Vernal Equinox

Japanese: 春分 - しゅんぶん

Of the two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic intersects with the equator, the point where the sun passes from south to north of the equator is the vernal equinox, and when the sun passes this point, in other words when the sun's ecliptic longitude reaches 0 degrees, is the vernal equinox, and the day that includes this is the vernal equinox. It is one of the 24 solar terms, and is in the middle of the second month of the lunar calendar, and corresponds to around March 21st of the solar calendar. This day is the middle day of the spring equinox, and is a national holiday. On this day, the sun rises due east and sets due west, and the length of day and night are roughly equal, and from this day onwards, the days gradually get longer and the nights shorter in the Northern Hemisphere.

[Toshio Watanabe]

weather

Climatically, this is just before the cherry blossom season in eastern and western Japan, but the weather is prone to change due to the passage of temperate cyclones. The seven days, three days before and three after the vernal equinox, are called higan, and this is the time when agricultural work begins. Many regions also enjoy outdoor activities and mountain climbing at this time.

[Nemoto Junkichi]

[Reference] | Vernal Equinox Day | 24 Solar Terms

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

天球上で黄道が赤道と交わる二つの交点のうち、太陽が赤道の南から北に抜ける点が春分点で、太陽がこの点を通過するとき、つまり太陽の黄経が0度に達したときが春分であり、これを含む日が春分の日である。二十四節気の一つで、陰暦2月の中(なか)であり、太陽暦の3月21日ごろにあたる。この日は春の彼岸(ひがん)の中日で、国民の祝日である。この日、太陽は真東に昇って真西に沈み、昼夜の長さはほぼ等しく、この日を境にして北半球では昼がしだいに長くなり、夜は短くなる。

［渡辺敏夫］