Tao-Astrology.com

The Chinese Five Elements. The Five Element Theory (Wu Xing).

Perhaps a misnomer, the "chinese five elements" aren't really elements. A more accurate description of the elements is "phases".

The Five Elements provides Chinese philosophers a pictorial idea of constructive, destructive and exhausting relationships between real and abstract entities. Having the "Five Elements" helps in the visualization and understanding of the concept.

The Five Elements are named; "Water", "Wood", "Fire", "Earth" and "Metal".

The constructive, or "generating" cycle :

Basically it means that:

• Wood feeds Fire;
• Fire creates Earth;
• Earth bears Metal;
• Metal turns to Water;
• Water nourishes Wood.

The destructive or "controlling" cycle:

Meaning that:

• Wood parts Earth;
• Earth absorbs Water;
• Water douses Fire;
• Fire melts Metal;
• Metal chops Wood.

The Exhausting, draining cycle:

Describes that:

• Wood drains Water;
• Earth utilizes Fire;
• Water depletes Metal;
• Fire feeds on Wood;
• Metal encroaches on Earth.

While these cycles describes effectively the relationships, one must be aware that it is only a generalization. It does not take into account the effect of relative of "mass".

For example, while Water controls Fire, Fire can dissipate water (into steam) if it has relatively more power or "quantity" than water.

Similarly, while Water nourishes Wood, too much Water drowns the Wood.

This concept is a key reference in Chinese metaphysical studies, and even Chinese Medicine.

  Tao Basics  ¦  The Concept of "Qi"  ¦  Yin And Yang  ¦ The Five Elements  ¦  The Bagua  ¦  The Hexagrams  ¦ The 12 Earthly Branches (Chinese Zodiac Signs)  ¦ The 10 Heavenly Stems  ¦  The Chinese Astrological Calendar ¦