section_path: Four-season reckoning/Solar/Solar terms
section_name: Solar terms
paragraph_text: Solar terms
  
  The traditional calendar in China has 4 seasons based on 24 periods, twelve of which are called zhōngqi and twelve of which are known as jiéqi. These periods are collectively known in English as "solar terms" or "solar breaths". The four seasons chūn (春), xià (夏), qiū (秋), and dōng (冬)—translated as "spring", "summer", "autumn", and "winter" —each center on the respective solstice or equinox. Astronomically, the seasons are said to begin on Lichun (立春, "the start of spring") on about 4 February, Lixia (立夏) on about 6 May, Liqiu (立秋) on about 8 August, and Lidong (立冬) on about 8 November. This system forms the basis of other such systems in East Asian lunisolar calendars.