The four seasons tell us where we are in the story of our year, but did you know that within each one, there are six miniseasons that last 15 days each? At least as far back as 139 B.C., sages in China recorded a seasonal change each year beginning around February 4 and called it Spring Commences.
This season is followed by Spring Showers, Insects Awaken, Spring Equinox, Bright and Clear, and Grain Rain. Summer, fall, and winter dance their intricate steps, too, which we’ll explore in this article, for a total of 24 solar terms. Each term is divided into three notable periods or pentads, of which there are 72.
