Wuxing

Wuxing (Chinese: 五行; pinyin: wǔxíng), also known as the Five Elements, Five Phases, the Five Agents, the Five Movements, Five Processes, the Five Steps/Stages and the Five Planets is the short form of "wǔ zhǒng liúxíng zhī qì" (五種流行之氣) or "the five types of chi dominating at different times". It is a fivefold conceptual scheme that many traditional Chinese fields used to explain a wide array of phenomena, from cosmic cycles to the interaction between internal organs, and from the succession of political regimes to the properties of medicinal drugs. The "Five Phases" are Wood (木 mù), Fire (火 huǒ), Earth (土 tǔ), Metal (金 jīn), and Water (水 shuǐ). This order of presentation is known as the "mutual generation" (相生 xiāngshēng) sequence. In the order of "mutual overcoming" (相克 xiāngkè), they are Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, and Metal.

Concept

The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. After it came to maturity in the second or first century BCE during the Han dynasty, this device was employed in many fields of early Chinese thought, including seemingly disparate fields such as geomancy or Feng shui, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, military strategy, and martial arts. The system is still used as a reference in some forms of complementary and alternative medicine and martial arts.

Phases

Wood

Wood is the most yang in character of the five elements. It is associated with the east, the planet Jupiter, the color green, windy weather, and the season spring. It governs the Liver, the Gallbladder, the eyes, and the tendons.

Fire

Fire is associated with the south, the planet Mars, the color red, hot weather, and the season summer. It governs the Heart, the Small intestine, the tongue, and the blood vessels.

Earth

Earth is associated with the center, the planet Saturn, the color yellow, damp weather, and the season late summer. It governs the Spleen, the Stomach, the mouth, and the muscles.

Metal

Metal is associated with the west, the planet Venus, the color white, dry weather, and the season autumn. It governs the Lung, the Large intestine, the nose, and the skin.

Water

Water is associated with the north, the planet Mercury, the color black, cold weather, and the season winter. It governs the Kidney, the Bladder, the ears, and the bones.

See also

• Chinese astrology
• Chinese philosophy
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Feng shui

References

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