SEASONAL NOTES
A year in smaller seasons
An introduction to the twenty-four solar terms and a simple way to notice seasonal change.
Beyond four broad seasons
The twenty-four solar terms divide the Sun’s annual apparent path into twenty-four parts, at intervals of 15 degrees of longitude. They offer a finer seasonal framework than spring, summer, autumn and winter alone.
The names provide a way to think about seasonal change. They are not a forecast for every place: weather, flowering and daily experience vary with location and year.
How KOYOMI uses this idea
KOYOMI 2027 selects one seasonal reference for each monthly artwork. January’s Daikan scene places a kettle and steam at the centre of winter stillness. June’s Geshi scene turns attention toward a wind chime and the garden beyond.
The calendar is an artistic interpretation of selected terms, rather than a complete guide to all twenty-four or a timetable of ceremonies.
A small practice for your day
Choose one familiar place to look at regularly: a window, a path or a tree nearby. Notice a change in shadow, colour or sound. This is our suggested looking exercise, not a traditional ritual you need to perform.
Reference
The astronomical definition is supported by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s explanation of solar terms. The looking exercise and artwork interpretation are KOYOMIStudio’s editorial suggestions.