（正月）
立春∶初候，东风解冻；（阳和至而坚凝散也。）二候，蛰虫始振；（振，动也。）三候，鱼陟负冰。
（陟，音职，升也，高也。阳气已动，鱼渐上游而近于冰也。）
雨水∶初候，獭祭鱼；（此时鱼肥而出，故獭先祭而后食。）二候，候雁北；（自南而北也。）三候，草木
萌动。（是为可耕之候。）
（二月）
惊蛰∶初候，桃始华，（阳和发生，自此渐盛。）二候，仓庚鸣；（黄鹂也。）三候，鹰化为鸠。（鹰，
鸷鸟也。此时鹰化为鸠，至秋则鸠复化为鹰。）
春分∶初候，玄鸟至；（燕来也。）二候，雷乃发声；（雷者阳之声，阳在阴内不得出，故奋激而为
雷。）三候，始电。（电者阳之光，阳气微则光不见，阳盛欲达而抑于阴，其光乃发，故云始电。）
（三月）
清明∶初候，桐始华；二候，田鼠化为 ，牡丹华；（ ，音如， 鹑属。鼠，阴类。阳气盛则鼠化
为，阴气盛则 复化为鼠。）三候，虹始见。（虹，音洪，阴阳交会之气，纯阴纯阳则无。若云薄漏日，日穿
雨影，则虹见。）
谷雨∶初候，萍始生；二候，鸣鸠拂其羽；（飞而两翼相拍，农急时也。）三候、戴胜降于桑。（织
之鸟，一名戴 ，降于桑以示蚕妇也，故曰女功兴而戴 鸣。）
（四月）
立夏∶初候，蝼蝈鸣；（蝼蛄也，诸言蚓者非。）二候，蚯蚓出；（蚯蚓阴物，感阳气而出。）三候，王瓜
生。（王瓜色赤，阳之胜也。）
小满∶初候，苦菜秀；（火炎上而味苦，故苦菜秀。）二候，靡草死；（葶苈之属。）三候，麦秋至。（
秋者，百谷成熟之期。此时麦熟，故曰麦秋。）
（五月）
芒种∶初候，螳螂生；（俗名刀螂，说文名拒斧。）二候， 始鸣；（ ，居畜切，伯劳也。）三候，反舌无
声。（百舌鸟也。）
夏至∶初候，鹿角解；（阳兽也，得阴气而解。）二候，蜩始鸣；（蜩，音调，蝉也。）三候，半夏生。（药名
也。阳极阴生。）
（六月）
小暑∶初候，温风至；二候，蟋蟀居壁；（亦名促织，此时羽翼未成，故居壁。）三候，鹰始挚。（挚，音
至。鹰感阴气，乃生杀心，学习击搏之事。）
大暑∶初候，腐草为萤；（离明之极，故幽类化为明类。）二候，土润溽暑；（溽，音辱，湿也。）三候，大
雨时行。
（七月）
立秋∶初候，凉风至；二候，白露降；三候，寒蝉鸣。（蝉小而青赤色者。）
处暑∶初候，鹰乃祭鸟；（鹰，杀鸟。不敢先尝，示报本也。）二候，天地始肃；（清肃也。）三候，禾乃
登。（稷为五谷之长，首熟此时。）
（八月）
白露∶初候，鸿雁来；（自北而南也。一曰∶大曰鸿，小曰雁。）二候，玄鸟归；（燕去也。）三候，群鸟养
羞。（羞，粮食也。养羞以备冬月。）
秋分∶初候，雷始收声；（雷于二月阳中发声，八月阴中收声。）二候，蛰虫坯户；（坯，音培。坯户，培益
其穴中之户窍而将蛰也。）三候，水始涸。（国语曰∶辰角见而雨毕，天根见而水涸；雨毕而除道，水涸而成梁。
辰角者，角宿也。天根者，氐房之间也。见者，旦见于东方也。辰角见九月本，天根见九月末，本末相去二十一日余。）
（九月）
寒露∶初候，鸿雁来宾；（宾，客也。先至者为主，后至者为宾，盖将尽之谓。）二候，雀入大水为蛤；（
飞者化潜，阳变阴也。）三候，菊有黄花。（诸花皆不言，而此独言之，以其华于阴而独盛于秋也。）
霜降∶初候，豺乃祭兽；（孟秋鹰祭鸟，飞者形小而杀气方萌；季秋豺祭兽，走者形大而杀气
乃盛也。）二候，草木黄落；（阳气去也。）三候，蛰虫咸俯。（俯，蛰伏也。）
（十月）
立冬∶初候，水始冰；二候，地始冻；三候，雉入大水为蜃。（蜃，肾慎二音，蚌属。）
小雪∶初候，虹藏不见；（季春阳胜阴，故虹见；孟冬阴胜阳，故藏而不见。）二候，天气上升，地气下
降；三候，闭塞而成冬。（阳气下藏地中，阴气闭固而成冬。）
（十一月）
大雪∶初候， 不鸣；（ ，音曷旦，夜鸣求旦之鸟，亦名寒号虫，乃阴类而求阳者，兹得一阳之生，
故不鸣矣。）二候，虎始交；（虎本阴类，感一阳而交也。）三候，荔挺出。（荔，一名马蔺，叶似蒲而小，
根可为刷。）
冬至∶初候，蚯蚓结；（阳气未动，屈首下向，阳气已动，回首上向，故屈曲而结。）二候，麋
角解；（阴兽也，得阳气而解。）三候，水泉动。（天一之阳生也。）
（十二月）
小寒∶初候，雁北乡；（一岁之气，雁凡四候。如十二月雁北乡者，乃大雁，雁之父母也。正月候雁北者，乃小
雁，雁之子也。八月鸿雁来，亦大雁，雁之父母。九月鸿雁来宾，亦小雁，雁之子也。盖先行者其大，随
后者其小也。此说出晋·干宝，宋人述之以为的论。）二候，鹊始巢；（鹊知气至，故为来岁之巢。）三候，雉 。
（，句 二音，雉鸣也。雉火畜，感于阳而后有声。）
大寒∶初候，鸡乳；（鸡，水畜也，得阳气而卵育，故云乳。）二候，征鸟厉疾；（征鸟，鹰
隼之属，杀气盛极，故猛厉迅疾而善于击也。）三候，水泽腹坚。（阳气未达，东风未至，故水泽正结而坚。）
（正月）
立春：初候，东风解冻；（阳气温和到来，坚硬的冰霜便消散了。）二候，冬眠的虫子开始苏醒活动；（“振”，就是动的意思。）三候，鱼儿游到水面顶着冰块。（“陟”，读音为职，意为上升、升高。此时阳气已经发动，鱼儿逐渐向上游动，靠近冰面。）
雨水：初候，水獭捕鱼陈列如祭；（此时鱼肥美而出没，所以水獭先陈列祭祀然后才吃。）二候，候雁向北飞回；（从南方飞向北方。）三候，草木开始萌芽松动。（这是可以耕作的时节。）
（二月）
惊蛰：初候，桃花开始盛开；（阳气温和发生，从此逐渐旺盛。）二候，黄鹂鸣叫；（即黄鹂鸟。）三候，鹰变成了鸠鸟。（鹰是猛禽。此时鹰化为鸠，到了秋天鸠又化为鹰。）
春分：初候，燕子飞来；（燕子来了。）二候，雷声开始响起；（雷是阳的声音，阳气在阴气内部无法出来，所以奋激而发出雷声。）三候，闪电开始出现。（电是阳的光亮，阳气微弱时看不见光亮，阳气旺盛想要通达却被阴气抑制，光亮才爆发出来，所以说开始有闪电。）
（三月）
清明：初候，梧桐树开始开花；二候，田鼠化为鹑鸟，牡丹花开；（“鹑”，读音如同“纯”，属于鹌鹑一类。鼠是阴类生物。阳气旺盛则鼠化为鹑，阴气旺盛则鹑复化为鼠。）三候，彩虹开始出现。（虹，读音为洪，是阴阳交会的气，纯阴或纯阳都没有虹。如果云层稀薄漏出阳光，日光穿过雨滴的影子，就会出现彩虹。）
谷雨：初候，浮萍开始生长；二候，斑鸠拍打翅膀梳理羽毛；（飞翔时两翼相拍，表示农事紧急的时候到了。）三候，戴胜鸟落在桑树上。（这是一种织布鸟，又名戴胜，落在桑树上是为了向养蚕的妇女示意，所以说女红兴起时戴胜鸟就鸣叫。）
（四月）
立夏：初候，蝼蛄鸣叫；（即蝼蛄，文中说的蚯蚓不是指这个。）二候，蚯蚓出土；（蚯蚓是阴物，感应到阳气而出土。）三候，王瓜生长。（王瓜颜色发红，象征阳气胜过阴气。）
小满：初候，苦菜长得茂盛；（火性炎上且味道苦，所以苦菜茂盛。）二候，细草枯死；（指葶苈之类植物。）三候，麦子成熟收获的季节到了。（“秋”是指百谷成熟的时期。此时麦子成熟，所以叫麦秋。）
（五月）
芒种：初候，螳螂孵化出生；（俗名刀螂，《说文解字》名为拒斧。）二候，伯劳鸟开始鸣叫；（“鵙”，读音居畜切，即伯劳鸟。）三候，反舌鸟停止鸣叫。（即百舌鸟。）
夏至：初候，鹿角脱落；（鹿是阳兽，得到阴气而角脱落。）二候，蝉开始鸣叫；（“蜩”，音调，即蝉。）三候，半夏生长。（这是一味药名。此时阳极阴生。）
（六月）
小暑：初候，热风到来；二候，蟋蟀躲在墙根下；（也叫促织，此时羽翼未长成，所以躲在墙边。）三候，老鹰开始搏击。（“挚”，音至。老鹰感应到阴气，产生杀心，学习击搏的本领。）
大暑：初候，腐烂的草生出萤火虫；（离明达到极致，所以幽暗类的生物化为光明类的生物。）二候，土地湿润闷热；（“溽”，音辱，意为湿。）三候，大雨时常降下。
（七月）
立秋：初候，凉风到来；二候，白露降落；三候，寒蝉鸣叫。（蝉体小而呈青赤色。）
处暑：初候，老鹰捕猎陈列鸟类；（鹰是杀鸟之鸟。不敢先尝，以示报答根本。）二候，天地开始清肃；（清爽肃杀。）三候，庄稼开始成熟收割。（稷是五谷之长，此时首先成熟。）
（八月）
白露：初候，鸿雁南来；（从北方飞向南方。另一种说法：大的叫鸿，小的叫雁。）二候，燕子归去；（燕子离开了。）三候，各种鸟类储藏食物。（“羞”，通“馐”，指粮食。储藏食物以准备过冬。）
秋分：初候，雷声开始停止；（雷在二月阳气中发声，八月在阴气中收声。）二候，冬眠的虫子修补洞口；（“坯”，音培。“坯户”，即加固穴口的门户准备冬眠。）三候，水流开始枯竭。（《国语》说：辰角星出现雨就结束，天根星出现水就干涸；雨停后修整道路，水干后修筑桥梁。辰角，指角宿。天根，指氐房二宿之间。见，指清晨出现在东方。辰角见于九月初，天根见于九月末，本末相距二十一天多。）
（九月）
寒露：初候，鸿雁作为宾客南来；（宾，即客。先到的为主人，后到的为客人，大概是将要结束的意思。）二候，麻雀入大水变为蛤蜊；（飞的变成潜水的，是阳变为阴。）三候，菊花开放黄花。（其他花都不特别提及，唯独提到它，因为它在阴气中开花且在秋季独自繁盛。）
霜降：初候，豺狼捕猎陈列野兽；（孟秋时鹰祭鸟，飞行的动物形体小杀气刚萌发；季秋时豺祭兽，行走的动物形体大杀气才旺盛。）二候，草木变黄凋落；（阳气离去。）三候，冬眠的虫子都伏下不动。（俯，即蛰伏。）
（十月）
立冬：初候，水开始结冰；二候，地开始冻结；三候，野鸡入大水变为大蛤。（“蜃”，读音同肾、慎，属于蚌类。）
小雪：初候，彩虹隐藏不见；（季春阳气胜阴气，所以彩虹出现；孟冬阴气胜阳气，所以隐藏不见。）二候，天气上升，地气下降；三候，闭塞不通形成冬季。（阳气下藏于地中，阴气闭固而形成冬季。）
（十一月）
大雪：初候，寒号虫不鸣；（“啁”，音曷旦，夜间鸣叫求天亮的鸟，也叫寒号虫，属于阴类却求阳的生物，此时得到一阳初生，所以不鸣叫了。）二候，老虎开始交配；（老虎本是阴类，感应到一阳之气而交配。）三候，马蔺长出。（荔，一名马蔺，叶子像蒲草但较小，根可以做刷子。）
冬至：初候，蚯蚓蜷缩；（阳气未动，头屈向下，阳气已动，头回首向上，所以蜷曲打结。）二候，麋鹿角脱落；（麋是阴兽，得到阳气而角脱落。）三候，泉水流动。（天一之阳开始生成。）
（十二月）
小寒：初候，大雁向北飞；（一年的气候中，大雁共有四次迁徙候应。如十二月大雁北飞的是大雁，是大雁的父母辈。正月候雁北飞的是小雁，是大雁的子辈。八月鸿雁来，也是大雁，是大雁的父母。九月鸿雁来宾，也是小雁，是大雁的子辈。大概是先行的为大雁，跟随的为小雁。此说法出自晋代干宝，宋人引用并认为是确论。）二候，喜鹊开始筑巢；（喜鹊知道节气将至，所以为来年筑巢。）三候，野鸡鸣叫。（“雉”，句夷二音，指野鸡鸣叫。野鸡属火畜，感应到阳气后才有声音。）
大寒：初候，母鸡孵卵；（鸡是水畜，得到阳气而产卵养育，所以说“乳”。）二候，猛禽凶猛迅疾；（征鸟，指鹰隼之类，杀气盛极，所以猛烈迅疾善于搏击。）三候，水域中心结冰坚固。（阳气未达，东风未到，所以水泽正中间结冰坚固。）
(January)
Lichun (Start of Spring): First pentad, the east wind thaws the ice; (When gentle yang arrives, solid condensation dissipates.) Second pentad, hibernating insects begin to stir; ("Zhen" means movement.) Third pentad, fish ascend and bear the ice. ("Zhi," pronounced zhi, means to rise or ascend. Yang qi has already moved, and fish gradually swim upstream near the ice.)
Yushui (Rain Water): First pentad, otters offer fish as sacrifice; (Fish are fat and active at this time, so otters sacrifice them before eating.) Second pentad, migratory geese fly north; (From south to north.) Third pentad, grass and trees begin to sprout. (This is the season for plowing.)
(February)
Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects): First pentad, peach blossoms begin to bloom; (Gentle yang arises, becoming increasingly vigorous from here on.) Second pentad, orioles sing; (Orioles.) Third pentad, eagles transform into doves. (Eagles are birds of prey. At this time, eagles transform into doves, and in autumn, doves transform back into eagles.)
Chunfen (Spring Equinox): First pentad, swallows arrive; (Swallows come.) Second pentad, thunder begins to sound; (Thunder is the voice of yang. When yang is trapped within yin and cannot exit, it struggles violently to produce thunder.) Third pentad, lightning begins to appear. (Lightning is the light of yang. When yang qi is weak, its light is invisible. When yang is strong and desires to emerge but is suppressed by yin, its light bursts forth, hence "lightning begins.")
(March)
Qingming (Clear and Bright): First pentad, paulownia flowers bloom; Second pentad, field mice transform into quails, peonies bloom; ("Chun," pronounced like chun, belongs to the quail family. Mice are yin creatures. When yang qi is abundant, mice transform into quails; when yin qi is abundant, quails transform back into mice.) Third pentad, rainbows begin to appear. ("Hong," pronounced hong, is the qi of yin-yang intersection. Pure yin or pure yang produces no rainbow. If clouds are thin allowing sunlight to leak through, and sunlight passes through rain shadows, a rainbow appears.)
Guyu (Grain Rain): First pentad, duckweed begins to grow; Second pentad, turtledoves flap their wings; (Flapping wings while flying indicates the urgent time for farming.) Third pentad, hoopoes descend onto mulberry trees. (A weaving bird, also named Hoopoe, descends on mulberry trees to signal silk farmers, thus saying "when women's work begins, the Hoopoe sings.")
(April)
Lixia (Start of Summer): First pentad, mole crickets chirp; (Mole crickets; what is referred to as earthworms here is not these.) Second pentad, earthworms emerge; (Earthworms are yin creatures that emerge upon sensing yang qi.) Third pentad, Trichosanthes kirilowii grows. (Trichosanthes kirilowii is red, symbolizing yang overcoming yin.)
Xiaoman (Grain Buds): First pentad, bitter herbs flourish; (Fire flares upward and tastes bitter, hence bitter herbs flourish.) Second pentad, delicate grasses wither; (Such as Thlaspi arvense.) Third pentad, the harvest season for wheat arrives. ("Autumn" refers to the period when grains mature. Wheat ripens at this time, hence called "Wheat Autumn.")
(May)
Mangzhong (Grain in Ear): First pentad, mantises hatch; (Commonly known as knife-mantis, named Jufu in Shuowen Jiezi.) Second pentad, shrikes begin to sing; ("Ju," pronounced juxu, is the shrike.) Third pentad, thrushes fall silent. (The common nightingale/thrush.)
Xiazhi (Summer Solstice): First pentad, deer antlers shed; (Deer are yang animals; they shed antlers upon receiving yin qi.) Second pentad, cicadas begin to sing; ("Tiao," pronounced tiao, is the cicada.) Third pentad, Pinellia ternata grows. (A medicinal herb name. At this time, extreme yang generates yin.)
(June)
Xiaoshu (Minor Heat): First pentad, warm winds arrive; Second pentad, crickets dwell in walls; (Also called Cu Zhi; their wings are not yet fully grown, so they stay by the walls.) Third pentad, eagles begin to strike. ("Zhi," pronounced zhi. Eagles sense yin qi, develop a killing intent, and practice striking skills.)
Dashu (Major Heat): First pentad, decaying grass transforms into fireflies; (Li Ming reaches its peak, so dark creatures transform into bright ones.) Second pentad, soil becomes moist and sultry; ("Ru," pronounced ru, means moist.) Third pentad, heavy rains occur frequently.
(July)
Liqiu (Start of Autumn): First pentad, cool winds arrive; Second pentad, white dew descends; Third pentad, cold cicadas sing. (Cicadas that are small and reddish-green.)
Chushu (Limit of Heat): First pentad, eagles sacrifice birds; (Eagles are killers of birds. They do not eat first, showing respect for origins.) Second pentad, heaven and earth begin to become crisp and austere; (Clear and austere.) Third pentad, crops begin to ripen. (Broomcorn millet is the head of the five grains, ripening first at this time.)
(August)
Bailu (White Dew): First pentad, wild geese arrive; (From north to south. Another view: Large ones are Hong, small ones are Yan.) Second pentad, swallows return; (Swallows leave.) Third pentad, flocks of birds store food. ("Xiu," meaning food/grain. Storing food to prepare for winter.)
Qiufen (Autumn Equinox): First pentad, thunder sounds cease; (Thunder sounds in February amidst yang, and ceases in August amidst yin.) Second pentad, hibernating insects seal their holes; ("Pi," pronounced pei. "Pi Hu" means reinforcing the hole entrances to prepare for hibernation.) Third pentad, water sources begin to dry up. (Guoyu states: When Chen Jiao appears, rain ends; when Tian Gen appears, water dries. After rain ends, roads are cleared; after water dries, bridges are built. Chen Jiao refers to the Horn Mansion. Tian Gen refers to the area between the Root and Room Mansions. "Appear" means seen in the east at dawn. Chen Jiao appears in early September, Tian Gen in late September, spanning over twenty-one days.)
(September)
Hanlu (Cold Dew): First pentad, wild geese arrive as guests; (Guest. Those arriving first are hosts, those arriving later are guests, implying the end of the journey.) Second pentad, sparrows enter large waters and transform into clams; (Flying creatures transform into diving ones, representing yang changing to yin.) Third pentad, chrysanthemums bloom yellow. (Other flowers are not mentioned specifically, but this one is, because it blooms in yin and flourishes uniquely in autumn.)
Shuangjiang (Frost Descent): First pentad, jackals sacrifice animals; (In early autumn, eagles sacrifice birds; flying creatures are small, and killing energy is just budding. In late autumn, jackals sacrifice beasts; walking creatures are large, and killing energy is abundant.) Second pentad, grass and trees turn yellow and fall; (Yang qi departs.) Third pentad, hibernating insects all lie low. (Fu means hibernating/lying still.)
(October)
Lidong (Start of Winter): First pentad, water begins to freeze; Second pentad, ground begins to frost; Third pentad, pheasants enter large waters and transform into giant clams. ("Shen," pronounced same as Shen or Shen, belongs to the clam family.)
Xiaoxue (Minor Snow): First pentad, rainbows hide and are unseen; (In late spring, yang overcomes yin, so rainbows appear. In early winter, yin overcomes yang, so they hide and are unseen.) Second pentad, heavenly qi rises, earthly qi descends; Third pentad, closure forms winter. (Yang qi hides underground, yin qi seals and solidifies to form winter.)
(November)
Daxue (Major Snow): First pentad, Hanhao Chong does not sing; ("Zhao," pronounced hedan, a bird that sings at night seeking dawn, also called Hanhao Chong, belonging to yin but seeking yang. Now that one yang is born, it stops singing.) Second pentad, tigers begin to mate; (Tigers are essentially yin creatures, mating upon sensing one yang.) Third pentad, Iris lactea emerges. (Li, also known as Malin, leaves resemble irises but are smaller, roots can be used as brushes.)
Dongzhi (Winter Solstice): First pentad, earthworms curl up; (Yang qi has not moved, head curls down; when yang qi moves, head turns up, thus curling into a knot.) Second pentad, elk antlers shed; (Elk are yin animals; they shed antlers upon receiving yang qi.) Third pentad, springs and wells flow. (The yang of Tian Yi begins to generate.)
(December)
Xiaohan (Minor Cold): First pentad, geese fly north; (In the annual cycle, geese migrate four times. Geese flying north in December are large geese, the parents. Migratory geese flying north in January are young geese, the offspring. Wild geese coming in August are also large geese, parents. Wild geese arriving as guests in September are also young geese, offspring. Generally, those leading are large, those following are small. This theory comes from Gan Bao of Jin Dynasty, cited by Song people as definitive.) Second pentad, magpies begin to build nests; (Magpies know the qi has arrived, so they build nests for the coming year.) Third pentad, pheasants crow. ("Zhi," pronounced gou/yi, means pheasant crowing. Pheasants belong to fire livestock, making sound only after sensing yang.)
Dahan (Major Cold): First pentad, hens incubate eggs; (Hens are water livestock; they lay eggs and nurture young upon receiving yang qi, hence called "nursing".) Second pentad, migratory birds become fierce and swift; (Zheng Niao, referring to eagles and falcons; killing energy is at its peak, so they are fierce, swift, and skilled in striking.) Third pentad, the center of water and marshes freezes firmly. (Yang qi has not reached, east wind has not arrived, so the center of water and marshes freezes firmly.)