二十四節気
Ancestral calendar
Nijūshi Sekki
Understanding time at the rhythm of life
Before the adoption of the modern calendar, Japan relied on an ancestral solar calendar called Koyomi, divided into 24 seasons: the Nijūshi Sekki.
Rather than four fixed seasons, the year unfolds in 24 periods of approximately fifteen days, each describing a precise and observable change. Each period is itself divided into three micro-seasons, the kō, giving birth to 72 movements of life. A subtle rhythm that invites you to slow down, observe, and adjust your actions to the present moment.
1. Risshun (立春)
Start of spring — February 4
Risshun marks the true Japanese New Year according to the traditional calendar. Even though the cold persists, the light changes and the energy of spring awakens beneath the surface.
Harukaze kōri wo tokuEast wind melts the ice (Feb. 4–8)
Uguisu nakuThe Japanese warbler begins to sing (Feb. 9–13)
Uo kōri wo izuruFish burst out of the ice (Feb. 14–18)
2. Usui (雨水)
Snow becomes rain — February 19
The ice melts, the snow turns to rain. Water begins to circulate again and prepares the land for future crops.
Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoruThe land begins to moisten (Feb. 19–23)
Kasumi hajimete tanabikuThe mist begins to roll in (Feb. 24–28)
Sōmoku mebae izuruPlants begin to bud (March 1–4)
3. Keichitsu (啓蟄)
The Awakening of the Insects — March 6
Insects emerge from the ground after hibernation. Nature comes alive, the peach flowers begin to bloom.
Sugomori mushi to wo hirakuInsects open their shelters (March 6–10)
Momo hajimete sakuPeach trees begin to bloom (March 11–14)
Namushi chō ni naruCaterpillars become butterflies (March 15–20)
4. Shunbun (春分)
Spring equinox — March 20
Day and night are equal. Period of balance between yin and yang.
Suzume hajimete su wo tsukuruSparrows begin to nest (March 20–24)
Sakura hajimete sakuCherry trees begin to bloom (March 25–29)
Kaminari sunawachi koe wo hassuThunder begins to rumble (March 30–April 3)
5. Seimei (清明)
Clarity and purity — April 4
The air becomes clear, the light intensifies. Nature fully enters spring.
Tsubame kitaruThe swallows are coming (April 4–8)
Kōgan kaeruWild geese head back north (April 9–13)
Niji hajimete arawaruRainbows appear (April 14–18)
6. Kokuu (穀雨)
Nourishing rains — April 19
Spring rains nourish the cereals. The earth is ready to give.
Ashi hajimete shōzuReeds begin to grow (April 19–23)
Shimo yamite nae izuruFrost stops, young shoots appear (April 24–28)
Botan hana sakuPeonies bloom (April 29–May 4)
7. Rikka (立夏)
Start of summer — May 5
The vegetation becomes dense, the energy accelerates.
Kawazu hajimete nakuThe frogs begin to sing (May 5–9)
Mimizu izuruEarthworms come out (May 10–14)
Takenoko shōzuBamboo shoots appear (May 15–20)
8. Shōman (小満)
Plants are filling out — May 21
Growth is visible but not yet complete.
Kaiko okite kuwa wo hamuSilkworms eat leaves (May 21–25)
Benibana sakauSafflowers bloom (May 26–30)
Mugi no toki itaruWheat matures (May 31–June 4)
9. Bōshu (芒種)
Sowing time — June 5
Key period for planting rice.
Kamakiri shōzuPraying mantises are born (June 5–9)
Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naruFireflies appear (June 10–14)
Ume no mi kibamuPlums turn yellow (June 15–20)
10. Geshi (夏至)
Summer Solstice — June 21
The longest day of the year.
Natsukarekusa karuruBrunelles dry out (June 21–26)
Ayame hana sakuIrises bloom (June 27–July 1)
Hange shōzuThe hange plant appears (July 2–6)
11. Shōsho (小暑)
Emerging heat — July 7
The heat is starting to set in.
Atsukaze kitaruWarm winds arrive (July 7–11)
Hasu hajimete hirakuLotuses begin to bloom (July 12–16)
Taka sunawachi waza wo narauFalcons learn to hunt (July 17–22)
12. Taisho (大暑)
Great heat — July 23
Highlight of summer.
Kiri hajimete hana wo musubuPaulownias form their buds (July 23–27)
Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushiThe earth becomes heavy and wet (July 28–August 1)
Taiu tokidoki furuHeavy rain falls at times (August 2–6)
13. Risshū (立秋)
Early fall — August 7
Autumn begins symbolically.
Ryōfū itaruFresh winds arrive (August 7–11)
Higurashi nakuEvening cicadas sing (August 12–16)
Fukaki kiri matōThick mists rise (August 17–22)
14. Shosho (処暑)
The heat decreases — August 23
The air becomes more breathable.
Wata no hana shibe hirakuCotton bolls open (August 23–27)
Tenchi hajimete samushiThe heat recedes (August 28–September 1)
Kokumono sunawachi minoruGrains ripen (September 2–7)
15. Hakuro (白露)
White dew — September 8
The nights become cool.
Kusa no tsuyu shiroshiDew whitens the grass (September 8–12)
Sekirei nakuThe wagtails sing (September 13–17)
Tsubame saruThe Swallows Leave (September 18–22)
16. Shūbun (秋分)
Autumn Equinox — September 23
New balance.
Kaminari sunawachi koe wo osamuThe Thunder Ceases (September 23–27)
Mushi kakurete to wo fusaguInsects are hiding (Sept. 28–Oct. 2)
Mizu hajimete karuruThe waters dry up (Oct. 3–7)
17. Kanro (寒露)
Cold dew — October 8
The humidity cools.
Kōgan kitaruThe Wild Geese Are Coming (Oct. 8–12)
Kiku no hana hirakuChrysanthemums bloom (Oct. 13–17)
Kirigirisu to ni ariCrickets sing near the doors (Oct. 18–22)
18. Sōkō (霜降)
First frost — October 23
Nature freezes little by little.
Shimo hajimete furuFrost appears (Oct. 23–27)
Kosame tokidoki furuLight rain falls (Oct. 28–Nov. 1)
Momiji tsuta kibamuLeaves turn yellow (Nov. 2–6)
19. Rittō (立冬)
Start of winter — November 7
The energy flows inwards.
Tsubaki hajimete hirakuCamellias bloom (Nov. 7–11)
Chi hajimete kōruThe ground begins to freeze (Nov. 12–16)
Kinsenka sakuMarigolds bloom (Nov. 17–21)
20. Shosetsu (小雪)
First snow — November 22
Winter is slowly setting in.
Niji kakurete miezuRainbows disappear (Nov. 22–26)
Kitakaze konoha wo harauThe north wind sweeps away the leaves (Nov. 27–Dec. 1)
Tachibana hajimete kibamuTangerines turn yellow (Dec. 2–6)
21. Taisetsu (大雪)
Big snows — December 7
The winter silence imposes itself.
Sora samuku fuyu to naruThe sky closes, winter sets in (Dec. 7–11)
Kuma ana ni komoruBears go into hibernation (Dec. 12–16)
Sake no uo muragaruSalmon return to rivers (Dec. 17–21)
22. Tōji (冬至)
Winter Solstice – December 22
The yin reaches its maximum, the yang is reborn.
Natsukarekusa shōzuBrunelles germinate (Dec. 22–26)
Sawashika no tsuno otsuruDeer shed their antlers (Dec. 27–31)
Yuki watarite mugi izuruUnder the snow the wheat germinates (January 1–4)
23. Shōkan (小寒)
Little cold — January 5
The cold is intensifying.
Seri sunawachi sakauParsley grows (Jan 5–9)
Shimizu atataka wo fukumuSprings thaw (Jan. 10–14)
Kiji hajimete nakuPheasants sing (Jan. 15–19)
24. Daikan (大寒)
Extreme cold — January 20
The coldest point of the year.
Fuki no hana sakuButterburs bloom (Jan. 20–24)
Sawamizu kōri tsumeruIce thickens on streams (Jan. 25–29)
Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsukuThe hen begins to brood (Jan. 30–Feb. 3)
Living to the rhythm of the seasons
This calendar reminds us that nothing is set in stone. By observing these 24 transitions, we learn to adjust our care, our diet and our breathing to remain in harmony with living things.
