第16番【秋分】

No. 16 [Autumn Equinox]

Twenty-Four Seasons No. 16 [Autumn Equinox]


From white dew to autumnal equinox.
As the saying goes, ``the heat and the cold are all the way to the equinoctial shore'', the lingering summer heat gradually subsides and autumn deepens.

The autumnal equinox is the day when day and night are of equal length, marking the beginning of the gradual transition from autumn to winter. Both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes are the same in that the sun rises due east and sets due west, so day and night are approximately the same time.


After the vernal equinox, the days that were short during the winter become longer towards the summer solstice.
After the autumnal equinox, the days that were long during the summer become shorter as we approach the winter solstice.


In addition, in the 24 solar terms, the summer solstice, winter solstice, vernal equinox, and autumnal equinox are collectively referred to as ``Niji Nibun'' and are expressed as indicators of the division of the 24 seasons.

For more information, please see the link below.



Vernal Equinox (Spring Equinox)Autumn Equinox (Autumn Equinox)
Summer Solstice (Summer Solstice) Winter Solstice (Winter Solstice)
A time to pray for a bountiful harvest, give thanks and celebrate the harvest.
It is said to be the time to praise nature and respect living things .


Why are [Summer Solstice/Winter Solstice] not designated as holidays? I am sometimes asked.

[Summer Solstice/Winter Solstice] does not have the customs (Higan) like the ``Spring/Autumn Imperial Spirit Festival'', so unlike the Vernal Equinox and Autumn Equinox, they are not designated as holidays.

▼▼ About [Higan] ▼▼



[Autumn Equinox] The 72 signs are expressed as follows.



●First weather <Kaminari, i.e. sounding the voice>
When the thunder that rang throughout the summer subsides.
It is a weather that is paired with the ``Kaminari, or voice hassu'' that occurs around the time of the vernal equinox. There are several pairs of names for the 72 seasons, and by knowing these names, you can feel the cycle of the seasons.

●Second candidate <Mushikakuretoto (blocking the door)>
The time when insects begin preparing for winter.

●The end of the world <Mizuhatsu Karuru>
The time when the rice fields are drained and the ears of rice are harvested.

Back to blog

季節と暮らす

Twenty-Four Seasons No. 17 [Kanro] The seaso...
二十四節気 第15番【(はくろ)】 朝夕には涼しい風が吹き、心地よい虫の声が聞こえてくる頃...
二十四節気 第14番【処暑 】(しょしょ)  【処暑 】とは言葉通り、暑さが峠を越え、朝夕に...
Twenty-Four Seasons No. 13 [Rishu] Although...

関連する読み物

<二十四節気>
季節の節目となる二十四節気・七十二候を軸に、季節の文化や習わしをお伝えいたします。ちょっぴり特別な日常を暮らしていけますように。
<季節の手玉>
季節を楽しむことは暮らしを豊かにしていくこと。忙しい隙間時間に季節をたしなむ手仕事をご紹介。
<季節のならわし>
古くからつづく日本のお祝いをはじめ、伝統的な習慣・文化年中行事や風習をまとめています。時代にもつながる日常生活を整えるためのエッセンスとなることでしょう。
<徳永夕子の季節の暮らし>
徳永こいのぼり社長、徳永夕子の"季節と文化の中で「今を生きる」” を視点に自身の生活をラフに執筆。 ちょっぴり息抜きしませんか。