What is the Five Elements Theory ?
- Origin of the Five Elements Theory
- The Five Elements and their Relationships with Nature and the Body
Based on observations of the natural world, ancient Chinese people recognized continuous patterns of transformation and change in the universe. Initially, these observations were interpreted using yin yang logic, but later these interpretations were expanded using a new theory called the five elements. The five elements theory evolved from the study of various processes, functions, and phenomena of nature. The theory asserts substances can be divided into one of five basic elements: wood, fire, water, metal and earth, which contain their own specific characteristics and properties. Today, the five elements theory is still used as a tool for grouping objects, and as a method for analyzing changes of natural phenomena.
Origin of the Five Elements Theory
The yin yang theory has a close relationship with the five elements theory. They are often used simultaneously to explain natural phenomena. Ancient Chinese medical philosophers integrated the yin yang and five elements theories into their medical practices as early as the Warring States Period (475〜221 BC). As integration of these theories took place, a more formalized system of medicine was established. Today we refer to this medical system as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to the ancient Chinese philosophy, everything in the universe is created by the motions and changes of five basic elements, which are wood, five, earth, metal and water. The elements are not existed independently and static, they always remain in a mutual coordinated manner that is through the processes of restricting and generating each other constantly. The five elements and their interrelationships were then evolved into a system of thought that used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. The wood, five, earth, metal and water elements are referred to specific characteristics and properties:
- Wood: growing, sending upward, outward expanding, free flowing, flexible and moving tendency.
- Fire: burning hot, upward, raising, bright red, and resolving.
- Earth: transforming, supporting, nourishing and receiving.
- Metal: purifying, sending downward, astringent, giving off sound, and changing.
- Water: cooling, moistening, downward, and hidden.
The Five Elements and their Relationships with Nature and the Body
The five elements correspond to different aspects of the natural world and the body. Wood, for example, corresponds to spring and wind in the natural world and to the liver, gall bladder, eyes and tendons in the body. (See below for a summary of these relationships.)
| Element | Wood | Fire | Earth | Metal | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | East | South | Middle | West | North |
| Season | Spring | Summer | Late Summer | Autumn | Winter |
| Climate | Wind | Summer heat | Dampness | Dryness | Cold |
| Cultivation | Germinate | Grow | Transform | Reap | Store |
| Yin organ | Liver | Heart | Spleen | Lung | Kidney |
| Yang organ | Gall Bladder | Small Intestine | Stomach | Large Intestine | Bladder |
| Orifice | Eyes | Tongue | Mouth | Nose | Ears |
| Tissue | Tendons | Vessels | Muslces | Skin & Hair | Bones |
| Emotion | Anger | Joy | Pensiveness | Grief | Fear |
| Color | Blue / Green | Red | Yellow | White | Black |
| Flavor | Sour | Bitter | Sweet | Pungent | Salty |
| Voice | Shout | Laugh | Sing | Cry | Groan |
| Pulse | Taut | Surging | Slow | Floating | Deep |
| Body fluid | Tear | Sweat | Thin saliva | Nasal discharge | Thick saliva |
| Manifestation | Nails | face | lips | Body hair | Hair |
| Labor | Walking | Seeing | Sitting | Lying down | Standing |
As shown in the above table, there are organized relationships between the elements, nature and the body. The different vertical characteristics belong to the same element, and horizontally, each characteristic interacts with another according to a specific order and element. Working within this system of thought, everything has a correlation in nature.
