Difference between revisions of "Wu Xing" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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{{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}}
 
 
{{Contains Chinese text}}
 
{{Contains Chinese text}}
 
{{Classic element}}
 
{{Classic element}}
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In traditional [[Chinese philosophy]], natural phenomena can be classified into the '''Wu Xing''' ({{zh-cp|c=五行|p=wǔxíng}}), or the '''Five Phases''', usually translated as '''five elements''', '''five movements''' or '''five steps'''.<ref>Note that the five elements are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device for systems with 5 stages; hence the preferred translation of "Phase" over "Element."</ref>
+
In ancient Taoist thought,'''Wu Xing''' ({{zh-cp|c=五行|p=wǔxíng}}), or the '''Five Phases''', usually translated as '''five elements''', '''five movements''' or '''five steps''' are five dynamic qualities or energies that can be perceived in all natural phenomena. <ref>Note that the five elements are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device for systems with 5 stages; hence the preferred translation of "Phase" over "Element."</ref>
  
 
The elements are:
 
The elements are:
−
*[[Metal (classical element)|metal]] (Chinese: [[wiktionary:金|金]], pinyin: jīn, ) (literal translation meaning "gold")
+
*[[Metal (classical element)|metal]] (Chinese:金, pinyin: jīn, "gold")
−
*[[Wood (classical element)|wood]] (Chinese: [[wiktionary:木|木]], pinyin: mù)
+
*[[Wood (classical element)|wood]] (Chinese: 木, pinyin: mù)
−
*[[Water (classical element)|water]] (Chinese: [[wiktionary:水|水]], pinyin: shuǐ)
+
*[[Water (classical element)|water]] (Chinese: 水, pinyin: shuǐ)
−
*[[Fire (classical element)|fire]] (Chinese: [[wiktionary:火|火]], pinyin: huǒ), and  
+
*[[Fire (classical element)|fire]] (Chinese:火, pinyin: huǒ), and  
−
*[[Earth (classical element)|earth]] (Chinese: [[wiktionary:土|土]], pinyin: tǔ, ).  
+
*[[Earth (classical element)|earth]] (Chinese:土, pinyin: tǔ, ).  
  
−
The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. It was employed as a device in many fields of early Chinese thought, including seemingly disparate fields such as geomancy or [[Feng shui]], [[Chinese astrology|astrology]], [[traditional Chinese medicine]], [[music]], [[military strategy]] and [[martial arts]].
+
The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and interpreting relationships between phenomena. It was employed as a device in many fields of early Chinese thought, including geomancy or [[Feng shui]], [[Chinese astrology|astrology]], [[traditional Chinese medicine]], [[music]], art, [[military strategy]] and [[martial arts]]. The system is still used as a reference in some forms of [[complementary and alternative medicine]] and martial arts, and in feng shui, fortune-telling and casting horoscopes.  
  
−
Traditional [[Taijiquan]] schools relate them to footwork and refer to them as five "steps." The system is still used as a reference in some forms of [[complementary and alternative medicine]] and martial arts. Some claim the original foundation of these are the concept of the [[Cardinal direction#Far East|Five Cardinal Points]].
+
==Origin and meaning==
 +
The Chinese character 行 (xing, hsing), though translated as “phase” or “element,” is a verb meaning “to act” or “to go.”  The Five Agents were believed to control the change and movement of the universe, and to provide the energy for all the other groups of five in the Chinese cosmology, such as the Five Virtues of Confucianism, Five Government Minister, Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism, Five Musical Notes in the pentatonic scale, and the Five Basic Colors. The source of these ancient beliefs is the I Ching (Book of Changes). <ref>En p. 161</ref.> Some scholars theorize that the original foundation for the five elements is the concept of the [[Cardinal direction#Far East|Five Cardinal Points]].
 +
 
 +
Each of the five agents is associated with a specific element in each group of five. For example, fire is associated with summer, red, and the Ministry of War. Wood is associated with the spring season, the color green, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The Five Sacred Mountains represent the four cardinal directions plus the center of the universe; the eastern mountain is green, the southern is red, the central mountain yellow, the northern mountain black, and the western mountain white. In Chinese history, the successive dynasties were linked to each of the five phases; the Xia dynasty (2200 – 1750 B.C.E.) was wood; the Shang dynasty (1750 – 1040 B.C.E.) was metal; the Zhou dynasty (1100 – 256 B.C.E.) was fire and red; and the founder of the Qin dynasty (221 B.C.E. – 206 C.E.) chose black and water as his symbols.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
 +
 
 +
Traditional schools of the internal martial art [[Taijiquan]] relate the five elements to footwork and refer to them as five "steps." The system is still used as a reference in some forms of [[complementary and alternative medicine]] and martial arts. Some claim the original foundation for these elements are the concept of the [[Cardinal direction#Far East|Five Cardinal Points]].
  
 
==Cycles==
 
==Cycles==
−
The doctrine of five phases describes two '''Cycles of Balance''', a generating or creation (生, ''shēng'') cycle and an overcoming or destruction (克/剋, ''kè'') cycle of interactions between the phases.  
+
The doctrine of five phases describes two '''Cycles of Balance''', a generating or creation (生, ''shēng'') cycle and an overcoming or destruction (克/剋, ''kè'') cycle of interactions between the phases. In any creative activity, such as martial arts, medicine, painting or music, each element should only be combined with the elements that com ebefore and after it in the cycle. 
  
 
===Generating===
 
===Generating===
  
−
The common memory jogs to help remember which order the phases are in are:
+
The common memory devices to help remember the correct order of the phases are:
  
 
*Wood feeds Fire;
 
*Wood feeds Fire;
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*Water nourishes Wood.
 
*Water nourishes Wood.
  
−
Other common words for this cycle include "begets," "engenders" and "mothers"
+
Other common words for this cycle include "begets," "engenders" and "mothers."
  
 
===Overcoming===
 
===Overcoming===
 +
Each of the five elements also has dominance over another:
  
 
*Wood parts Earth;
 
*Wood parts Earth;
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*Metal chops Wood.
 
*Metal chops Wood.
  
−
This cycle might also be called "controls," "restrains" or "fathers."
+
This cycle is also called "controls," "restrains" or "fathers."
  
 
[[Image:FiveElementsCycleBalanceImbalance.jpg|thumb|right|Interactions of Five Chinese Elements - Cycles of Balance and Cycles of Imbalance]]
 
[[Image:FiveElementsCycleBalanceImbalance.jpg|thumb|right|Interactions of Five Chinese Elements - Cycles of Balance and Cycles of Imbalance]]
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{{main|Feng Shui}}
 
{{main|Feng Shui}}
  
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According to Wu Xing theory, the structure of the cosmos mirrors the five elements. Each "element" has a complex series of associations with different aspects of nature, as can be seen in the following table. In the ancient Chinese form of [[geomancy]] known as Feng Shui practitioners all based their art and system on the five elements (Wu Xing). All of these elements are represented within the Bagua. Associated with these elements are colors, seasons and shapes; all of which are interacting with each other. <ref> [http://www.northernshaolinacademy.com/new/docs/FiveElementsChart.xls Chinese Five Elements Chart]Information on the Chinese Five Elements from Northern Shaolin Academy in Microsoft Excel 2003 Format. Retrieved July 19, 2008.</ref>
+
According to Wu Xing theory, the structure of the cosmos mirrors the five elements. Each "element" has a complex series of associations with different aspects of nature, as can be seen in the following table. In the ancient Chinese form of [[geomancy]] known as feng shui, practitioners all based their art and system on the five elements (Wu Xing). All of these elements are represented within the bagua (eight trigrams). Associated with each of these elements are colors, seasons and shapes; all of which interact with each other. <ref> [http://www.northernshaolinacademy.com/new/docs/FiveElementsChart.xls Chinese Five Elements Chart]Information on the Chinese Five Elements from Northern Shaolin Academy in Microsoft Excel 2003 Format. Retrieved January 20, 2009.</ref>
  
−
Based on a particular directional energy flow from one element to the next, the interaction can be expansive, destructive, or exhaustive. With proper knowledge of such aspect of energy flow will enable the Feng Shui practitioner to apply certain cures or rearrangement of energy in a way they believe to be beneficial.
+
Based on a particular directional energy flow from one element to the next, the interaction can be expansive, destructive, or exhaustive. Proper knowledge of these principles of energy flow enables feng shui practitioners to apply specific cures by rearrangement of energy in a way they believe to be beneficial.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
![[Color]]
 
![[Color]]
−
| [[Green]] || [[Red]] || [[Yellow]] || [[White]] || [[Blue]] or <br/> [[Black]]
+
| [[green]] || [[red]] || [[yellow]] || [[white]] || [[blue]] or <br/> [[black]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[cardinal directions|Direction]]
 
! [[cardinal directions|Direction]]
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|-
 
|-
 
![[Energy]]
 
![[Energy]]
−
|Generative || Expansive || Stabilizing || Contracting || Conserving
+
|generative || expansive || stabilizing || contracting || conserving
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Season]]
 
! [[Season]]
−
| [[Spring (season)|Spring]] || [[Summer]] || Change of seasons<br/>(Every third month) || [[Autumn]] || [[Winter]]
+
| [[spring (season)|spring]] || [[summer]] || change of seasons<br/>(every third month) || [[autumn]] || [[winter]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
![[Climate]]
 
![[Climate]]
−
|[[Windy]] || [[Temperature|Hot]] || [[Damp]] || [[Dry]] || [[Cold]]
+
|[[windy]] || [[temperature|hot]] || [[damp]] || [[dry]] || [[cold]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
![[Development]]
 
![[Development]]
−
| Sprouting || Blooming || Ripening || Withering || Dormant
+
| sprouting || blooming || ripening || withering || dormant
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Livestock]]  
 
! [[Livestock]]  
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[[Image:FiveElementsDiurnalCycle.jpg|thumb|right|Five Chinese Elements - Diurnal Cycle]]
 
[[Image:FiveElementsDiurnalCycle.jpg|thumb|right|Five Chinese Elements - Diurnal Cycle]]
 
{{Main|Traditional Chinese medicine}}
 
{{Main|Traditional Chinese medicine}}
−
The interdependence of [[Zang Fu|organ]] networks in the body was noted to be a circle of five things, and so mapped by the Chinese doctors onto the five phases. For instance, the Liver (Wood phase) is said to be the "mother" of the heart (Fire phase), and the Kidneys (Water phase) the mother of the Liver. The key observation was things like kidney deficiency affecting the function of the liver. In this case, the "mother" is weak, and cannot support the child. However, the Kidneys control the heart along the Ke cycle, so the Kidneys are said to restrain the heart. Many of these interactions can nowadays be linked to known physiological pathways (such as Kidney pH affecting heart activity).
+
The interdependence of [[Zang Fu|organ]] networks in the body was noted to be a circle of five majpr systems, and was mapped by Chinese doctors onto the five phases. For instance, the liver (wood phase) is said to be the "mother" of the heart (fire phase), and the kidneys (water phase) the “mother” of the liver. In the case of a  kidney deficiency affecting the function of the liver, the observation is made that the "mother" is weak, and cannot support the child. However, the kidneys (water phase) control the heart (fire phase) in the “overcoming” (“ke”) cycle, so the kidneys are said to restrain the heart. Many of these interactions have now been linked to known physiological pathways (such as the pH of the kidney affecting activity of the heart).
 +
 
 +
The application of the five elements in Chinese medicine is only a model, with some known exceptions, but because it seems to produce valid results, it has remained in use for thousands of years.
  
−
The key thing to keep in mind with the Chinese medical application of the five elements is that it is only a model, and it is known to have exceptions. However, in general the device seems to be useful for arriving at good clinical results, so they were kept by the critically thinking Chinese medical doctors and researchers since they were first introduced.
+
The order in which the Five Phases are cited in the Bo Hu Tong and other Han dynasty texts is: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. According to Chinese medical theory, the organs are most effectively treated during the following four-hour periods throughout the day, beginning with the period from 3 a.m. to 7 a. m.: 
 +
*3 a.m. to 7 a. m. metal organs (see the list below)
 +
*7 a.m. to 11 a.m. earth organs
 +
*11 a.m. to 3 p.m. fire<sub>1</sub> organs
 +
*3 p.m. to 7 p.m. water organs,  
 +
*7 p.m. to 11 p.m. fire<sub>2</sub> (the "non-empirical" pericardium and “triple burner” organs
 +
*11 p.m. to 3 a.m. wood organs
  
−
The citation order of the Five Phases, i.e., the order in which they are cited in the Bo Hu Tong and other Han dynasty texts, is Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The organs are most effectively treated, according to theory, in the following four-hour periods throughout the day, beginning with the 3 a.m. to 7 a. m. period:  Metal organs (see the list below), Earth organs, Fire<sub>1</sub> organs, Water organs, Fire<sub>2</sub> (the "non-empirical" Pericardium and Triple Burner organs), and Wood organs, which is the reverse  of the citation order (plus an extra use of Fire and the non-empirical organs to take care of the sixth four-hour period of the day). These two orders are further related to the sequence of the planets going outward from the sun (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Water, Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth) by a star diagram similar to the one shown above. <ref>See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FiveElementsCycleBalanceImbalance.jpg Chinese Five Elements Cycles of Balance]. Retrieved July 19, 2008.</ref>
+
These two orders are further related to the sequence of the planets going outward from the sun (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn; or Water, Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth) illustrated in a star diagram similar to the one shown above.  
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
! Mental Quality
 
! Mental Quality
−
| [[Sensitivity]] || [[Creativity]] || [[Clarity]] || [[Intuition]] ||[[Spontaneity]]
+
| [[sensitivity]] || [[creativity]] || [[clarity]] || [[intuition]] ||[[spontaneity]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Emotion|Negative Emotion]]
 
! [[Emotion|Negative Emotion]]
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|-
 
|-
 
![[Emotion|Positive Emotion]]
 
![[Emotion|Positive Emotion]]
−
|[[Patience]] || [[Joy]] || [[Empathy]],[[Love]]  || [[Courage]] ||  [[Calmness]]
+
|[[patience]] || [[joy]] || [[empathy]],[[love]]  || [[courage]] ||  [[calmness]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Zang Fu theory|Zang]] ([[yin and yang|yin organs]])
 
! [[Zang Fu theory|Zang]] ([[yin and yang|yin organs]])
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|-
 
|-
 
! Sensory [[organ (anatomy)|organ]]
 
! Sensory [[organ (anatomy)|organ]]
−
| [[eye]] || [[tongue]] || [[Mouth]] || [[nose]] || [[ears]]
+
| [[eye]] || [[tongue]] || [[mouth]] || [[nose]] || [[ears]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Body Part
 
! Body Part
−
| [[Tendon]]s || [[Pulse]] || [[Muscle]] || [[Skin]] || [[Bone]]s
+
| [[tendon]]s || [[pulse]] || [[muscle]] || [[skin]] || [[bone]]s
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Body Fluid
 
! Body Fluid
−
| [[Tears]] || [[Sweat]] || [[Saliva]] || [[Mucus]] || [[Urine]]
+
| [[tears]] || [[sweat]] || [[saliva]] || [[mucus]] || [[urine]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Finger]]
 
! [[Finger]]
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|-
 
|-
 
! [[Olfaction|Smell]]
 
! [[Olfaction|Smell]]
−
| [[Rancidification|Rancid]] || Scorched || [[Fragrant]] || [[Putrid]] || [[Biodegradation|Rotten]]
+
| [[Rancidification|rancid]] || scorched || [[fragrant]] || [[putrid]] || [[Biodegradation|rotten]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Life]]
 
! [[Life]]
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==Chinese astrology==
 
==Chinese astrology==
 
{{Main|Chinese astrology}}
 
{{Main|Chinese astrology}}
−
Chinese astrology is based upon the interaction of the five elements with the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, to produce the well-known 60 year cycle of signs.
+
Chinese astrology is based upon the interaction of the five elements with the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, to produce a 60 year cycle of signs. A 60th birthday celebration is especially significant because the person has lived through a complete cycle of 60 years.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|}
 
|}
  
−
For example, assume someone is born in the year 1953, the year of the Snake. Because her birth year ends with 3, her element is Water; therefore, she was born in the year of the Water Snake.
+
For example, someone born in the year 1953, the year of the Snake, is said to be born in the year of the Water Snake because his or her birth year ends with 3, a number associated with Water. Fortune-tellers use these associations in determining whether a couple will have a fortuitous marriage.
  
 
==Music==
 
==Music==
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|-
 
|-
 
![[Colour]]
 
![[Colour]]
−
| [[Green]] || [[Red]] || [[Yellow]] || [[White]] || [[Blue]]
+
| [[green]] || [[red]] || [[yellow]] || [[white]] || [[blue]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Direction
 
! Direction
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|}
 
|}
  
−
(Notes:
+
The Chinese word 青 ''qīng'', traditionally translated as [[Azure (color)|azure]] in this context, includes the range in the spectrum from green to blue, with shades down to black.
−
*The Chinese word 青 ''qīng'', traditionally translated as [[Azure (color)|azure]] in this context, includes the range in the spectrum from green to blue, with shades down to black.)
 
−
*In modern Western music, various seven note or five note scales (e.g., the major scale) are defined by selecting seven or five frequencies from the set of twelve semi-tones in the [[Equal tempered]] tuning. The Chinese "lǜ" tuning is closest to the ancient Greek tuning of Pythagoras. See [[Chinese musicology]].)
 
  
−
==Martial arts==
+
In modern Western music, various seven note or five note scales (e.g., the major scale) are defined by selecting seven or five frequencies from the set of twelve semi-tones in the [[Equal tempered]] tuning. The Chinese "lǜ" tuning is closest to the ancient Greek tuning of Pythagoras.
−
===Xingyi===
+
 
 +
==Xingyi martial arts==
 
{{main|Xingyi}}
 
{{main|Xingyi}}
−
Xingyiquan uses the five elements to metaphorically represent five different states of combat.  
+
The martial art Xingyiquan uses the five elements to metaphorically represent five different states of combat. Xingyiquan practitioners use the five elements as an interpretative framework for reacting and responding to attacks. The five element theory is a general combat formula which assumes at least three outcomes of a fight; the constructive, the neutral, and the destructive. Xingyiquan students train to react to and execute specific techniques in such a way that a desirable cycle will form based on the constructive, neutral and destructive interactions of five element theory. Where to aim, where to hit and with what technique—and how those motions should work defensively—is determined by the point of the cycle in which the combatant sees himself or herself. 
 +
 
 +
Each of the elements has variant applications that allow it to be used to defend against all of the elements (including itself), so any set sequences are entirely arbitrary, though the destructive cycle is often taught to beginners as it is easier to visualize and consists of easier applications.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
==Shan shui painting==
 +
Shan shui ({{zh-c|山水}} lit. "mountain-water") is a style of [[Chinese painting]] that involves or depicts [[scenery]] or natural [[Landscape art|landscape]]s, using a [[Ink brush|brush]] and [[ink]] rather than more conventional paints. [[Mountain]]s, [[river]]s and often [[waterfalls]] are prominent in this art form. Shan shui is painted and designed in accordance with Chinese [[Wu Xing|elemental theory]], with the [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|five elements]] representing various parts of the natural world, and has specific directions for colorations that should be used in cardinal 'directions' of the painting, and for which color should dominate. <ref name="foo5">Early Chinese Texts on Painting by Susan Bush, Hsio-yen Shih. Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR), Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (Jul., 1985), pp. 153-159</ref> 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Direction
 +
! Element
 +
! Colour
 +
|-
 +
| East
 +
| Wood
 +
| Green
 +
|-
 +
| South
 +
| Fire
 +
| Red
 +
|-
 +
| NE / SW
 +
| Earth
 +
| Tan or Yellow
 +
|-
 +
| West / NW
 +
| Metal
 +
| White or gold
 +
|-
 +
| North
 +
| Water
 +
| Blue or Black
 +
|}
 +
 +
Positive interactions between the Elements are:
 +
 +
*Wood produces Fire
 +
*Fire produces Earth
 +
*Earth produces Metal
 +
*Metal produces Water
 +
*Water produces Wood.
 +
 +
Elements that react positively should be used together. For example, Water complements both Metal and Wood; therefore, a painter would combine blue and green or blue and white. There is a positive interaction between Earth and Fire, so a painter would mix Yellow and Red.<ref name="chineseeye">{{cite book|last=Yee|first=Chiang|coauthors=S.I. Hsiung|title=The Chinese eye: An interpretation of Chinese painting|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1964}}</ref>
 +
 +
Negative interactions between the Elements are:
 +
 +
*Wood uproots Earth
 +
*Earth blocks Water
 +
*Water douses Fire
 +
*Fire melts Metal
 +
*Metal chops Wood
 +
 +
Elements that interact negatively should never be used together. For example, Fire will not interact positively with Water or Metal so a painter would not choose to mix red and blue, or red and white.<ref name="goo">Textual Evidence for the Secular Arts of China in the Period from Liu Sung through Sui by Alexander Soper</ref>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* [[Traditional Chinese medicine]]
 
* [[Traditional Chinese medicine]]
 
* [[Chinese music]]
 
* [[Chinese music]]
 +
*[[Chinese musicology]]
 +
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
 +
 
== References==
 
== References==
−
* [[Feng Youlan]] (Yu-lan Fung), ''A History of Chinese Philosophy'', volume 2, p. 13
+
* [[Feng Youlan]] (Yu-lan Fung), ''A History of Chinese Philosophy'', volume 2, 1952 – 1953. p. 13
−
* [[Joseph Needham]], ''Science and Civilization in China'', volume 2, pp. 262-23
+
* [[Joseph Needham|Needham, Joseph]], ''Science and Civilization in China'', volume 2, 1954. pp. 262-23
−
* Maciocia, G. 2005, ''The Foundations of Chinese Medicine'', 2nd edn, Elsevier Ltd., London
+
* Maciocia, G. ''The Foundations of Chinese Medicine'', 2nd edn. Elsevier Ltd., London. 2005. ISBN 9780443039805
 +
* Perkins, Dorothy. 1999. Encyclopedia of China: the essential reference to China, its history and culture. New York: Facts on File. 1999. pp. 160 – 161 ISBN 9780816026937
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
All links are retrieved July 19, 2008.
+
All links retrieved January 20, 2009.
 
*[http://iching.com.my/five-elements-en.htm Five Elements] Malaysia I Ching Net
 
*[http://iching.com.my/five-elements-en.htm Five Elements] Malaysia I Ching Net
−
* [http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/theory/thefiveelements.html Five Element Information] Five Element interrelationships, concordances and causative factors.
+
*[http://www.acupuncture.com.au/education/theory/thefiveelements.html Five Element Information] Five Element interrelationships, concordances and causative factors.
 
* [http://www.char4u.com/chinese-zodiac-sign.php Chinese Zodiac Chart] Find your Chinese Zodiac sign based on your date of birth.
 
* [http://www.char4u.com/chinese-zodiac-sign.php Chinese Zodiac Chart] Find your Chinese Zodiac sign based on your date of birth.
 
* [http://homeopathy.healthspace.eu/qi/chinese.php  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)] A model of transition from the traditional elements   
 
* [http://homeopathy.healthspace.eu/qi/chinese.php  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)] A model of transition from the traditional elements   
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[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
 +
  
 
{{credits|Wu_Xing|223116912}}
 
{{credits|Wu_Xing|223116912}}

Revision as of 01:14, 21 January 2009

Zhongwen.png This article contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

  Classical Elements

Greek

  Air  
Water Aether Fire
  Earth  

Hinduism (Tattva) and
Buddhism (Mahābhūta)

  Vayu/Pavan (Air/Wind)  
Ap/Jala (Water) Akasha (Aether) Agni/Tejas (Fire)
  Prithvi/Bhumi (Earth)  

Japanese (Godai)

  Air/Wind (風)  
Water (水) Void/Sky/Heaven (空) Fire (火)
  Earth (地)  

Tibetan (Bön)

  Air  
Water Space Fire
  Earth  

Chinese (Wu Xing)

  Fire (火)  
Metal (金) Earth (土) Wood (木)
  Water (水)  

Medieval Alchemy

  Air  
Water Aether Fire
  Earth
Sulphur Mercury Salt


In ancient Taoist thought,Wu Xing (Chinese: 五行; pinyin: wǔxíng), or the Five Phases, usually translated as five elements, five movements or five steps are five dynamic qualities or energies that can be perceived in all natural phenomena. [1]

The elements are:

  • metal (Chinese:金, pinyin: jīn, "gold")
  • wood (Chinese: 木, pinyin: mù)
  • water (Chinese: 水, pinyin: shuǐ)
  • fire (Chinese:火, pinyin: huǒ), and
  • earth (Chinese:土, pinyin: tǔ, ).

The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and interpreting relationships between phenomena. It was employed as a device in many fields of early Chinese thought, including geomancy or Feng shui, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, art, military strategy and martial arts. The system is still used as a reference in some forms of complementary and alternative medicine and martial arts, and in feng shui, fortune-telling and casting horoscopes.

Origin and meaning

The Chinese character 行 (xing, hsing), though translated as “phase” or “element,” is a verb meaning “to act” or “to go.” The Five Agents were believed to control the change and movement of the universe, and to provide the energy for all the other groups of five in the Chinese cosmology, such as the Five Virtues of Confucianism, Five Government Minister, Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism, Five Musical Notes in the pentatonic scale, and the Five Basic Colors. The source of these ancient beliefs is the I Ching (Book of Changes). Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Traditional schools of the internal martial art Taijiquan relate the five elements to footwork and refer to them as five "steps." The system is still used as a reference in some forms of complementary and alternative medicine and martial arts. Some claim the original foundation for these elements are the concept of the Five Cardinal Points.

Cycles

The doctrine of five phases describes two Cycles of Balance, a generating or creation (生, shēng) cycle and an overcoming or destruction (克/剋, kè) cycle of interactions between the phases. In any creative activity, such as martial arts, medicine, painting or music, each element should only be combined with the elements that com ebefore and after it in the cycle.

Generating

The common memory devices to help remember the correct order of the phases are:

  • Wood feeds Fire;
  • Fire creates Earth (ash);
  • Earth bears Metal;
  • Metal carries Water (as in a bucket or tap);
  • Water nourishes Wood.

Other common words for this cycle include "begets," "engenders" and "mothers."

Overcoming

Each of the five elements also has dominance over another:

  • Wood parts Earth;
  • Earth absorbs Water;
  • Water quenches Fire;
  • Fire melts Metal;
  • Metal chops Wood.

This cycle is also called "controls," "restrains" or "fathers."

Interactions of Five Chinese Elements - Cycles of Balance and Cycles of Imbalance

There are also two Cycles of Imbalance, an overacting cycle (cheng) and an insulting cycle (wu).

Cosmology and feng shui

According to Wu Xing theory, the structure of the cosmos mirrors the five elements. Each "element" has a complex series of associations with different aspects of nature, as can be seen in the following table. In the ancient Chinese form of geomancy known as feng shui, practitioners all based their art and system on the five elements (Wu Xing). All of these elements are represented within the bagua (eight trigrams). Associated with each of these elements are colors, seasons and shapes; all of which interact with each other. [2]

Based on a particular directional energy flow from one element to the next, the interaction can be expansive, destructive, or exhaustive. Proper knowledge of these principles of energy flow enables feng shui practitioners to apply specific cures by rearrangement of energy in a way they believe to be beneficial.

Element Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Color green red yellow white blue or
black
Direction east south center / zenith west north
Planet Jupiter Mars Saturn Venus Mercury
Heavenly creature Azure Dragon
蒼龍 or 青龍		 Vermilion Bird
朱雀		 Yellow Dragon or Yellow Qilin
黃龍 or 黃麟		 White Tiger
白虎		 Black Tortoise
玄武
Heavenly Stems 甲, 乙 丙, 丁 戊, 己 庚, 辛 壬, 癸
Phase New Yang Full Yang Yin/Yang balance New Yin Full Yin
Energy generative expansive stabilizing contracting conserving
Season spring summer change of seasons
(every third month)		 autumn winter
Climate windy hot damp dry cold
Development sprouting blooming ripening withering dormant
Livestock dog sheep/goat cattle chicken pig
Fruit plum apricot jujube(dates) peach chestnut
Grain wheat beans rice hemp millet


Bagua

The elements have also been correlated to the eight trigrams of the I Ching:

Element Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
I Ching Wood, splinter Fire, lightning Earth, sand Metal, iron Water, ice
Trigrams :|| (☴ 巽 xùn) |:: (☳ 震 zhèn) |:| (☲ 離 lí) ::: (☷ 坤 kūn) ::| (☶ 艮 gèn) ||| (☰ 乾 qián) ||: (☱ 兌 duì) :|: (☵ 坎 kǎn)

Chinese medicine

Five Chinese Elements - Diurnal Cycle
Main article: Traditional Chinese medicine

The interdependence of organ networks in the body was noted to be a circle of five majpr systems, and was mapped by Chinese doctors onto the five phases. For instance, the liver (wood phase) is said to be the "mother" of the heart (fire phase), and the kidneys (water phase) the “mother” of the liver. In the case of a kidney deficiency affecting the function of the liver, the observation is made that the "mother" is weak, and cannot support the child. However, the kidneys (water phase) control the heart (fire phase) in the “overcoming” (“ke”) cycle, so the kidneys are said to restrain the heart. Many of these interactions have now been linked to known physiological pathways (such as the pH of the kidney affecting activity of the heart).

The application of the five elements in Chinese medicine is only a model, with some known exceptions, but because it seems to produce valid results, it has remained in use for thousands of years.

The order in which the Five Phases are cited in the Bo Hu Tong and other Han dynasty texts is: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. According to Chinese medical theory, the organs are most effectively treated during the following four-hour periods throughout the day, beginning with the period from 3 a.m. to 7 a. m.:

  • 3 a.m. to 7 a. m. metal organs (see the list below)
  • 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. earth organs
  • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. fire1 organs
  • 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. water organs,
  • 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. fire2 (the "non-empirical" pericardium and “triple burner” organs
  • 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. wood organs

These two orders are further related to the sequence of the planets going outward from the sun (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn; or Water, Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth) illustrated in a star diagram similar to the one shown above.

Element Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Planet Jupiter Mars Saturn Venus Mercury
Mental Quality sensitivity creativity clarity intuition spontaneity
Negative Emotion anger, frustration over-excitation worry, anxiety grief, sadness fear, lack of will
Positive Emotion patience joy empathy,love courage calmness
Zang (yin organs) liver heart/pericardium spleen/pancreas lung kidney
Fu (yang organs) gall bladder small intestine/San Jiao stomach large intestine urinary bladder
Sensory organ eye tongue mouth nose ears
Body Part tendons pulse muscle skin bones
Body Fluid tears sweat saliva mucus urine
Finger index finger middle finger thumb ring finger little finger
Sense sight speech taste smell hearing
Taste sour bitter sweet pungent salty
Smell rancid scorched fragrant putrid rotten
Life birth youth adulthood old age death

Chinese astrology

Chinese astrology is based upon the interaction of the five elements with the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, to produce a 60 year cycle of signs. A 60th birthday celebration is especially significant because the person has lived through a complete cycle of 60 years.

Element Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Heavenly Stem Jia 甲
Yi 乙		 Bing 丙
Ding 丁		 Wu 戊
Ji 己		 Geng 庚
Xin 辛		 Ren 壬
Gui 癸
Birth year ends with 4, 5 6, 7 8, 9 0, 1 2, 3

For example, someone born in the year 1953, the year of the Snake, is said to be born in the year of the Water Snake because his or her birth year ends with 3, a number associated with Water. Fortune-tellers use these associations in determining whether a couple will have a fortuitous marriage.

Music

Main article: Chinese music

The Yuèlìng chapter (月令篇) of the Lǐjì (禮記) and the Huáinánzǐ (淮南子) make the following correlations:

Element Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Colour green red yellow white blue
Direction east south center west north
The Chinese Five-note Scale jué 角 (mi) zhǐ 徵 (so) gōng 宮 (do) shāng 商 (re) yǔ 羽 (la)

The Chinese word 青 qīng, traditionally translated as azure in this context, includes the range in the spectrum from green to blue, with shades down to black.

In modern Western music, various seven note or five note scales (e.g., the major scale) are defined by selecting seven or five frequencies from the set of twelve semi-tones in the Equal tempered tuning. The Chinese "lǜ" tuning is closest to the ancient Greek tuning of Pythagoras.

Xingyi martial arts

The martial art Xingyiquan uses the five elements to metaphorically represent five different states of combat. Xingyiquan practitioners use the five elements as an interpretative framework for reacting and responding to attacks. The five element theory is a general combat formula which assumes at least three outcomes of a fight; the constructive, the neutral, and the destructive. Xingyiquan students train to react to and execute specific techniques in such a way that a desirable cycle will form based on the constructive, neutral and destructive interactions of five element theory. Where to aim, where to hit and with what technique—and how those motions should work defensively—is determined by the point of the cycle in which the combatant sees himself or herself.

Each of the elements has variant applications that allow it to be used to defend against all of the elements (including itself), so any set sequences are entirely arbitrary, though the destructive cycle is often taught to beginners as it is easier to visualize and consists of easier applications.

Element Fist Chinese Pinyin Description
Wood Crushing 崩 Bēng To collapse, as a building collapsing in on itself.
Fire Pounding 炮 Pào Exploding outward like a cannon while blocking.
Earth Crossing 橫 Héng Crossing across the line of attack while turning over.
Metal Splitting 劈 Pī To split like an axe chopping up and over.
Water Drilling 鑽 Zuān Drilling forward horizontally like a geyser.

Shan shui painting

Shan shui (Chinese: 山水 lit. "mountain-water") is a style of Chinese painting that involves or depicts scenery or natural landscapes, using a brush and ink rather than more conventional paints. Mountains, rivers and often waterfalls are prominent in this art form. Shan shui is painted and designed in accordance with Chinese elemental theory, with the five elements representing various parts of the natural world, and has specific directions for colorations that should be used in cardinal 'directions' of the painting, and for which color should dominate. [3]

Direction Element Colour
East Wood Green
South Fire Red
NE / SW Earth Tan or Yellow
West / NW Metal White or gold
North Water Blue or Black

Positive interactions between the Elements are:

  • Wood produces Fire
  • Fire produces Earth
  • Earth produces Metal
  • Metal produces Water
  • Water produces Wood.

Elements that react positively should be used together. For example, Water complements both Metal and Wood; therefore, a painter would combine blue and green or blue and white. There is a positive interaction between Earth and Fire, so a painter would mix Yellow and Red.[4]

Negative interactions between the Elements are:

  • Wood uproots Earth
  • Earth blocks Water
  • Water douses Fire
  • Fire melts Metal
  • Metal chops Wood

Elements that interact negatively should never be used together. For example, Fire will not interact positively with Water or Metal so a painter would not choose to mix red and blue, or red and white.[5]

See also


Notes

  1. ↑ Note that the five elements are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device for systems with 5 stages; hence the preferred translation of "Phase" over "Element."
  2. ↑ Chinese Five Elements ChartInformation on the Chinese Five Elements from Northern Shaolin Academy in Microsoft Excel 2003 Format. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  3. ↑ Early Chinese Texts on Painting by Susan Bush, Hsio-yen Shih. Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR), Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (Jul., 1985), pp. 153-159
  4. ↑ Yee, Chiang and S.I. Hsiung (1964). The Chinese eye: An interpretation of Chinese painting. Indiana University Press. 
  5. ↑ Textual Evidence for the Secular Arts of China in the Period from Liu Sung through Sui by Alexander Soper

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Feng Youlan (Yu-lan Fung), A History of Chinese Philosophy, volume 2, 1952 – 1953. p. 13
  • Needham, Joseph, Science and Civilization in China, volume 2, 1954. pp. 262-23
  • Maciocia, G. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, 2nd edn. Elsevier Ltd., London. 2005. ISBN 9780443039805
  • Perkins, Dorothy. 1999. Encyclopedia of China: the essential reference to China, its history and culture. New York: Facts on File. 1999. pp. 160 – 161 ISBN 9780816026937

External links

All links retrieved January 20, 2009.


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