Cross-Cultural Integration of Solar Terms and Calendars between China and Mongolia: A Perspective from the 24 Solar Terms

Abstract

By means of literature review, cultural relic verification, and cross-cultural analysis, this paper explores the integration process and inherent logic of the 24 Solar Terms with Mongolian calendars, production practices, and cultural cognition. The study finds that the promulgation of the ”Shoushi Calendar” during the Yuan Dynasty initiated the systematic dissemination of solar term culture, and the institutionalized issuance of the ”Shixian Book” (Imperial Calendar) in the Qing Dynasty further consolidated the unified framework of temporal cognition. While absorbing the astronomical core of the solar terms, the Mongolian people completed localized innovations through the integration of chronological methods, nomadic-oriented translation of solar term names, and adaptation to production practices, forming a cultural integration feature of "unchanged astronomical core and nomadic-adapted functions." Cultural relic evidence and folk proverbs confirm the practical value of solar term knowledge for nomadic migration and production planning, while Tibetan Buddhist calendar charts demonstrate the intermediary role of solar term culture in multi-ethnic exchanges. The research reveals that the 24 Solar Terms, as a cross-cultural link, not only realize the sharing of temporal wisdom between agricultural and nomadic civilizations but also construct a common cultural identity and temporal philosophy of the Chinese nation, providing a typical case for understanding cross-cultural communication.