Dongzhi (solar term)

For other uses, see Dongzhi County.

Solar term

Longi- tude	Term	Calendar
Spring
315°	Lichun	4-5 February
330°	Yushui	18-19 February
345°	Jingzhe	5-6 March
0°	Chunfen	20-21 March
15°	Qingming	4-5 April
30°	Guyu	20-21 April
Summer
45°	Lixia	5-6 May
60°	Xiaoman	21-22 May
75°	Mangzhong	5-6 June
90°	Xiazhi	21-22 June
105°	Xiaoshu	7-8 July
120°	Dashu	22-23 July
Autumn
135°	Liqiu	7-8 August
150°	Chushu	23-24 August
165°	Bailu	7-8 September
180°	Qiufen	23-24 September
195°	Hanlu	8-9 October
210°	Shuangjiang	23-24 October
Winter
225°	Lidong	7-8 November
240°	Xiaoxue	22-23 November
255°	Daxue	7-8 December
270°	Dongzhi	21-22 December
285°	Xiaohan	5-6 January
300°	Dahan	20-21 January

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (節氣). Dōngzhì (pīnyīn) or Tōji (rōmaji) (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese: Đông chí; literally: "winter's extreme") is the 22nd solar term, and marks the winter solstice. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 285°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around 21 December (22 December East Asia time) and ends around 5 January.

The solstices (as well as the equinoxes) mark the middle of the seasons in East Asian calendars. Here, the Chinese character "至" means "extreme", so the term for the winter solstice directly signifies the summit of winter, as "midwinter" is used in English.

In China, Dongzhi was originally celebrated as an end-of-harvest festival. Today, it is observed with a family reunion over the long night, when pink and white tangyuan are eaten in sweet broth to symbolise family unity and prosperity.

Date and Time (UTC)

year	begin	end
辛巳	2001-12-21 19:21	2002-01-05 12:43
壬午	2002-12-22 01:14	2003-01-05 18:27
癸未	2003-12-22 07:03	2004-01-06 00:18
甲申	2004-12-21 12:41	2005-01-05 06:03
乙酉	2005-12-21 18:34	2006-01-05 11:46
丙戌	2006-12-22 00:22	2007-01-05 17:40
丁亥	2007-12-22 06:07	2008-01-05 23:24
戊子	2008-12-21 12:03	2009-01-05 05:14
己丑	2009-12-21 17:46	2010-01-05 11:08
庚寅	2010-12-21 23:38	2011-01-05 16:54
辛卯	2011-12-22 05:30	2012-01-05 22:43
壬辰	2012-12-21 11:11	2013-01-05 04:33
癸巳	2013-12-21 17:11	2014-01-05 10:24
甲午	2014-12-21 23:03	2015-01-05 16:20

Source: JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System

See also

• Dōngzhì Festival
• Winter solstice

Preceded by Daxue (大雪)

Solar term (節氣)

Succeeded by Xiaohan (小寒)