Visual Experiment
Twenty-Four Solar Terms
An AI visual experiment based on the Chinese solar-term calendar, combining seasonal rhythm, folk imagery, generative image workflows, and modern web presentation.
Type
Visual Experiment
Date
2026-05-05
Tools
Midjourney / Generative Images / Prompt Design
Generation Method
From One-Off Images to a Visual System
This series is not a random set of twenty-four images. It starts from a reusable style system, then replaces seasonal variables such as climate, natural motifs, character action, and palette for each solar term.
Style Anchor
An external style reference was used during early exploration to stabilize figure proportion, composition, and the new-Chinese decorative illustration direction. The source image is not shown on the site; the page focuses on the workflow and final outputs.
Template Control
Each poster follows the same prompt structure: base style, seasonal scene, character action, palette, composition rules, and negative constraints.
Version Selection
The selection criteria emphasize seasonal meaning, series consistency, clean output, and avoiding text, watermarks, modern objects, dramatic lighting, and anime-like rendering.
Prompt Template
Prompt Template
The full prompt changes by solar term. This section shows the reusable structure rather than exposing every raw generation input.
Base Style
Modern Chinese decorative illustration / oriental storybook mood / xuan paper texture / mineral pigment feeling / flat color / restrained negative space
Seasonal Variables
Solar term / season stage / climate / natural motifs / plants and animals / folk imagery
Character Setup
Single hanfu figure / low-drama gesture / interaction with nature / restrained facial detail
Image Control
3:4 poster ratio / open composition / large negative space / soft palette / consistent texture
Negative Constraints
No text / no watermark / no modern objects / no anime / no 3D / no overly dramatic lighting
Variable Extraction
Spring Equinox: peach blossoms, willow branches, returning swallows, a kite, and balanced sunlight.
Grain Rain: rain-washed tea garden, fresh tea buds, peonies, paper umbrella, and moist late-spring air.
Beginning of Summer: green plums, dense shade, locust flower shadows, bamboo basket, and picking action.
End of Heat: river lanterns, folded fan, reeds, withered lotus leaves, and geese flying south.
Winter Solstice: family interior, tangyuan, candlelight, snow outside the window, and plum branches.