xiǎoshǔ): (Around July 6th)
- English Description: The beginning of the hottest period.
- Activities: Protecting crops from the heat, harvesting early-season vegetables.
- Weather: Hot and humid, temperatures rising.
- Keyword: Heat.
- Visual Cue: People seeking shade, wilted plants.
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Great Heat (大暑 - Dàshǔ): (Around July 22nd)
- English Description: The hottest time of the year.
- Activities: Staying cool, preventing heatstroke, irrigating crops.
- Weather: Extremely hot and humid, heat waves common.
- Keyword: Intense Heat.
- Visual Cue: People using fans, swimming to cool down.
III. Autumn (秋 - Qiū):
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Beginning of Autumn (立秋 - Lìqiū): (Around August 7th)
- English Description: The beginning of autumn.
- Activities: Preparing for the autumn harvest, planting late-season vegetables.
- Weather: Temperatures begin to cool down, but still warm.
- Keyword: Transition.
- Visual Cue: Falling leaves, cooler breezes.
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Limit of Heat (处暑 - Chǔshǔ): (Around August 23rd)
- English Description: The end of the hottest weather.
- Activities: Harvesting early-season fruits, preparing for cooler weather.
- Weather: Temperatures gradually decreasing, humidity dropping.
- Keyword: Retreating Heat.
- Visual Cue: Ripe fruits on trees, slightly cooler evenings.
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White Dew (白露 - Báilù): (Around September 7th)
- English Description: Dew forms on the ground.
- Activities: Harvesting rice, picking cotton.
- Weather: Cooler temperatures, dew forms at night.
- Keyword: Dew.
- Visual Cue: Dewdrops on leaves and grass.
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Autumn Equinox (秋分 - Qiūfēn): (Around September 22nd)
- English Description: Day and night are of equal length again.
- Activities: Autumn harvest in full swing, celebrating the harvest season.
- Weather: Moderate temperatures, comfortable weather.
- Keyword: Equilibrium.
- Visual Cue: Balance scale, colorful autumn leaves.
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Cold Dew (寒露 - Hánlù): (Around October 8th)
- English Description: The dew becomes colder.
- Activities: Harvesting late-season crops, preparing for winter.
- Weather: Cold temperatures, heavier dew.
- Keyword: Chilling.
- Visual Cue: Frost on the ground, wearing warmer clothes.
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Frost's Descent (霜降 - Shuāngjiàng): (Around October 23rd)
- English Description: The first frost of the year.
- Activities: Protecting crops from frost, preparing for winter storage.
- Weather: Freezing temperatures, frost covering the ground.
- Keyword: Frost.
- Visual Cue: Frost-covered landscapes.
IV. Winter (冬 - Dōng):
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Beginning of Winter (立冬 - Lìdōng): (Around November 7th)
- English Description: The beginning of winter.
- Activities: Preparing for winter, storing food, winter sports.
- Weather: Cold temperatures, shorter days.
- Keyword: Dormancy.
- Visual Cue: Snow-covered landscapes, bare trees.
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Light Snow (小雪 - Xiǎoxuě): (Around November 22nd)
- English Description: The first snow of the year.
- Activities: Winter activities, enjoying the snow.
- Weather: Cold temperatures, light snowfall.
- Keyword: Snowfall.
- Visual Cue: Lightly falling snow.
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Heavy Snow (大雪 - Dàxuě): (Around December 7th)
- English Description: Heavy snowfall.
- Activities: Staying warm indoors, winter sports.
- Weather: Very cold temperatures, heavy snowfall.
- Keyword: Heavy Snow.
- Visual Cue: Deep snowdrifts, heavy snowfall.
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Winter Solstice (冬至 - Dōngzhì): (Around December 21st)
- English Description: The shortest day of the year.
- Activities: Eating dumplings, celebrating the winter solstice.
- Weather: Coldest time of the year, short daylight hours.
- Keyword: Minimal Sunlight.
- Visual Cue: Eating dumplings, celebrating with family.
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Slight Cold (小寒 - Xiǎohán): (Around January 5th)
- English Description: Slightly cold weather.
- Activities: Staying warm indoors, preparing for the New Year.
- Weather: Cold temperatures, ice.
- Keyword: Cold.
- Visual Cue: Icy landscapes, bundled-up people.
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Great Cold (大寒 - Dàhán): (Around January 20th)
- English Description: The coldest time of the year.
- Activities: Preparing for the Spring Festival, staying warm indoors.
- Weather: Very cold temperatures, strong winds.
- Keyword: Extreme Cold.
- Visual Cue: Frozen rivers, extremely cold weather.