Meaning of Chunbun (春分) — The 4th of the 24 Solar Terms, Around March 20-22
Chunbun (春分) is the 4th of the 24 solar terms. It falls around March 20-22, when the Sun reaches celestial longitude 0°.
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 春分 |
| Season | 🌱 Spring |
| Gregorian timing | Around March 20-22 |
| Solar longitude | 0° |
| Saju monthly command | Mid-qi (中氣) — the middle of the month |
| Key ideas | Balance of night and day, the start of full-scale farming |
Meaning and Origins
Chunbun is the day when the Sun crosses the equator and night and day become nearly equal in length. Celestial longitude 0° is also the astronomical starting point of the solar year, and from this day onward, daylight becomes longer than night.
Customs and Foods
In farming households, people gave songpyeon (servants’ rice cakes) to farmhands and asked for their hard work during the year’s farming season. It marked the turning point when full-scale sowing and fieldwork began.
Saju and the Solar Terms
Chunbun is a mid-qi (中氣), marking the middle of the lunar month. In myeongli studies, the boundary of the month pillar (月柱) is based on the 12 sectional terms (節), while the mid-qi is read as the point when that month’s energy becomes most concentrated.
Wisdom of This Season
A day divided evenly between light and darkness — this is a good solar term for checking the balance between work and rest, and between oneself and others.
Learn More
- See all 24 solar terms: 24절기 사전
- Today’s day energy, horoscope, and tarot: 오늘의 우주 (oiyo.net)
- A saju calendar guided by the solar terms: 사주 대사전
The solar terms are a seasonal calendar that divides the Sun’s path into 24 parts. This is a traditional explanation based on the climate of the Korean Peninsula, and the actual date may vary by about one day each year.
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