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Collection of Knowledge Accumulation: Issues 1-50
Collection of Knowledge Accumulation: Issues 51-100
Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth — The Five Elements
February 25
The Five Elements (Wu Xing) is a systematic view from ancient Chinese philosophy, widely used in TCM, feng shui, destiny analysis, physiognomy, and divination. The significance of the Five Elements encompasses five basic dynamics through the evolution of Yin and Yang: Gold (Jin, representing gathering), Wood (Mu, representing growth), Water (Shui, representing moistening), Fire (Huo, representing destruction), Earth (Tu, representing integration). Ancient Chinese philosophers used the theory of the Five Elements to explain the formation of all things in the world and their interrelationships. It emphasizes wholeness and aims to describe the forms of movement and transformation of things. Yin and Yang is an ancient theory of opposites and unity, while the Five Elements is a primitive system theory.
Generating (Xiang Sheng) refers to the mutually supportive and promoting relationship between two different attributes; specifically: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Gold, Gold generates Water, Water generates Wood.
Overcoming (Xiang Ke), on the other hand, is the opposite of generating, referring to the mutually restraining relationship between two different Five Element attributes; specifically: Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Gold, Gold overcomes Wood.
The relationship of the Five Elements with directions, heavenly stems, colors, and divine beasts:
Wood: East, Jia and Yi, Green, Qinglong (Azure Dragon)
Fire: South, Bing and Ding, Red, Zhuque (Vermilion Bird)
Earth: Center, Wu and Ji, Yellow, Yinglong (Responding Dragon)
Gold: West, Geng and Xin, White, Baihu (White Tiger)
Water: North, Ren and Gui, Black, Xuanwu (Black Tortoise)
The Five Elements refer to the five modes of gas movement.
Spring belongs to Wood, representing the mode of gas expanding outward. In spring, flowers and trees grow vigorously, and the branches extend outward, transporting nutrients to the tips, hence spring belongs to Wood.
Summer belongs to Fire, representing the upward movement of gas. The characteristic of fire is to rise, and in summer, various plants grow upward rapidly, thus summer belongs to Fire.
Long Summer belongs to Earth, which is a transitional period between summer and autumn, characterized by hot and humid weather, a time when crops mature, hence Long Summer belongs to Earth.
Autumn belongs to Gold, representing the inward contraction of gas. The characteristic of Gold is stability; in autumn, harvest occurs, and people store food in preparation for winter, while leaves fall, thus autumn belongs to Gold.
Winter belongs to Water, representing the downward movement of gas. Water flows downward, and in winter, all things hibernate, accumulating nutrients for spring, hence winter belongs to Water.
Ancient people believed that the year could be subdivided into five seasons, corresponding to the Five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold, and Water.
Practice
Do exercises to review and reinforce your knowledge.
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01
[2016 Henan] Which of the following statements about the theory of the Five Elements is incorrect?
A. The Wood in the Five Elements corresponds to the East, and its color is green.
B. The sequence of generating in the Five Elements is Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Gold, Gold generates Earth, Earth generates Water.
C. The Five Elements can be paired with heavenly stems; the stems paired with Fire are Bing and Ding.
D. The theory of the Five Elements originated early, with related records in the “Book of Documents: Hong Fan”.
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B
Option B is incorrect: The sequence of generating in the Five Elements is Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Gold, Gold generates Water, Water generates Wood.
Option A is correct: Wood corresponds to the East, with heavenly stems Jia and Yi, and its color is green.
Option C is correct: Fire corresponds to the South, with heavenly stems Bing and Ding, and its color is red.
Option D is correct: The term “Five Elements” first appeared in the “Book of Documents: Hong Fan”. “Five Elements: First is Water, Second is Fire, Third is Wood, Fourth is Gold, Fifth is Earth.”
This question is a selection of incorrect answers, so the correct answer is B.
02
[2013 Shaanxi] Which of the following statements is correct?
A. Ancient Chinese theory of the Five Elements believes that between the Five Elements, generating and overcoming occur, with the order of overcoming being: Gold overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Wood, Wood overcomes Gold.
B. The six roots in Buddhism refer to color, body, fragrance, taste, touch, and law.
C. During the Tang Xuanzong period, Chinese society experienced a prosperous scene, referred to by historians as the “Zhenguan Governance”.
D. The eight trigrams in the “I Ching” refer to Qian, Kun, Li, Kan, Dui, Zhen, Gen, and Xun.
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D
Option A is incorrect; the specific order of generating and overcoming is: Wood overcomes Earth → Earth overcomes Water → Water overcomes Fire → Fire overcomes Gold → Gold overcomes Wood.
Option B is incorrect; the six roots in Buddhism refer to eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
Option C is incorrect; “Zhenguan Governance” refers to the clear politics during the reign of Tang Taizong, not during the Tang Xuanzong period.
Option D is correct; its description of the composition of the eight trigrams is accurate.
Thus, the correct answer is D.