Meaning and Customs of Usu (雨水) — The 2nd of the 24 Solar Terms, Around February 18-20
Usu (雨水) is the 2nd of the 24 solar terms. It arrives around February 18-20, when the sun reaches celestial longitude 330°.
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 雨水 |
| Season | 🌱 Spring |
| Gregorian timing | Around February 18-20 |
| Solar celestial longitude | 330° |
| Saju monthly command | Mid-qi (中氣) — the middle of the month |
| Key ideas | Snow turning to rain, thawing, farming preparations |
Meaning and Origin
Usu means “snow melts and becomes rain (雨水).” As the saying goes, “At Usu and Gyeongchip, the Daedong River thaws.” It is a solar term of thawing, when frozen rivers loosen and wild geese return north.
Customs and Foods
Farming households began preparing in earnest for the year’s farming, and Usu was also considered a good time to make jang (醬), fermented sauces and pastes. People said jang made at Usu would not lose its flavor.
Saju and the Solar Term
Usu is a mid-qi (中氣), marking the middle of the lunar month. In myeongnihak, the boundary of the month pillar (月柱) is based on the 12 section terms (節), while the mid-qi is read as the point when that month’s energy becomes most concentrated.
Wisdom for This Time
A time when what accumulated through winter melts and begins to flow — a fitting solar term for clearing away old burdens and old emotions.
Learn More
- View all 24 solar terms: 24절기 사전
- Today’s day energy, zodiac, and tarot: 오늘의 우주 (oiyo.net)
- A saju calendar guided by solar terms: 사주 대사전
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 a day each year.
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