Meaning of Daehan (大寒) — the 24th of the 24 Solar Terms, around January 19-21
Daehan (大寒) is the 24th of the 24 solar terms, arriving around January 19-21 when the Sun reaches celestial longitude 300°.
At a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 大寒 |
| Season | ❄️ Winter |
| Gregorian timing | Around January 19-21 |
| Solar celestial longitude | 300° |
| Saju monthly command | Mid-qi (中氣) — the middle of the month |
| Core keywords | The end of the solar terms, the promise of spring |
Meaning and origin
Daehan means “great (大) cold (寒)” and is the final solar term among the 24 solar terms. Although its name suggests the deepest cold, in practice it is often milder than Sohan. About fifteen days later comes Ipchun, the Onset of Spring, so ending and beginning meet here.
Customs and foods
This is a time to close the old seasonal cycle and prepare for Seollal. On Jeju Island, the period from five days after Daehan to three days before Ipchun was called Singugan (新舊間), when people concentrated moves and home repairs into that interval.
Saju and solar terms
Daehan is a mid-qi (中氣), marking the middle of the month. In myeongnihak, 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 for this time
“At the end of Daehan, there is bright spring (陽春)” — every ending is another name for a beginning. Read the year’s final cold as a promise of spring.
Learn more
- See all 24 solar terms: 24절기 사전
- Today’s iljin, zodiac, and tarot: Today’s Universe (oiyo.net)
- A saju calendar moved by solar terms: Saju Dictionary
The solar terms are a seasonal calendar that divides the Sun’s path into twenty-four parts. This is a traditional interpretation based on the climate of the Korean Peninsula, and the actual date may vary by about a day each year.
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