NJ2018 Glossary - Calendar Terms

Nongsa jikseol
Project Introduction Editor's Notes
Table of Contents
Preface Preparing the Seed Grain Plowing the Soil Cultivating Hemp Cultivating Rice Cultivating Proso and Foxtail Millet Cultivating Barnyard Grass Cultivating Soybeans, Red Beans, and Mung Beans Cultivating Barley and Wheat Cultivating Sesame Cultivating Buckwheat
Glossary Further Readings

Seasonal Terms

Traditionally, the Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. These terms were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. Find here a video explaining all of the solar terms and their characteristics.

Grain in Ear

Basic Info
• Hanja: 芒種	• Hangeul: 망종	• RR: Mangjong	• MR: Mangjong	• Pinyin: Mángzhòng
Alternate English Terms
• Bearded grain

Definition

Mangjong (Kor. 망종, Chin. 芒種, lit. bearded grain) is the ninth of the twenty-four solar terms. Mangjong usually falls during the fifth month on the lunar calendar and happens around June sixth on the Gregorian calendar. The sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75 degrees on this day. As suggested by its name, Mangjong indicates the appropriate time to harvest the first crop and sow the second of bearded grains such as rice and barley

Summer Solstice

Basic Info
• Hanja: 夏至	• Hangeul: 하지	• RR: Haji	• MR: Haji	• Pinyin: Xiàzhì

Definition Haji (Kor. 하지, Chin. 夏至, lit. summer reach) is the tenth of the twenty-four solar terms. It occurs some time in the fifth lunar month. On the Gregorian calendar, Haji falls around June twenty-second. The sun appears at its northernmost point (referred to as hajijeom (Kor. 하지점, Chin. 夏至點, summer solstice point)) on the ecliptic and its declination is greatest on this day.

Autumn Equinox

Basic Info
• Hanja: 秋分	• Hangeul: 추분	• RR: Chubun	• MR: Ch'ubun	• Pinyin: Qiūfēn

Definition Chubun (Kor. 추분, Chin. 秋分, lit. Autumn Equinox) is one of the twenty-four solar terms, occurring between Baengno (Kor. 백로, Chin. 白露, lit. White Dew) and Hallo (Kor. 한로, Chin. 寒露, lit. Cold Dew). Falling approximately on September twenty-third on the Gregorian calendar, Chubun usually occurs sometime during the eighth lunar month. At the equinox, day and night are equal in length, and in astronomy, the autumn equinox refers to the day when the sun passes through the ecliptic at 180°.

White Dew

Basic Info
• Hanja: 白露節	• Hangeul: 백로절	• RR: Baengnojeol	• MR: Paengnojŏl	• Pinyin: Báilù

Definition Baengno (Kor. 백로, Chin. 白露, lit. White Dew) is one of the twenty-four solar terms. It falls approximately on September ninth on the Gregorian calendar. In the lunar calendar, Baengno generally falls in the eighth month, when the Ecliptic rises to 165° over the horizon.

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Four seasons

Spring

Basic Info
• Hanja: 春	• Hangeul: 봄	• RR: Bom	• MR: Pom	• Pinyin: Chūn

Explanation

Spring lasts from late March to early May. Temperatures are mild and pleasant. It is the ideal season to witness cherry blossoms, forsythia, azaleas, magnolias and lilacs blooming during the peak season between March and May.

Summer

Basic Info
• Hanja: 夏	• Hangeul: 여름	• RR: Yeoreum	• MR: Yŏrŭm	• Pinyin: Xià

Explanation

Summer is usually between June and August, with the hottest month being August when the mean temperature is between 23 to 26 degrees Celsius. The dryness characterizing winter and spring disappears in summer, replaced by high temperatures and humid air. Due to the high humidity, people feel that it is hotter than it actually is. Since the stuffy atmosphere tends to cause a high level of discomfort, the use of air conditioners and electric fans shoots up during this time of the year. The weather is particularly hot between the end of July and end of August. Generally, the period between the end of June and mid July is the rainy season in Korea. During this time there is no scorching heat. However, there can be clouds and frequent rainfall for as short as one week to as long as three weeks. The frequency of rainy spells called jangma and typhoons can also have a negative effect as they can directly cause damage to crops.

In the summer, there are lots of fruits like watermelons, melons, and peaches, as well as vegetables, and the fields and mountains are covered in green. To escape the scorching heat, people go to the mountains, sea, or valleys to spend their summer holidays.

Autumn

Basic Info
• Hanja: 秋	• Hangeul: 가을	• RR: Gaeul	• MR: Kaŭl

Explanation

The autumn season in Korea is between September and November. The weather is cool and crisp, and the sky is blue with few clouds. Koreans refer to autumn as the season of cheongomabi. The heat of summer still seems to linger in September with the daytime being hot, but the weather is cool in the morning and evening. In October, there is less precipitation and the humidity in the air decreases, resulting in crisp and enjoyable weather. In late summer to early autumn, typhoons rising from the South Pacific may occur.

Autumn is also a season of beautiful falling leaves. Ginkgo trees and maple trees throughout Korea change their hues to yellow and crimson. During this time, Koreans love to go hiking in the mountains to enjoy the picturesque landscape created by autumn leaves. Mountains and famous autumn foliage spots around the nation are bustling with people during this time of the year. Autumn is also the season of bountiful harvest, with rice, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, and jujubes ripening all around the nation.

Winter

Basic Info
• Hanja: 冬	• Hangeul: 겨울	• RR: Gyeoul	• MR: Kyŏul	• Pinyin: Dōng

Explanation

Winter in Korea is usually between December and February, with the average temperature in January, the coldest month, ranging between minus six degrees and three degrees Celsius. The days with the lowest temperatures in the winter usually occur in the middle and end of January. In winter, the days are shorter with the sunrise occurring later and the sunset occurring earlier. Usually, a cycle of three days of cold weather followed by four days of warmer weather (samhansaon ) is repeated. The mountainous regions in Gangwon-do receive snowfall starting in early winter, with the weather being very cold and dry due to the wind blowing in from Siberia. Major holidays between the months of December and February are Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year, and the months of February and early March are the time for graduation ceremonies and the start of school. In rural areas, arable land is left to rest until farming resumes in the spring while some vegetables are grown in vinyl greenhouses. A unique practice in the winter between November and December is gimjang ), which is the preparation of large quantities of kimchi to eat throughout winter.

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Other time-related terms

Autumn harvest

Basic Info
• Hanja: 秋收	• Hangeul: 가을에 수확한정월

First lunar month

Basic Info
• Hanja: 正月	• Hangeul: 정월	• RR: Jeongwol	• MR: Chŏngwŏl	• Pinyin: Zhēngyuè

Following year

Basic Info
• Hanja: 明年	• Hangeul: 이듬해	• RR: Ideumhae	• MR: Idŭmhae	• Pinyin: Míngnián

Last month of the lunar year

Basic Info
• Hanja: 臘月	• Hangeul: 섣달, 납월	• RR: Seotdal, Nabwol	• MR: Sŏttal, Nabwŏl	• Pinyin: Làyuè

Middle of the month

Basic Info
• Hanja: 望	• Hangeul: 보름	• RR: Boreum	• MR: Porŭm	• Pinyin: Wàng
Alternate English Terms
• 15th day of the lunar month, day of the full moon

Winter months

Basic Info
• Hanja: 冬月	• Hangeul: 한 겨울 동안	• Pinyin: Dōngyuè
Alternate English Terms
• eleventh lunar month

First week

Basic Info
• Hanja: 上旬	• Hangeul: 상순	• RR: Sangsun	• MR: Sangsun	• Pinyin: Shàngxún

Second week

Basic Info
• Hanja: 中旬	• Hangeul: 중순	• RR: Jungsun	• MR: Chungsun	• Pinyin: Zhōngxún

Third week

Basic Info
• Hanja: 下旬	• Hangeul: 하순	• RR: Hasun	• MR: Hasun	• Pinyin: Xiàxún

Ten days after Autumn Equinox

Basic Info
• Hanja: (秋分)後十日	• Hangeul: 추분 후 10일

Mangjong

Contributor: Kang Haewon

• English: Grain in Ear
• Chinese: 芒種
• Korean: 망종

Mangjong (Kor. 망종, Chin. 芒種, lit. bearded grain) is the ninth of the twenty-four solar terms. Occurring between Soman (Kor. 소만, Chin. 小滿, Beginning of Grain Ripening) and Haji (Kor. 하지, Chin. 夏至, Summer Solstice), Mangjong usually falls during the fifth month on the lunar calendar and happens around June sixth on the Gregorian calendar. The sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75 degrees on this day. As suggested by its name, Mangjong indicates the appropriate time to harvest the first crop and sow the second of bearded grains such as rice and barley.

White Dew

• English: White Dew
• Chinese:白露
• Korean:백로

White Dewis one of the twenty-four solar terms. According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls around September 9th, and according to the lunar calendar, White Dew usually falls in the eighth month.

Autumn Equinox

• English: Autumn Equinox
• Chinese:秋分
• Korean:추분

Autumn Equinox is one of the twenty-four solar terms. It occurs after White Dew 白露, and it falls, according to the Gregorian calendar, around September twenty-third, and according to the lunar calendar, it usually falls in the eight-month.