節氣依靠太陽與地球的相對位置而制定，對一般民眾而言相對陌生。常民認知節氣多半憑藉着當地的自然生態及氣候，主要展現在諺語及民俗中。具體的節氣民俗雖依地理生態環境而互有差異，但節氣諺語中卻反映了相當類似的思惟。本文全面性的瀏覽節氣諺語，歸納出常民認知的節氣性質。節氣既屬歲時記曆之一種，與節日之間多有重疊之處。藉着對比節日與節氣，本文區分了二者之間的自然及人文性質，在對照中使節氣的本質更獲彰顯。除民俗及諺語之外，臺灣的廟宇彩繪也發展出了一套節氣神的形象。藉由節氣神的形象展現及詮釋，可以得知藝師們如何透過圖象，反映他們對節氣的理解。最後，在臺灣的日常語言中，「節氣」一詞並非單單指稱時令上的二十四節氣，同時也是農民認知農作與天時搭配的時間思維，本文將舉語料例證，討論這種常民語彙中呈現的節氣哲學。

The jieqi solar terms are determined by the relative degree of angles formed between the sun and earth during a calendar year. The measuring of each term could be somewhat challenging for commoners. Therefore, general public perceive jieqi through sayings and folklore of seasonal ecological and climate changes. Although the corresponding folklore vary according to natural phenomena of respective areas, there is an underlying philosophy that remains very similar. In this study, I browse through the agricultural sayings to deduce the characters of jieqi in general public’s perception. There are fundamental differences between jieqi and festivals, although the two do overlap in terms of time and character. I contrast jieqi and festivals to show their divergence of nature and humanity. In addition, I examine the pictures of jieqi deities featured in some temples of southern Taiwan. Analysis of their images help reveal another aspect of the painter’s perception of jieqi. Finally, in daily diction, jieqi not only refers to the solar terms but also a time philosophy, coordinates between farming and climate which has been well recognized by the farmers, actual expressions and sentences regarding jieqi will be used to illustrate this philosophy of “timing.”