Inheriting the legacy of Qi Huang, a public account with substance and warmth
1. The Five Directions and Five Elements: The East is Wood, the South is Fire, the West is Metal, the North is Water, and the Center is Earth. This corresponds to the meaning of the He Tu: “One and six are North Water, two and seven are South Fire, three and eight are East Wood, four and nine are West Metal, five and ten are Central Earth,” which forms the foundation of the Five Elements.
▢Written by: Chinese Feng Shui Research Association
2. The Correct Five Elements: Discussing the eight mountains and twenty-four characters, the Zhen Palace (震宫) with the characters Jia (甲), Yin (寅), and Yi (乙) belongs to Wood, with the adjacent palace Yin (寅) attached; the Li Palace (离宫) with the characters Bing (丙), Wu (午), and Ding (丁) belongs to Fire, with the adjacent palace Si (巳) attached; the Dui Palace (兑宫) with the characters Geng (庚), You (酉), and Xin (辛) belongs to Metal, with the adjacent palace Shen (申) attached; the Kan Palace (坎宫) with the characters Ren (壬), Zi (子), and Gui (癸) belongs to Water, with the adjacent palace Hai (亥) attached. The Gen (艮) and Kun (坤) with the characters Chen (辰), Xu (戌), Chou (丑), and Wei (未) belong to Earth, while Xun (巽) originally belongs to Wood, and Qian (乾) originally belongs to Metal. This is the essence of the Five Elements. People use divination, Feng Shui discussions, star placements, and burial practices based on the Correct Five Elements, and sometimes choose homes based on the Correct Five Elements as well.
3. The Three Harmonies of the Five Elements: The Three Harmonies of the Five Elements refer to the twelve Earthly Branches (地支) that meet every four, forming a Three Harmony formation from the twelve life stages: Long Life (长生), Bathing (沐浴), Crown (冠带), Official Position (临官), Emperor’s Prosperity (帝旺), Decline (衰), Illness (病), Death (死), Grave (墓), Absolute (绝), Fetus (胎), and Nourishment (养). This symbolizes the cycle of human life, eternally repeating. For example, the Long Life of Fire is in Yin (寅), flourishing in Wu (午), and buried in Xu (戌), thus Yin, Wu, and Xu form a Fire formation. In the twelve Earthly Branches, the four positions are paired every four, and in the twenty-four mountains, they are paired every eight, which is referred to as “Eight Intervals Generating”. Therefore, Yin, Wu, and Xu belong to Fire, with Long Life in Yin, flourishing in Wu, and buried in Xu; Hai, Yin, and Wei belong to Wood, with Long Life in Hai, flourishing in Yin, and buried in Wei; Shen, Zi, and Chen belong to Water, with Long Life in Shen, flourishing in Zi, and buried in Chen; Si, You, and Chou belong to Metal, with Long Life in Si, flourishing in You, and buried in Chou. Thus, the positions of Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai are the Long Life positions, Zi, Wu, Yin, and You are the four flourishing positions, and Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei are the four burial positions. The only element missing is Earth. The application of the Three Harmonies of the Five Elements is extensive; the Three Harmony Feng Shui relies entirely on it for determining the auspiciousness of water, and the Xuan Kong Feng Shui often uses it in verification.
4. Double Mountain Five Elements: This aligns the eight mountains and twenty-four directions with the twelve characters of the eight stems and four dimensions under the twelve Earthly Branches, attributing their Five Element properties according to the Three Harmonies of the Earthly Branches. Since two characters belong to the same category, it is called Double Mountain Five Elements. For example, Ren (壬) belongs to Zi (子) and is Water, Gui (癸) belongs to Chou (丑) and is Metal, and so on. Thus, Yin, Wu, and Xu, Gen, Bing, and Xin all belong to the Fire formation; Hai, Yin, and Wei, Qian, Jia, and Ding belong to the Wood formation; Shen, Zi, and Chen, Kun, Ren, and Yi belong to the Water formation; Si, You, and Chou, Xun, Geng, and Gui belong to the Metal formation, and the compass’s heavenly plate places Water according to this Five Element reasoning.
5. The Twenty-Eight Mansions and Five Elements: Jiao (角) Wood Dragon, Kang (亢) Metal Dragon, Di (氐) Earth Badger, Fang (房) Sun Rabbit, Xin (心) Moon Fox, Wei (尾) Fire Tiger, Ji (箕) Water Leopard; Dou (斗) Wood Crab, Niu (牛) Metal Ox, Nu (女) Earth Bat, Xu (虚) Sun Mouse, Wei (危) Moon Swallow, Shi (室) Fire Pig, Bi (壁) Water Dog; Kui (奎) Wood Wolf, Lou (蝼) Metal Dog, Wei (胃) Earth Pheasant, Mao (昴) Sun Chicken, Bi (毕) Moon Crow, Zi (觜) Fire Monkey, Shen (参) Water Ape; Jing (井) Wood Dog, Gui (鬼) Metal Sheep, Liu (柳) Earth Deer, Xing (星) Sun Horse, Zhang (张) Moon Deer, Yi (翼) Fire Snake, Zhen (轸) Water Worm. The Sun and Moon still belong to Fire. This is the Five Elements of the Twenty-Eight Mansions.
6. The Seven Stars and Four Residuals of the Five Elements: The Seven Stars refer to grouping the twenty-eight mansions into four groups of seven, thus called the Seven Stars and Four Residuals. The groups are: “Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji” for the Eastern Azure Dragon; “Dou, Niu, Nu, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi” for the Northern Black Tortoise; “Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, Shen” for the Western White Tiger; “Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen” for the Southern Vermilion Bird. The twenty-eight mansions form shapes in the sky and shapes on the ground. They are placed in the twenty-four mountains. As illustrated: the first layer is the post-heaven eight trigrams, the second layer is the twenty-four mountains, and the third layer is the twenty-eight mansions.
The twenty-four mountains are arranged in a clockwise direction, while the twenty-eight mansions are arranged in a counterclockwise direction. Each of the four palaces of Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai contains two stars, while the other palaces contain one star. As illustrated, once the positioning is established, the Five Elements of the twenty-four mountains are determined by the Five Elements of the twenty-eight mansions. The formula states: “Qian, Kun, Gen, Xun are the Wood regions; Yin, Shen, Si, Hai are the Water deities; Jia, Geng, Bing, Ren originally belong to Fire; Zi, Wu, Yin, You depend on Fire; Yi, Xin, Ding, Gui harm the Earth; Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei belong to the Metal hall.” This is the Seven Stars and Four Residuals of the Five Elements, and the Three Harmonies Feng Shui uses this Five Element reasoning according to the compass’s central needle to discern auspiciousness.
7. The Nine Stars and Five Elements: The Nine Stars are: Tan Lang (贪狼), Ju Men (巨门), Lu Cun (禄存), Wen Qu (文曲), Lian Zhen (廉贞), Wu Qu (武曲), Po Jun (破军), Zuo Fu (左辅), You Bi (右弼). These correspond to the Big Dipper’s seven stars plus the two stars Zuo Fu and You Bi, divided into Five Elements: Tan Lang is Wood, Ju Men and Lu Cun are Earth, Wen Qu is Water, Lian Zhen is Fire, Wu Qu is Metal, Po Jun is Metal, Zuo Fu is Earth, and You Bi is Metal. The Nine Stars help Feng Shui masters identify the shapes of the surrounding mountains in the bright hall, using generation and overcoming to discern auspiciousness.
8. The Five Elements of the Four Seasons: In spring, Wood is flourishing; in summer, Fire is flourishing; in autumn, Metal is flourishing; in winter, Water is flourishing, but Earth is missing. Therefore, at the end of each season, eighteen days are reserved for Earth, which is called the Earth Flourishing Day. Each of the Five Elements takes seventy-two days, totaling three hundred sixty days. Thus, the three days before the Grain Rain and the three days before the Beginning of Summer are the flourishing days for spring; the three days before the Minor Heat and the three days before the Beginning of Autumn are the flourishing days for summer; the three days before the Frost’s Descent and the three days before the Beginning of Winter are the flourishing days for autumn; the three days before the Great Cold and the three days before the Beginning of Spring are the flourishing days for winter. It is not advisable to disturb the earth on Earth Flourishing Days. The Five Elements of the Four Seasons are especially adhered to in divination and in the selection of auspicious days for Yin and Yang residences. It originates from the Correct Five Elements.
9. The Na Yin Five Elements: The Na Yin Five Elements refer to the Na Yin of the sixty Jia Zi (甲子). According to the ten stems and twelve branches, they alternate to form sixty, repeating indefinitely. For example, Jia Zi and Yi Chou both belong to Metal, indicating the meaning of marrying within the same position. The specific content is:
Jia Zi and Yi Chou are the Gold of the Sea, Bing Yin and Ding Mao are the Fire of the Furnace, Wu Chen and Ji Si are the Great Forest Wood, Geng Wu and Xin Wei are the Earth by the Road, Ren Shen and Gui You are the Sword Edge Gold, Jia Xu and Yi Hai are the Fire on the Mountain, Bing Zi and Ding Chou are the Water in the Ravine, Wu Yin and Ji Mao are the Earth on the City Wall, Geng Chen and Xin Si are the White Wax Gold, Ren Wu and Gui Wei are the Willow Wood, Jia Shen and Yi You are the Water in the Well, Bing Xu and Ding Hai are the Earth on the Roof, Wu Zi and Ji Chou are the Thunder Fire, Geng Yin and Xin Mao are the Pine and Cypress Wood, Ren Chen and Gui Si are the Long Flowing Water, Jia Wu and Yi Wei are the Gold in the Sand, Bing Shen and Ding You are the Fire at the Foot of the Mountain, Wu Xu and Ji Hai are the Wood on the Flat Ground, Geng Zi and Xin Chou are the Earth on the Wall, Ren Yin and Gui Mao are the Gold Foil Gold, Jia Chen and Yi Si are the Fire of the Buddha Lamp, Bing Wu and Ding Wei are the Water of the Heavenly River, Wu Shen and Ji You are the Earth of the Great Post, Geng Xu and Xin Hai are the Gold of the Hairpin, Ren Zi and Gui Chou are the Mulberry Wood, Jia Yin and Yi Mao are the Water of the Great Stream, Bing Chen and Ding Si are the Earth in the Sand, Wu Wu and Ji Wei are the Fire in the Sky, Geng Shen and Xin You are the Wood of the Pomegranate, Ren Xu and Gui Hai are the Water of the Great Sea.
10. The Twenty-Eight Mansions and Five Elements: The Eastern Azure Dragon has seven mansions: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji; the Northern Black Tortoise has seven mansions: Dou, Niu, Nu, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi; the Western White Tiger has seven mansions: Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, Shen; the Southern Vermilion Bird has seven mansions: Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen.
11. The Star Placement of the Five Elements: Qian, Kun, Gen, Xun are the Wood regions; Yin, Shen, Si, Hai are the Water deities; Jia, Geng, Bing, Ren originally belong to Fire; Zi, Wu, Yin, You depend on Fire; Yi, Xin, Ding, Gui harm the Earth; Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei belong to the Metal hall.
12. The Yin and Yang Five Elements: Shen, Geng, Qian are Yang Metal, born in Si, Xin, You are Yin Metal, born in Zi, Ren, Zi are Yang Water, born in Shen, Gui, Hai are Yin Water, born in Yin, Jia, Yin are Yang Wood, born in Hai, Yi, Yin are Yin Wood, born in Hai, Gen, Chen, Xu are Yang Earth, born in Shen, Chou, Wei are Yin Earth, born in Yin.
13. The Xuan Kong Five Elements: Bing, Ding, Yi, You originally belong to Fire; Qian, Kun, Mao, Wu are Metal, sitting together with Hai, Gui, Jia, Gen is Wood; Xu is the true child of the Earth.
14. The Hunyuan Five Elements: Li Fire, Bei Kan Water, Qian Metal, and Dui, Kan, Gen all belong to Earth; Zhen and Xun are both Wood, and the compass applies auspiciousness to all directions.
15. The Na Yin Five Elements: Zi and Wu are the Silver Lanterns hanging on the wall; Chen and Xu are the smoke filling the temple bell tower; Yin and Shen are the sandy ground burning firewood.
16. The Correct Body of the Five Elements: Hai, Ren, Zi, Gui are the Northern Water; Bi, Wu, Ding are the Southern Fire; Yin, Jia, Yi are the Eastern Wood; Geng, Shen, Xin are the Western Metal; Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei are the Earth.
17. The Eight Trigrams and Five Elements: Qian and Dui belong to Metal; Kun and Gen belong to Earth; Kan belongs to Water; Li belongs to Fire; Zhen and Xun belong to Wood. Note: The Correct Body of the Five Elements is the basic property of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and other Five Element properties are derived from the Correct Body of the Five Elements.
18. The Na Jia Five Elements: Qian, Jia, Dui, Ding, Si, Chou are Metal; Li, Ren, Yin, Xu are Fire; Zhen, Xun, Geng, Hai are Wood; Kan, Gui, Shen, Chen are Water; Gen, Bing, Kun, Yi are Earth. Note: The formula is based on the Correct Five Elements of the post-heaven trigrams and assigns this Five Element property to the Na Stems and Branches.
19. The Heavenly Stems Transforming Qi Five Elements: Jia and Ji transform into Earth; Yi and Geng transform into Metal; Ding and Ren transform into Wood; Bing and Xin transform into Water; Wu and Gui transform into Fire. Note: The ten stems combine in pairs to transform into a new Five Element. In destiny studies, the transformation of the Heavenly Stems must meet conditions; without the conditions, even if both stems are present, they cannot transform, which is the phenomenon of “combining but not transforming”. The Heavenly Stems Transforming Qi Five Elements is based on the observation of the North Dipper’s nine stars, resembling a dragon, and the mountains and rivers on the ground also resemble dragons, hence the origin of mountain dragons and water dragons.
20. The Hong Fan Five Elements: Jia, Yin, Chen, Xun are the great rivers; Kan, Xin, Shen are also Water; Gen and Zhen are originally Wood; Wu, Ren, Bing, Yi are Fire; Dui, Ding, Qian, Hai are Metal; and the Earth is the center.
The content of this article is for reference only, and non-professional doctors should not attempt acupuncture or medication.