The 24 Solar Terms
More than 2,000 years ago,ancient Chinese people created an overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the sun's motion,called "The 24 Solar Terms".In the international meterorlogical field ,the 24 Solar Terms are hailed as "the fifth great invention of China".In 2016,The 24 Solar Terms were included in the UNESCO 's representative list of the intangible culture heritage of humidity.
The 24 Solar Terms are start of Spring,Rain Water,Insects Awaken ,Spring Equinox ,Clear and Bright,Grain Rain,Start of Summer,Grain Buds ,Grain in Ear ,Summer Solstice ,Minor Heat,Major Heat,Start of Autumn,The End of Heat,White Dew ,Autumn Equinox,Cold Dew,Frost's Descent ,Start of Winter,Minor Snow,Major Snow,Winter Solstice,Minor Cold,and Major Cold.Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are the two days of year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively,while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime.Trought these 4 points,a year is divided to 4 parts:Spring、Summer、Autumn、Winter.
In ancient times,this system not only guided agricultural production,instructing farmers to expect changes in temperature,spring planting and autumn harvest,but also directed Chinese folk customs.For example,Winter Solstice was the first one coined among the 24 solar terms,and later evolved into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors.Everyyear at Winter Solstice,emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties(1368-1912) would go to the Temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven,praying for good weather for their crops,and peace and prosperity for the country.
Nowadays,the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming ,but also guide Chinese in everyday life.They remind people to adap t to the changes in the seasons for suitable foods and cultural rituals.
两千多年前，中国人通过观察太阳的运动轨迹，创立了二十四节气这个古老而科学的时间制度，称为"二十四节气"。在国际气象界，二十四节气被誉为"中国第五大发明"。2016年，二十四节气被正式列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。
二十四节气具体包括立春、雨水、惊蛰、春分、清明、谷雨、立夏、小满、芒种、夏至、小暑、大暑、立秋、处暑、白露、秋分、寒露、霜降、立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒。（春雨惊春清谷天，夏满芒夏暑相连。秋处露秋寒霜降，冬雪雪冬小大寒。）它分别以夏至、冬至作为一年之中白昼最长、最短的时间点，以春分、秋分作为昼夜最平衡的点。通过这四个时间点，一年被分为四部分：春、夏、秋、冬。
在古代，这套时间制度不仅是农业生产的指南针，指导农民预测冷暖、春种秋收，还是民俗文化的风向标。例如，冬至是二十四节气中最早被制订的一个，后来逐渐演变成祭天祭祖的节日。明清时期每逢冬至，皇帝便到天坛举行祭天大典。祈求来年风调雨顺，国泰民安。
现在，二十四节气早已超越传统的农耕生活，深入到中国人民的衣食住行。它通过特殊的节令事物和文化仪式提示人民顺应季节的交替。
overall framework 总体框架
overall，总体的、全面的、综合的
passage of time 时间流逝passage，通道、段落、短文、部分