Collated and Translated By Heiner Fruehauf
National University of Natural Medicine, College of Classical Chinese Medicine

Collated and translated from the Yizhou shu (Document of Zhou, fl. 3rd century) and a variety of Han and pre-Han dynasty texts.

MONTH 24 SEASONAL NODES (JIEQI) 72 MATERIAL MANIFESTATIONS (WUHUO)
1st MONTH

正月

 

(February 4/5)

 

LUNG

Lichun 立春

(Beginning of Spring)

(315°)

 

 

Yushui 雨水

(Rain Water)

(330°)

  • Dongfeng jiedong 東風解凍 (The East Wind Liberates From Icy Shackles)
  • Zhechong shi zhen 蟄蟲始振 (Hibernating Insects Begin to Stir)
  • Yu shang bing 魚上冰 (Fish Rise Up to the Ice)
  • Ta ji yu 獺祭魚 (Otters Sacrifice Fish)
  • Hongyan lai 鴻雁來 (Swan Geese Appear)
  • Caomu mengdong 草木萌動 (Vegetation Sprouts)
2nd MONTH

二月

 

(March 5/6)

 

LARGE INTESTINE

Jingzhe 驚蟄

(Awakening of Insects)

(345°)

 

Chunfen 春分

(Spring Equinox)

(0°)

  • Tao shi hua 桃始華 (Peach Trees Begin to Blossom)
  • Canggeng ming 倉庚鳴 (Orioles Sing)
  • Ying hua wei jiu 鷹化爲鳩 (Hawks Transform Into Cuckoos)
  • Xuanniao zhi 玄鳥至 (Swallows Arrive)
  • Lei nai fasheng 雷乃發聲 (Thunder Starts Resounding)
  • Shi dian 始電 (Beginning of Lightning)
3rd MONTH

三月

 

(April 4/5)

 

STOMACH

Qingming 清明

(Clear and Bright)

(15°)

 

 

Guyu 穀雨

(Grain Rain)

(30°)

  • Tong shi hua 桐始華 (Tung Trees Begin to Blossom)
  • Tianshu hua wei ru 田鼠化為鴽 (Field Voles Transform Into Quails)
  • Hong shi jian 虹始見 (Rainbows Begin to Appear)
  • Ping shi sheng 萍始生 (Duckweed Begins to Grow)
  • Mingjiu fu qi yu 鳴鳩拂其羽 (Cuckoos Flutter Their Wings)
  • Daisheng jiang yu sang 戴勝降于桑 (Hoopoes Land on Mulberry Trees)
4th MONTH

立夏

 

(May 5/6)

 

SPLEEN

Lixia 立夏

(Beginning of Summer)

(45°)

 

 

Xiaoman 穀雨

(Minor Fullness)

(60°)

  • Luguo ming 螻蟈鳴 (Mole Crickets Croon)
  • Qiuyin chu 蚯蚓出 (Earthworms Emerge)
  • Wanggua sheng 王瓜生 (Snake Gourds Grow)
  • Kucai xiu 苦菜秀 (Sow Thistles Are in Seed)
  • Micao si 靡草死 (Shepherd’s Purses Expire)
  • Xiaoshu zhi 小暑至 (麥秋至) (Minor Summer Heat Expires)
5th MONTH

五月

 

(June 5/6)

 

HEART

Mangzhong 芒種

(Bearded Grain)

(75°)

 

 

Xiazhi 夏至

(Summer Solstice)

(90°)

  • Tanglang sheng 螳螂生 (Praying Mantises Are Born)
  • Ju shi ming 鵙始鳴 (Shrikes Begin to Sing)
  • Fanshe wusheng 反舌無聲 (Mocking Birds Cease to Vocalize)
  • Lujiao jie 鹿角解 (Deer Shed Their Horns)
  • Tiao shi ming 蜩 (蟬) 始鳴 (Cicadas Begin to Sing)
  • Banxia sheng 半夏生 (Pinellia Grows)
6th MONTH

六月

 

(July 7/8)

 

SMALL INTESTINE

Xiaoshu 小暑

(Minor Heat)

(105°)

 

 

Dashu 大暑

(Major Heat)

(120°)

  • Wenfeng zhi 溫風(始)至 (Sultry  Winds Arrive)
  • Xishuai ju bi 蟋蟀居壁 (Crickets Take Up Residence in Walls)
  • Ying nai xuexi 鷹乃學習 (Young Hawks Learn How to Fly)
  • Fucao hua wei ying 腐草化為螢 (Decaying Grass Transforms Into Fire Flies)
  • Tu run ru shu 土潤溽暑 (The Earth Lies Wet Beneath Sweltering Heat)
  • Dayu shixing 大雨時行 (Heavy Rain Falls Intermittently)
7th MONTH

七月

 

(August 7/8)

 

BLADDER

Liqiu 立秋

(Beginning of Autumn)

(135°)

 

 

Chushu 處暑

(End of Heat)

(150°)

  • Liangfeng zhi 涼風至 (Cool Winds Arrive)
  • Bailu jiang 白露降 (White Dew Descends)
  • Hanchan ming 寒蟬鳴 (Autumn Crickets Sing)
  • Ying nai ji niao 鷹乃祭鳥 (Hawks Start to Sacrifice Birds)
  • Tiandi shi su 天地始肅 (Heaven and Earth Become Austere)
  • He nai deng 禾乃登 (Rice Plants Are Harvested and Presented as Offering)
8th MONTH

八月

 

(September 7/8)

 

KIDNEY

Bailu 白露

(White Dew)

(165°)

 

 

Qiufen 秋分

(Autumn Equinox)

(180°)

  • Hongyan lai 鴻雁來 (Swan Geese Pass Through)
  • Xuanniao gui 玄鳥歸 (Swallows Go Back)
  • Qunniao yangxiu 群鳥養羞 (Flocks of Birds Stockpile Morsels)
  • Lei shi shousheng 雷始收聲 (Thunder Begins to Retract Its Sound)
  • Zhechong pei hu 蟄蟲培戶 (Hibernating Insects Reinforce Their Shelters)
  • Shui shi he 水始涸(Water Begins to Dry Up)
9th MONTH

九月

 

(October 8/9)

 

PERICARDIUM

Hanlu 寒露

(Cold Dew)

(195°)

 

 

Shuangjiang 霜降

(Hoarfrost Descends)

(210°)

  • Hongyan lai bin 鴻雁來賓 (Swan Geese Come and Stay)
  • Jue ru dashui wei ge 爵入大水爲蛤 (Siskins Dive Into the Watery Abyss to Become Clams)
  • Ju you huanghua 菊有黃華 (Chrysanthemums Display Yellow Flowers)
  • Chai nai ji shou 犲乃祭獸 (Dholes Start to Sacrifice Beasts)
  • Caomu huangluo 草木黃落(Vegetation Withers and Defoliates)
  • Zhechong xianfu 蟄蟲咸附 (Hibernating Insects Stop Up Their Burrows)
10th MONTH

十月

 

(November 7/8)

 

TRIPLE WARMER

Lidong 立冬

(Beginning of Winter)

(225°)

 

 

Xiaoxue 小雪

(Minor Snow)

(240°)

  • Shui shi bing 水始冰 (Water Begins to Freeze)
  • Di shi dong 地始凍 (Earth Begins to Harden)
  • Zhi ru dashui wei shen 雉入大水為蜃 (Pheasants Dive Into the Watery Abyss to Become Giant Clams)
  • Hong cang bujian 虹藏不見 (Rainbows Stay Hidden and Out of Sight)
  • Tianqi shangteng, diqi xiajiang 天氣上騰,地氣下降 (Heavenly Qi Ascends, Earthly Qi Descends)
  • Bisai er cheng dong 閉塞而成冬 (All is Shut Up and Has Reached Its Wintry End)
11th MONTH

十一月

 

(December 7/8)

 

GALL BLADDER

Daxue 大雪

(Major Snow)

(255°)

 

 

Dongzhi 冬至

(Winter Solstice)

(270°)

  • Hedan bu ming 鶡旦不鳴 (Spangled Drongos Cease to Sing)
  • Hu shi jiao 虎始交 (Tigers Begin to Couple)
  • Li tingsheng 荔挺生 (Water Irises Grow)
  • Qiuyin jie 蚯蚓結 (Earthworms Congeal)
  • Mijiao jie麋角解 (Moose Deer Shed Their Horns)
  • Shuiquan dong 水泉動 (Aquifers Churn)
12th MONTH

十二月

 

(January 5/6)

 

LIVER

Xiaohan 小寒

(Minor Cold)

(285°)

 

 

Dahan 大寒

(Major Cold)

(300°)

  • Yan bei xiang 雁北向 (Geese Head North)
  • Que shi chao 鵲始巢 (Magpies Begin Nest-Building)
  • Zhi shi gou 雉始雊 (Ring-necked Pheasants Begin to Crow)
  • Ji shi ru 雞始乳 (Hens Begin to Breed)
  • Zhiniao liji 鷙鳥厲疾 (Birds of Prey Act Fierce and Swift)
  • Shuize fujian 水澤腹堅 (Rivers and Lakes Are Frozen Within)

© 2009 Heiner Fruehauf