The Five Elements Theory is the concept in Chinese philosophy that views the world as dynamic states, or phases, of constant change. It is an additional tool to understand, categorize or analyze the Yin Yang theory. The theory of the five elements therefore describes the interaction and relationship between Yin Yang and different phenomena.
Origin of the 5 elements
The origins of the Five Elements Theory can be traced back over 5,000 years to classical Chinese medical texts, such as the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon. This theory was further developed during the Warring States period by integrating it with Yin-Yang theory and the concept of Qi. By the Han Dynasty, it had become a comprehensive system for classifying energies across various fields, including I Ching divination, alchemy, Feng Shui, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, military strategy, and martial arts.
The Five Elements are not only present in our physical world through colors, directions, seasons, and sounds but also play a role in the Chinese calendar’s years, months, days, and times.
The Internal Classic of the Yellow Emperor, the oldest work of traditional Chinese medicine: “The green color of the East goes to the liver, its symbol is Wood. The color of the South is red, goes to the heart; its symbol is Fire. The center color is yellow goes to the spleen; its symbol is Earth. The color of the West, of the West, is white which is in the lungs; its symbol is Metal. The color of the North is black which goes to the loins; its symbol is Water.
Etymology
- The ideogram of Wood 木
- In Chinese 木 means tree, wood and is pronounced mù in pinyin (Chinese phonetics). The Chinese character for Wood is the simplification of the image of a tree with its branches, trunk and roots.
- The ideogram of Fire 火
- In Chinese 火 represents the flames of a fire and is pronounced huǒ.
- The ideogram of the Earth 土
- In Chinese 土 symbolizes the earth and is pronounced Tǔ. The two horizontal lines represent the earth which produces all beings (the vertical line).
- The ideogram of Metal 金 jīn
- In Chinese 金 represents a lid with man (人), earth (土) and nuggets or ores (丷), the ideogram symbolizes the man who digs the earth to find metal (gold). The pronunciation in Chinese is jīn.
Wu Xing (The Five Phases)
In Chinese, the Five Elements are written as 五行 (wǔ xíng), where 五 (wǔ) means “five,” and 行 (xíng) means “movement” or “phase.” This term is better translated as “the Five Movements” or “the Five Phases.”
The Five Phases are:
- Water (水): Represents downward movement and rest. It signifies the peak of Yin and the balance between Yin and Yang.
- Wood (木): Represents growth and expansion. It symbolizes the decline of Yin and the growth of Yang, akin to a seed growing into a plant.
- Fire (火): Represents transformation and heat. It is associated with the peak of Yang, facilitating change through combustion.
- Earth (土): Represents harmonization and balance. It is the center point that transforms and nourishes the energies of the other elements.
- Metal (金): Represents concentration and the decline of Yang. It symbolizes the transition to Yin.
The balance cycle
As with Yin Yang, the peak of each phase already consists of its decline, then transmitting the Qi received from one element to the next element. The “generating” or “controlling” element builds up energy to its own peak, before the decline begins again. This interactive process is constantly repeated, thus forming an endless but balanced circle.
The cycle of generation: wood feeds fire – fire creates earth – earth carries metal – metal collects water – water feeds wood.
The generative cycle: one element (the parent) enriches, nourishes, strengthens, promotes the growth and development of the following element (the child).
Interpretation of the cycle of generation: (the elements support each other)
- Wood is the element that carries fire. Fire can release the energy of wood.
- Fire is the supporting element of the Earth. Earth can release Fire energy.
- Earth is the supporting element of Metal. The metal can release the energy of the Earth.
- Metal is the supporting element of water. Water can release energy from the metal.
- Water is the carrier element of wood. Wood can release the energy of water.
The control cycle: wood controls Earth, Earth controls water, water controls fire, fire controls metal, metal controls wood.
The cycle of control: one element overpowers, controls, dominates, overcomes, weakens another element, preventing it from establishing its power. This cycle is a system of control and balance between all elements.
Interpretation of the control cycle:
- Wood can break the ground (Earth).
- The Earth can absorb water, blocking its flow.
- Water can control fire.
- Fire can melt metal.
- Metal can cut wood.
Associations of the Five Elements
The 5 colors
The Internal Classic of the Yellow Emperor, the oldest work of traditional Chinese medicine, mentions the 5 elements and the associated colors.
Wood is associated with the color green, Fire with red, Earth with yellow, Metal with white, Water with black.
The seasons
Stemming from the Yin Yang theory, the five elements represent a season in the annual cycle.
- Wood corresponds to the growth of Yang, so it is associated with spring.
- Fire corresponds to the apogee of Yang, so it is associated with summer.
- Metal corresponds to the growth of Yin, so it is associated with autumn.
- Water corresponds to the peak of Yin, so it is associated with winter.
- The Earth as regulator and point of balance corresponds to the end of each season.
The shapes
- Each of the 5 elements is associated with a shape.
- Wood is associated with rectangular, vertical shapes.
- Fire is associated with triangle, pointed shapes.
- The Earth is associated with square, horizontal shapes.
- Metal is associated with round shapes.
- Water is associated with wavy line shapes (like a wave).
Directions
During the Warring States period, the system of the 4 celestial animals representing the directions was integrated into the system of the five elements.
According to the Chinese Book of Rites, the black turtle or “Xuan Wu” is considered one of the four celestial beings, known as “Si ling”, symbolic of the four directions: north, south, east and west. The turtle entwined with the snake represents the north direction and is the symbol of winter. The other three directions are represented by the azure dragon of the east, symbol of spring, the vermilion bird (Phenix) of the south, symbol of summer and the white tiger of the west, the symbol of autumn.
Each element is therefore associated with a cardinal direction: North, South, East, West and Center.
- The azure dragon in the East is associated with the element Wood.
- The Northern Black Tortoise is associated with the Water element.
- The Western White Tiger is associated with the Metal element.
- The Southern Phoenix is associated with the element Fire.
- The Earth represents the point of harmony of Tai Ji, it is therefore associated with the center.
The 5 planets
The theory of the five elements was applied to the five major planets visible to the naked eye at the beginning of the Han dynasty. Note that the five major planets probably had different names before the Han Dynasty.
The association of the color of the 5 elements with the planets is mentioned in the Book of Jin, an official Chinese historical text that covers the history of the Jin dynasty (265-420).
It was Han dynasty astronomers who began using the five elements name for the five major planets. Metal, water, wood, fire and earth are respectively connected to white, black, green, red and yellow (brown).
Thus, the essence of the five elements is considered to be linked to the relationships and movements of the planets and this notion is inseparable from the names used to describe them. This reflects the fact that the ancient Chinese considered all things on earth to be influenced and related to celestial phenomena.
- The planet Mercury is associated with the element of Water, with the color black. It is the planet closest to the Sun. The Chinese called it 辰 Chen, which is the unit of hours.
- The planet Jupiter is associated with the element of Wood. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. The ancient Chinese calendar used Jupiter’s orbital period to count years. The Chinese called it 歲 Sui, which means year. It is actually a very important planet in Chinese astrology, since Jupiter’s cycle is approximately 12 years, which corresponds to the 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
- The planet Mars is associated with the element of Fire. It has an unpredictable position and unstable brightness, so the ancient Chinese called it Ying Huo (熒惑) which means unstable fire.
- The planet Saturn is associated with the element of Earth. The furthest away with very slow movement, the Chinese called it 鎮 Zhen, which means sovereign city.
- The planet Venus is associated with the element of Metal, the Chinese called it TaiBo, which means the great white one.
The organs
In the ancient Neijing text of Chinese medicine, the organs of the human body corresponding to the five elements are mentioned.
“The organs each correspond to a color, we find the following symbols: the yellow color corresponds to the spleen, green to the liver, black to the kidneys, red to the heart, white to the lungs”.
The strength of the 5 elements according to the seasons
The 5 elements evolve according to the seasons, in each season they can be in one of the five states of force: prosperous, strong, at rest, captive or dead.
In spring, season of the Wood element:
- The Wood is prosperous.
- Fire is generated by Wood, therefore Fire is strong.
- Water generates Wood, but Water runs out because Wood is in season, Water is weak.
- The Metal controls the Wood so it is exhausted on a prosperous Wood, the Metal is captive.
- The Earth is controlled by Wood, the Earth is dead.
In summer, season of the Fire element:
- Fire is prosperous.
- The Earth is generated by Fire, therefore the Earth is strong.
- Wood generates Fire, but Wood runs out because Fire is in season, Wood is weak.
- Water controls Fire, so it runs out on a prosperous Fire, Water is captive.
- Metal is controlled by thriving Fire, Metal is dead.
In autumn, season of the Metal element:
- Metal is prosperous.
- Water is generated by Metal, therefore Water is strong.
- Earth generates Metal, but Earth is exhausted because Metal is in season, Earth is weak.
- Fire controls Metal, so it exhausts itself on a thriving Metal, captive Fire.
- Wood is controlled by thriving Metal, Wood is dead.
In winter, season of the Water element:
- Water is prosperous.
- Wood is generated by Water, therefore Wood is strong.
- Metal generates Water, but Metal is exhausted because Water is in season, Metal is weak.
- Earth controls Water, so it runs out on prosperous Water, Earth is captive.
- Fire is controlled by prosperous Water, Fire is dead.
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