WU XING Meaning

WU XING Meaning: Wu Xing is the direct translations of 五行 Chinese

words. It is also commonly known as 5 elements.

The WU XING elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.

We must have a fundamental understanding of yin and yang and the theory
of the five elements to comprehend Ba Zi (Wu Xing).

https://youtu.be/ecYAmIW5F8M
Wu Xing is the five dynamics, phases, or movements. This only reinforces
the idea that the five elements are not set conditions and constantly change
due to natural evolution or in response to being forced in a different
direction.

We will now use the five elements to simplify the concept, but remember
that they are based on the yin/yang theory. As such, they constantly
change about one another to “maintain balance from either internal or
external forces, or even an interaction between external and internal
parties.

For this reason, Wu Xing is also known as the five phases, movements, or
dynamics.

Wu Xing was developed more recently than the theory of yin and yang
(300 BC). It was created to explain and organize potential connections
between various aspects based on their movements, interactions, and
properties, much like the theory of yin and yang.
On the other hand, Wu Xing was never intended to be rigidly accurate but
rather a general objective description of natural phenomena, in contrast to
yin/yang theory, which points to an infinite explanation of a phenomenon.

Therefore, the only way to comprehend the five elements theory is to look
at how each element interacts with the others. Wu Xing is used throughout
Chinese metaphysics, including Ba Zi and Feng Shui, to describe
situations and their connections to other people, places, circumstances,
personalities, and so forth.

It’s interesting to note that traditional Chinese medicine has embraced Wu

Xing (TCM). The five energetic organs—Liver, Spleen/Stomach, Kidney,
Heart, and Lungs—are each associated with a particular element in TCM,
with the Liver being represented by wood, Spleen/Stomach by earth,
Kidney by water, Heart by fire, and Lungs by metal.

This is how the Wu Xing theory has been applied. It is possible to identify
a patient’s physiological and pathological dynamics by arranging each
organ in relation to the Wu Xing, with each element generating,
controlling, and even being controlled by another.

We will introduce the various elements, their properties, and some

examples of the personality traits that these elements represent in Ba Zi
before we begin to look more closely at Wu Xing. The five cycles of Wu
Xing will then be discussed, along with how Ba Zi applies this theory to
comprehend interpersonal relationships.

METAL

Metal represents that which is both malleable and complex at the same
time. It is the source of water and thus can be pliable and strong. Metal is
what collects, cuts, and slices. Metal represents justice and righteousness.
Metal distinguishes between two sources: right and wrong, left and right,
or up and down. For example, the energy of metal determines whether
something should exist or not. In a social sense, it distinguishes countries,
communities, counties, and neighbors. Metal distinguishes between
cultures, people, and social settings. It establishes what is considered
socially acceptable. It reveals the relative values of a person, a group, a
country, and the entire world. Everything that defines human interactions
is part of metal’s energy.

Metal represents wisdom and the ability to see and face the truth—for
example, what is good for us and what is not. As a metal, it represents a
rigidity that makes it difficult to see the more subtle and detailed aspects of
things. It cannot distinguish finer distinctions where the line between right
and wrong, high and low, or yes or no, is very fine or lies in the gray area.
Metal is predominantly black and white. Metal can both restore and
restrict the essence.

See also 5 Elements Career, Jobs, Industry & Business in (Feng Shui)

Furthermore, metal is hard and quickly resists things. Metal requires much
force to break, but it can wither over time due to corrosion and rust. It
must be cared for, or it will eventually lose its strength. Metal is essential
because it reflects light—whatever you shine on, it will remember “the
same back.” As a result, it is critical to care for metal and keep it shiny so
that whatever you shine on it is reflected with at least the same strength
and purity. Suppose you want the metal to discern and separate things
correctly. In that case, it must be adequately sharpened so that it does not
cut imprecisely and clumsily. If you want the butcher to cut your meat
correctly and even trim and clean it, he’ll need a good, strong, and sharp
blade.

Metal represents the Lungs (Po) in TCM. Thus it is associated with the
breath, body energy, and the ability to condense and emit. Strong lungs
result in strong qi and, as a result, robust health. If the Lungs are weakened
(for example, the metal blade becomes dull), you will experience fatigue
and difficulty digesting emotions. The Lungs’ quality determines the metal
blade’s ability to function correctly.

WOOD

Wood is the encompassing force that extends outward and in every

direction. When light strikes a reflective surface, it behaves less like a
laser beam and more like a light reflected in all orders. It needs freedom
and room because it wants to grow and expand. This is why the illustration
of a sizable tree with its trunk, branches, and roots is so helpful. Only if
the tree has been given the room and time to grow can it grow to this size.

The element of wood, like the tree, embodies the qualities of steadiness,
flexibility (while also being constrained), growth, and unrestricted
expansion. The expanding nature of fire and wood energy are very similar.
It is challenging for the power of wood to be centered and focused on one
thing because it is constantly expanding in all directions.

The element of wood embodies knowledge. Just as a tree grows,

knowledge is something that has taken time to seek out and acquire. The
tree’s branches spread out in every direction to cover the area necessary to
receive the amount of sunlight required to support the tree’s constantly
expanding trunk at its core. The box is the growing body of knowledge,
which the branches nourish.

We also find intelligence, intuition, and a person’s potential development

in wood. You need a good foundation of knowledge to have strong
intuition. These qualities represent the yin and yang elements in the energy
of wood.

There is already a defined potential, similar to the tree at the start of its
development. This means that as long as the tree is given enough space
and nutrients, it will develop into whatever it was meant to be. This is the
energy of wood, potentially becoming whatever it is intended to become
under the right conditions. We can see this in children as they grow. The
proper upbringing and education allow the child to evolve into what is
deep within them.

Fire is the ascending movement. In other words, fire is the

energy/movement constantly rising toward the sky, top, or peak. Its
momentum is always upward, pushing it beyond where it began. It must
continuously reach new heights, or it will deteriorate. It’s similar to
starting a campfire. As long as there is fuel, the fire will continue to burn
and stretch from the first spark that ignited the wood. However, putting
something on top of the campfire will quell it or even put it out if there is
too much on top. As a result, the fire requires space to expand/ascend. It
must be constantly fueled, or it will eventually consume itself.

See also 5 Element Personality: Exploring the Wood, Metal, Water, Earth, and Fire
Elements

WATER

Water is the element that defines everything fluid, changing, and moving.
It, like a river, will always find a way to move through terrain and
maintain momentum. Water must circulate/transfer, or it will become
stagnant and clogged with algae and sediment, similar to a pool with
nowhere to go. Water’s energy must be moved, or it will become polluted.

Water is also the source of life in the natural world. After a rain, even the
driest desert will come to life. Water is the basis for all life, and it
nourishes the earth. But equally, as important as it is for sustaining life, it
can also destroy it. If too much water moves, floods occur, the dam fails,
or a massive tsunami hits the shore.

These water properties are the primary source of adaptation in life. It can
change in any situation; however, the fear of stopping within the
movement, so water’s energy is limited by fear. As a result, we say that
stagnant water causes disease, confusion, and hindrance. As in yin/yang
theory, things must always move, or they will die. The ideogram is the
current of water.

Water, as a force, descends (to the bottom) like a waterfall or a river

flowing down from the mountains. Water contains the energetic potential
for doing or creating things. Water is the underlying potential for life to
exist. It is the source of life and is inextricably linked to sexual energy and
reproduction.Water preserves energy, knowledge, wisdom, and secrets in
its depth.

However, to access these treasures, the water must be calm. Suppose

you’re looking for a shipwreck in a choppy sea. In that case, you’ll have
difficulty finding it because of all the powerful movements on the surface
and the enormous challenges of seeing through the water that has stirred
up all the particles from the sea bottom. Only in a calm lake or sea will
you be able to see things correctly/clearly.

Water is also the energy expended by the will to achieve its goals. Water
can act and do, and the only thing that prevents it from doing so is fear.
Water also contains introspection, insight, self-assurance, and internal
force.

Wu Xing describes the five elements and their potential interaction

patterns or cycles. We must understand four different processes in Wu
Xing to interpret Ba Zi. In general, Ba Zi believes that everyone has a
distinct personality that can be explained by one of the elements. And
depending on which elements they are, these various personas interact
with one another in different ways. A fire person, for example, interacts
differently with an earth person than a water person.

The Wu Xing cycles describe how things should generally flow (creation
cycle), how things should go against what is usually situated (insulting
process), how certain aspects should dominate (controlling cycle), and
finally, how one element can drain another (exhausting cycle). Another
critical component is reinforcement.

FIRE

Fire is the ascending movement. In other words, fire is the

energy/movement constantly rising toward the sky, top, or peak. Its
momentum is always upward, pushing it beyond where it began. It must
continuously reach new heights, or it will deteriorate. It’s similar to
starting a campfire. As long as there is fuel, the fire will continue to burn
and stretch from the first spark that ignited the wood. However, putting
something on top of the campfire will quell it or even put it out if there is
too much on top. As a result, the fire requires space to expand/ascend. It
must be constantly fueled, or it will eventually consume itself.

See also 5 Elements Career, Jobs, Industry & Business in (Feng Shui)
Fire is also what cleanses and makes things possible to come back from
the ashes/be reborn. For example, everything has been burned to the
ground after a raging forest fire. However, plants grow back from the ash,
and even new plants that did not exist are allowed to take root and grow
there.

Even the animals and insects return, taking up residence and flourishing.
Fire can burn away old things and allow new things to enter. This also
implies that fire is the element of heat, light, life, and illumination. Fire
illuminates the darkness and reveals what was previously unseen. Fire is
what rises to the sky and, as a result, has a good perspective of the earth
while also being able to shine on everything below.

The sun is also made of fire! It is the center of attention in the blue sky,
shining down with all its intensity and power on the earth. Nothing in the
atmosphere is more captivating than the sun. Even on cloudy days, the
sun’s heat will eventually burn through and cast its light on what lies
beneath. The sun can be used as a compass as well. We know it rises in the
east in the morning, sets in the west in the evening, and points south at
noon. It’s a little more complicated than that, but in short, the sun always
points us in the right direction and illuminates the path.

EARTH

The earth element is the movement that stabilizes and moves from outside
to inside. Earth is a movement/phase/energy that condenses inwards. It is
the element that allows for sowing and harvesting. Earth represents the
intellectual work that will be done or obtained later. Earth energy is the
ability to plan and discern what is required.

For example, suppose you live in a remote area and need to be able to care
for yourself. What are you going to do? So you start thinking about your
options and what is essential (food, communication) and what isn’t so
important (access to a soda machine). It is part of the Earth’s nature to
reason and discerns to make the right decisions—if you want corn, plant
corn seeds rather than potatoes. You eat (sow) a well-balanced diet to
balance out what your body requires if you want to be healthy (harvest).
You put in the effort to build a good foundation for your business if you
want it to be successful.

Earth, like nature, represents production and transformation. For example,

in the deepest parts of the Earth, we find riches transformed over millennia
from simple minerals/elements to valuable diamonds and other gems. This
is the Earth’s ability to change things. Also, remember that the quality of
what you have—or put into the Earth—determines what it can be
transformed into. If you want good wine, you must plant seeds from good
grapes; otherwise, the wine will not be good. It is that simple.

Earth also represents the qualities of rootedness and practicality. The Earth
condenses, keeping you grounded and sounding like the foundation of a
building. The Earth is like a mountain: it is immovable and towering. The
hill is tenacious and will withstand the test of time. This is the “earth
energy.” It concretizes things, making them more transparent and easier to
understand. It is the logic of things, not imagination or creativity. As a
result, what is the reason that can become a practical thing?

Earth is everything represented by all of the laws and principles in science,

engineering, and mechanics. Again, Earth is the base and foundation for
creating something and seeing things clearly for what they are. All living
things have the inherent ability to analyze and make critical decisions. The
Earth is found in the art of contemplation and thus in the Yi part of the
mind.
Where did Five Elements Come From?
According to Wikipedia, the Five Elements theory came to maturity in the second or first
century BCE during the Han dynasty. This was used in many different fields such as Feng
Shui, astrology, Chinese medicine, music, military strategy, and martial arts.
In short, this theory shows how ancient Chinese view the relationship between
the natural objects in this world. The theory goes deeper into how to strengthen and weaken
those objects.
Let’s use Chinese medicine as an example. A person’s liver is corerlated to the element of
wood. Thus, if a person’s liver is weak, you’d have to make sure the person’s kidney is in
good shape because kidney’s element is Water, and Water can nourish Wood.

Chinese medicine uses the Five Elements

theory.

Another example is Bazi astrology. A person born in a certain date and time will have a
different elemental composition than other people. Also, an element is associated with time.
For instance, 2018 is the year of the Earth dog. Earth can be beneficial for some people but
not the others, depending on the person’s Bazi chart. (You can learn about the ups and downs
of your life with a Bazi consultation here.)
The examples given here are over-simplified. The point here is that the Five Elements theory
can be applied to a wide variety of objects, including time when it comes to astrology
reading.

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How Five Elements Theory is Used in Feng Shui

Feng Shui is mainly divided into two different schools – the Form School and the Compass
School.

The Form School focuses on what you can see with the naked eye. The Compass School
focuses on the compass directions and the Qi energy that cannot be seen.

The Five Elements are used in Form School based on the object’s color, shape, and material.
Similarly, the Five Elements are used in Compass School based on the eight cardinal
directions, where each direction is correlated with one of the Five Elements.

The Luo Pan is used for the Compass School.

To begin applying Feng Shui cures and enhancements, you’ll need to understand the
relationship between each of the Five Elements. The Feng Shui practice varies here. Some
will use the object’s color, shape, and material to strengthen certain elements that will benefit
you and weaken those that will harm you. You will see a summary breakdown of the
different practices later in this article.
Let’s start by understanding the relationship between of each of the elements.

The Growth Cycle

This cycle is also the strengthening or production cycle. Below is an image that illustrates the
Five Elements Growth Cycle in pink arrows.

The relationship between the Five Elements.

It follows the concept of nature as follows:

 Wood produces Fire: Wood is needed to feed fire.

 Fire produces Earth: Fire, after burning wood, creates earth in the form of ash.
 Earth produces Metal: Earth is where metal can be found. Minerals are mined from the
soil.
 Metal produces Water: This is less intuitive. The common explanation is when metal is
being heated and cooled, water is captured in the air in the form of condensation.
 Water produces Wood: Water is needed for plants to grow.
If something grows, then it must have consumed energy or nutrients from something else
(like us consuming food to grow). This is where the weakening cycle comes in.

The Weakening Cycle

This is the cycle where energy is drained. Below is the same image as above. Notice the
weakening (exhaustive) cycle in gray arrows.

The cycle flows in the opposite direction of the Growth Cycle.

Here’s the thought process: for one element to be produced, the other element needs to be
sacrificed or weakened.

 Fire weakens Wood: When fire is created, there will be less wood (or no more wood if
the fire keeps burning).
 Wood weakens Water: Wood absorbs water in order to grow.
 Water weakens Metal: Water is why rusts grow on metal and steel.
 Metal weakens Earth: To mine minerals, we’ll need to excavate earth.
 Earth weakens Fire: Earth cannot burn, and fire can be extinguished if enough earth is
placed on top of it.
The Controlling Cycle
This is also called the “Conflicting” and “Clashing” cycle. Below is the same image as above,
with the Five Elements Controlling Cycle in black arrows.
This cycle shows how the elements can aggressively fight with one another.

 Fire controls Metal: Fire melts metal.

 Metal controls Wood: Solid metal can cut down wood.
 Wood controls Earth: Wood depletes nutrients from earth (the reason why we need
fertilizers).
 Earth controls Water: Earth controls how water flows (like land formations and water
dams).
 Water controls Fire: Water extinguishes fire.
When you’re trying to balance the Five Elements, it is always better to use the weakening
cycle instead of the controlling cycle. That’s because the result of the clash can sometimes do
more harm than good.

The most evident clash is how water controls fire. If you’ve ever tried putting out fire with
water, you’ll see that smoke will be produced, and the heated water will splatter all over.

On a side note: for those of you that cook, do NOT use water to put out grease fire in your
kitchen. See the video demonstration below to see why:

Now, let’s see how the natural objects around us are correlated and interpreted using the Five
Elements theory.

How the Five Elements Theory Correlates to Our

World
You can use three ways to determine the underlying element of every object you see in our
world:

1. Color
2. Shape
3. Material
The goal here is for you to identify the element of a particular object. Then, you can use that
object to strengthen or weaken a particular element that’s associated to an area of your home.
(more about this in the later section)

1. Color Representations of the Five Elements

Many Feng Shui practitioners today associate colors with one of the Five Elements. In
general, here’s how the Five Elements are represented by colors:

Metal: White, Gray, Silver

Wood: Green, Light Green
Water: Blue, Black
Fire: Red, Pink, Orange
Earth: Yellow, Brown
Colors can be applied to anything, such as your wall color, pillow covers, and anything else.
Uncle Dixer taught me that colors have its energy that is absorbed through our vision. That is
why we experience different types of emotions when we see certain colors.
Although I know how colors can influence us, I have my doubts on its effect on Feng Shui. In
other words, colors influence you, but not Feng Shui.
2. Material Representations of the Five Elements
This is pretty straightforward. In essence, the object’s element is the material that it is made
of.

For instance, water brings energy of the Water Element. If the desk is made of wood, then the
desk brings the Wood energy. Need more metal as a cure for Flying Stars? Get something
that’s made of metal and place it in that section.

But what about electronics? Which element do they belong to?

Many Feng Shui practitioners have a different opinion here. The general consensus is that
electronics correlate with the Fire element because it generates heat and requires electricity to
operate.

But isn’t electronics made of metallic materials? Well, some experts do say electronics have
some Metal energy as well because of that.

And what about the refrigerator and dishwasher? They generate heat, are made of metal, and
have water and electricity running inside them. Are they correlated with all elements?

Also, what about a triangular fish tank filled with a brownish background picture?

The answer you’ll typically find is not one that I like.

3. Shape Representations of the Five Elements

Here’s how different shapes are associated with a different element:

Metal: Round
Wood: Rectangular
Water: Wavy
Fire: Triangular
Earth: Square
The application of shapes can range from small items, such as a fish bowl or an aquarium, to
land plots (fenced) and houses, buildings, roads, and waterways such as river, streams, or
sewers.

Shapes of land plots, buildings, waterways, and mountains are what the Form School of Feng
Shui is about. Shapes of mountain and waterways are written in Classical Feng Shui. They
also bring the strongest Feng Shui effect.

For instance, people living in a triangular house are likely to have more arguments (Fire is
related to temper). It is also said that triangular shaped houses are more prone fire disasters.
But what constitutes as a triangular shaped house? Is it the shape of the building, the plot of
the land, or the fence surrounding the house? What about the Feng Shui effects of houses
shaped in other elements? This is when I ask you to find a Feng Shui consultant to take a look
at the property.

Putting It Together: The Five Elements and the

Different Schools of Feng Shui
Based on the information above, you can probably see how this section unfolds. If a section
or area of your house needs more Wood energy, you’ll need place items correlated to Wood
or Water in that area (because water produces wood).

But how do you know which section needs more Wood energy or other types of energy? The
Feng Shui practice varies here.

The Bagua Directions and Its Associated Elements

This is the most popular practice found on the web. I personally have doubts on the efficacy
of this practice.

In the Bagua, each direction is associated with a certain element:

North: Water
Northwest: Metal
West: Metal
Southwest: Earth
South: Fire
Southeast: Wood
East: Wood
Northeast: Earth
Below is an image illustration of the Bagua and its associated element.

Each direction is associated with a feng shui element. Image credit: efengshui.org

Using the growth, weakening, and controlling cycles mentioned above, you can decide which
element you’d like to promote or weaken.

The most popular practice is to use colors for Feng Shui bedroom. For instance, if your
bedroom is located in the Northern section of the house, your bedroom is associated with the
element of Water.
Using colors associated with Water or Metal will help boost the Water energy of the
bedroom. Again, I have doubts on the efficacy of this practice
The Eight Mansions School of Feng Shui
The Eight Mansions practice has minimal to no mentions on using items to boost an area’s Qi
energy based on its Five Elements. Instead, the very basis of this practice uses the Five
Elements based on the house and the person. Here’s a very brief summary of this concept.

The Eight Mansions practice divides houses and people into East and West groups.

As mentioned earlier, East belongs to the Wood element, whereas West belongs to the Metal
element. The Eight Mansions categorize the East and West groups based on the growth cycle
of the element of East (Wood) and West (Metal).

Since Water produces Wood, and Wood produces Fire, therefore, those elements belong to
the East group. They are: Wood (East), North (Water), South (Fire), and Southeast (Wood).

Since Earth produces Metal, therefore, those elements belong to the West group. They are:
Metal (West), Northwest (Metal), Southwest (Earth), and Northeast (Earth).

The Eight Mansions East and West groups.

The idea is that people who belong to the East Group should live in houses that also belong to
the East Group, and vice versa. Otherwise, there will be a clash between the Five Elements of
the house and the person.

First, here are the Five Elements of all the Kua’s:

The East Group:
Kan 坎 (Kua #1): Water

Zhen 震 (Kua #3): Wood

Xun 巽 (Kua #4): Wood

Li 離 (Kua #9): Fire

The West Group:

Kun 坤 (Kua #2): Earth

Qian 乾 (Kua #6): Metal

Dui 兌 (Kua #7): Metal

Gen 艮 (Kua #8): Earth

For instance, someone with personal Kua of Kan (Kua #1) correlates to the Water element.
He belongs to the East Group. If he lives in a Gen (Kua #8) or Kun (Kua #2) house, the Earth
element of those houses will clash with the person’s Water element.

You’ll find that this application of the Five Elements is consistent throughout other houses
and Kua, until you encounter the same person living in Dui (Kua #7) and Qian (Kua #6)
houses. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Metal element of those West Group houses produce
Water, helping someone in the East Group?

This is one of the holes in the Eight Mansions practice.

Flying Stars School of Feng Shui

The school of Feng Shui I’m about to introduce here is a little similar to Xuan Kong Flying
Stars.

I won’t get into much details here, but I’ll just mention how this school of Feng Shui uses the
Five Elements Theory into practice.

The Flying Stars have 9 stars (same as Xuan Kong). Their association to the Five Elements is
as follows:

 One White Star (Kan): Water

 Two Black Star (Kun): Earth
 Three Blue Star (Zhen): Wood
 Four Green Star (Xun): Wood
 Five Yellow Star (Center): Earth
 Six White Star (Qian): Metal
  Seven Red Star (Dui): Metal
 Eight White Star (Gen): Earth
 Nine Purple Star (Li): Fire
(Read this article to see what these 9 Flying Stars represent.)
The stars are placed differently into the 9 palaces of a home, based on the sitting and facing
direction of the home. (I won’t get into details on how they are placed.) For instance, a house
that’s sitting North and facing South will have the following chart (with North at bottom
where Six White is):

Then, find the Five Elements’ relationship of eight palaces to the center palace (which is One
White Kan Water in the example above).

Using the same concept of growth, weakening, and controlling cycles mentioned above, you
will get five relationships:

 Shen Qi (Growth): Exact same words as the Shen Qi in Eight Mansions Feng Shui. Here,
it means that the element PRODUCES the center element.
 Wang Qi (Boost): The element is the SAME element as the center element.
 Xie Qi (Weaken): The element is PRODUCED BY the center element.
 Xa Qi (Control): The element CONTROLS the center element.
 Si Qi (Killing): The element is CONTROLLED BY the center element.
Then, plot the relationship into the chart. Using the same example above, you will get:
Have you noticed that there’s no Wang Qi in the chart above? That’s because there’s only
one star that’s associated with the Water Element.

After you have plotted the chart and overlaid it onto your floor plan based on directions, you
can then determine the optimal layout of your place.

The general rule is that Shen Qi and Wang Qi are auspicious areas, whereas Xie Qi, Xa Qi,
and Si Qi are negative areas. How rooms are placed here is similar to Eight Mansions, where
the bed, bedroom, front door, and kitchen are best placed at auspicious areas. The restroom,
storage, electronics, or heavy furniture are best placed at negative areas. The only exception
is the Xa Qi area, where some masters say that the place is also suitable for the bed.
My Thoughts About the Practices Mentioned
Above
From my observation, non-professional practitioners are going crazy about using the Five
Elements in Feng Shui (especially the use of color). Because of this, some professional
practitioners are recommending cures using color and items that don’t work, but helps to ease
the client’s mind.
But what do I mean about going “crazy”? They vary widely.
For instance, a few people would like to paint the kitchen blue, but are worried that there
would be a clash between kitchen fire and the color blue.

Others are wondering about the efficacy of excessive metal as a cure for Flying Stars.
There’s also the question about electronics and household appliances. They are said to belong
to the element of Fire because they generate heat. However, aren’t they made of metal and
plastic? And what about a green refrigerator that has water inside of it?

What element do you think the refrigerator belong to?

A practitioner focused on the practice of Five Elements will tell you that there should be a
balance in every section of your house. However, merely trying to balance requires you to
categorize everything based on its shape, color, and material. This is quite an excessive
practice!

My suggestion? Don’t go too overboard on this practice. Based on experience, I have doubts
on this practice if it is practiced alone.

As for Flying Stars, it presumes all houses that’s facing the same direction, built in the same
year, has the same Feng Shui. It is a good school of Feng Shui, but something’s missing.

As for Eight Mansions, I have been noticing more holes in its concepts. The one mentioned
above is one, and the imbalance of people in the East and West groups is another.
Overall, I didn’t find the Eight Mansions practice to be a practice that produces results. That,
along with the holes in its concepts, are the main reasons why I’ve been moving away from
this practice.
Conclusion
The Five Elements theory is one of the underlying concepts of Feng Shui, Bazi, Chinese
medicine, and many other practices. However, many of today’s Feng Shui practitioners are
going overboard with this practice. They try to categorize everything with the goal of
achieving “balance”.

Instead of using the Five Elements on the micro level to achieve “balance” in every section of
your house, I suggest you use the theory on the macro level. Meaning, consider the shape of
buildings, houses, roads, mountains, and their relative elemental energy (if they’re close to
you). If you’re not sure how to do this, I
suggest you take Feng Shui classes offered by
experts or consult with a Feng Shui expert.
Have you used the Five Elements theory to
Feng Shui your home? How has it worked for
you? Share your story with us by commenting
below!

The Five Elements (Wu

Xing)
Usually known as the Five Elements,
Wu Xing is also named the Five
Movements, Five Phrases or Five
Steps. The 5 elements are jin (metal),
mu (wood), shui (water), huo (fire), tu
(earth). Chinese five elements in daily
life were regarded as the foundation of
everything in the universe and natural Five Elements Chart
phenomena. They have their own
characters and they can generate or
destroy one other.

The Five Elements Theory

Generating Interaction (also begetting, engendering or mothering)
Metal generates water; water nourishes wood; wood feeds fire; fire creates
earth/ash; earth bears metal.

Overcoming Interaction (also destruction)

Fire melts metal; metal chops wood; wood break up earth; earth absorbs
water; water quenches fire.
Characteristics of the Five Elements
Wood – Benevolence
The wood pronounces the fate, lowliness or nobleness, representing
extractive, luxuriant, brilliant, blooming, flourishing etc.

Fire – Propriety
The fire pronounces the feature, strength or softness, representing power,
influence, bravery and intense.

Metal – Righteousness
The metal pronounces the life span, longevity or abortion, foretelling any
penalties, dangers, difficulties and dead end.

Water – Wisdom
The water pronounces the talent, sage or fool, representing aptitude,
brightness, agile mind and accuracy.

Earth – Fidelity/Honesty
The earth pronounces the status, rich or poor, representing the birth and
growth of everything.

Chinese Five Elements Chart

Chinese zodiac elements
Elements Metal Wood Water Fire

Zodiac Signs (Yang) Monkey Tiger Rat Horse

Zodiac Signs (Yin) Rooster Rabbit Pig Snake

5 Elements Feng Shui

Elements Metal Wood Water Fire

Colors White Green Black Red

Seasons Autumn Spring Winter Summer

Weathers Dry Wind Cold Hot

Directions West East North South

Planets Venus Jupiter Mercury Mars

 Heavenly Stems Geng Xin Jia Yi Ren Gui Bing Ding

Year Ends with 0, 1 4, 5 2, 3 6, 7

Hours 15-19 3-7 21-01 9-13

Number 1 2 3 4

Heavenly Creatures White Tiger Green Dragon Black Tortoise Vermilion Bird

5 Elements Chinese Medicine

Elements Metal Wood Water

Organs(Yin) Lung Liver Kidney

Organs(Yang) Large Intestine Gall Bladder Urinary Bladder Sm

Sensory Organs Nose Eyes Wars

Tastes Spicy Sour Salty

Application of Five Elements Theory

Naming of New-Borns
In ancient China, newborn babies usually got their name from the 'eight
characters of birth time' consisting of year, month, day and hour which is
represented by two characters each, one character from the Heavenly
Stems and one from the Earthly Branches. The four pairs of the birth time
reveal the elements in one's life. Then the parents will give the baby a name
containing the element, as compensation, which doesn't exit in the baby's
eight characters. The tradition is still followed by some people nowadays.

Five Elements Chinese Medicine

According to Five Elements Chinese medicine theory, among the five internal
organs, the heart has the Fire element, the lung Metal, the liver Wood, the
spleen Earth, and the kidney Water.

The Five Elements theory is mainly used to analyze and study the
interrelations and physiological functions of these body parts, and to explain
their mutual influences under pathological conditions.

Since ancient times, Chinese sages have skillfully applied the theory to
medicine field, learning and explaining physiological phenomena with the
dialectical relation of the Five Elements, trying their best to adapt to internal
natural laws and to master the operating mechanism of the human body to
prevent and treat diseases.

Five Elements Acupuncture

What are the 5 elements of acupuncture? Five Elements acupuncture is a
very ancient and miraculous acupuncture method, which can not only treat
various body diseases, but also adjust people's mind and emotion, etc.

According to the five elements theory, each emotion corresponds to one

organ. Happiness-heart; Anger-liver; Worry-spleen; Panic-kidney; Sadness-
lung. Bad emotions can damage these organs. Acupuncture can make people
feel relax, thus achieving the effect of curing diseases.

People with abnormal organs often have corresponding abnormal emotions.

For example, if a person often wants to lose his temper uncontrollably, he
must consider whether there is something wrong with his liver. He can treat
the disease by acupuncture at the liver point.
Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the traditional Chinese philosophical concept. For modern chemical
elements in the Chinese language, see Chemical elements in East Asian languages.
 Diagram of the interactions between
the wuxing. The "generative" cycle is illustrated by grey arrows running clockwise on the
outside of the circle, while the "destructive" or "conquering" cycle is represented by red
arrows inside the circle.

Wuxing

Chinese 五行

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 Tablet in the Temple of Heaven of Beijing, written
in Chinese and Manchu, dedicated to the gods of the Five Movements. The Manchu
word usiha, meaning "star", explains that this tablet is dedicated to the five planets: Jupiter,
Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury and the movements which they govern.

Wuxing (Chinese: 五行; pinyin: wǔxíng),[a] usually translated as Five Phases or Five
Agents,[2] is a fivefold conceptual scheme used in many traditional Chinese fields of
study to explain a wide array of phenomena, including cosmic cycles, the
interactions between internal organs, the succession of political regimes, and
the properties of herbal medicines.
The agents are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth.[b] The wuxing system has been
in use since it was formulated in the second or first century BCE during the Han
dynasty. It appears in many seemingly disparate fields of early Chinese thought,
including music, feng shui, alchemy, astrology, martial arts, military strategy, I
Ching divination, and traditional medicine, serving as a metaphysics based
on cosmic analogy.
Etymology[edit]
 Taijitu diagram featuring the wuxing in the center (from
the Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China by Chen Menglei)

Wuxing originally referred to the five major planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars,
Venus), which were conceived as creating five forces of earthly life. This is why the
word is composed of Chinese characters meaning "five" (五; wǔ) and "moving"
(行; xíng). "Moving" is shorthand for "planets", since the word for planets in Chinese
literally translates as "moving stars" (行星; xíngxīng).[6] Some of the Mawangdui Silk
Texts (before 168 BC) also connect the wuxing to the wude (五德; wǔdé), the Five
Virtues and Five Emotions.[7][8] Scholars believe that various predecessors to the
concept of wuxing were merged into one system with many interpretations during
the Han dynasty.[9]
Wuxing was first translated into English as "the Five Elements", drawing deliberate
parallels with the Western idea of the four elements.[10][8] This translation is still in
common use among practitioners of Traditional Chinese medicine, such as in the
name of Five Element acupuncture.[11] However, this analogy is misleading. The four
elements are concerned with form, substance and quantity, whereas wuxing are
"primarily concerned with process, change, and quality".[12] For example,
the wuxing element "Wood" is more accurately thought of as the "vital essence" of
trees rather than the physical substance wood.[13] This led sinologist Nathan Sivin to
propose the alternative translation "five phases" in 1987.[14] But "phase" also fails to
capture the full meaning of wuxing. In some contexts, the wuxing are indeed
associated with physical substances.[15] Historian of Chinese medicine Manfred
Porkert proposed the (somewhat unwieldy) term "Evolutive Phase".[15] Perhaps the
most widely accepted translation among modern scholars is "the five agents",
proposed by Marc Kalinowski.[16]
Cycles[edit]
In traditional doctrine, the five phases are connected in two cycles of interactions: a
generating or creation (生 shēng) cycle, also known as "mother-son"; and an
overcoming or destructive (克 kè) cycle, also known as "grandfather-grandson" (see
diagram). Each of the two cycles can be analyzed going forward or reversed. There
is also an "overacting" or excessive version of the destructive cycle.[citation needed]
Inter-promoting[edit]
The generating cycle (相生 xiāngshēng) is:

 Wood feeds Fire

 Fire produces Earth (ash, lava)
 Earth bears Metal (geological processes produce minerals)
 Metal collects Water (water vapor condenses on metal, for example)
 Water nourishes Wood (Water flowers, plants and other changes in forest)
Weakening[edit]
The reverse generating cycle (相洩/相泄 xiāngxiè) is:

 Wood depletes Water

 Water rusts Metal
 Metal impoverishes Earth (erosion, destructive mining of minerals)
 Earth smothers Fire
 Fire burns Wood (forest fires)
Inter-regulating[edit]
The destructive cycle (相克 xiāngkè) is:

 Wood grasps (or stabilizes) Earth (roots of trees can prevent soil erosion)
 Earth contains (or directs) Water (dams or river banks)
 Water dampens (or regulates) Fire
 Fire melts (or refines or shapes) Metal
 Metal chops (or carves) Wood
Overacting[edit]
The excessive destructive cycle (相乘 xiāngchéng) is:

 Wood depletes Earth (depletion of nutrients in soil, over-farming, overcultivation)

 Earth obstructs Water (over-damming)
 Water extinguishes Fire
 Fire melts Metal (affecting its integrity)
 Metal makes Wood rigid to easily snap.
Counteracting[edit]
A reverse or deficient destructive cycle (相侮 xiāngwǔ or 相耗 xiānghào) is:

 Wood dulls Metal

 Metal de-energizes Fire (conducting heat away)
 Fire evaporates Water
 Water muddies (or destabilizes) Earth
 Earth rots Wood (buried wood rots)
Celestial stem[edit]
Main article: Heavenly Stems

Woo
Movement Fire Earth Metal Water
d

Jia 甲 Bing 丙 Wu 戊 Geng 庚 Ren 壬

Heavenly Stems
Yi 乙 Ding 丁 Ji 己 Xin 辛 Gui 癸

Year ends with 4, 5 6, 7 8, 9 0, 1 2, 3

Ming neiyin[edit]
In Ziwei divination, neiyin (納音) further classifies the Five Elements into
60 ming (命), or life orders, based on the ganzhi. Similar to the astrology zodiac,
the ming is used by fortune-tellers to analyse individual personality and destiny.

Order Ganzhi Ming Order Ganzhi Ming Element

1 Jia Zi 甲子 31 Jia Wu 甲午

Sea metal 海中金 Sand metal 沙中金 Metal

2 Yi Chou 乙丑 32 Yi Wei 乙未

Bing Shen 丙
3 Bing Yin 丙寅 33
申
Furnace fire 爐中
Forest fire 山下火 Fire
火
Ding Mao 丁 Ding You 丁
4 34
卯 酉

Wu Chen 戊
5 35 Wu Xu 戊戌
辰
Forest wood 大林
Meadow wood 平地木 Wood
木
6 Ji Si 己巳 36 Ji Hai 己亥

Geng Wu 庚 Road earth 路旁 Adobe earth 壁上土 Earth

7 37 Geng Zi 庚子
午 土

8 Xin Wei 辛未 38 Xin Chou 辛

 丑

Ren Shen 壬
9 39 Ren Yin 壬寅
申
Sword metal 劍鋒
Precious metal 金白金 Metal
金
Gui Mao 癸
10 Gui You 癸酉 40
卯

11 Jia Xu 甲戌 41 Jia Chen 甲辰

Volcanic fire 山頭
Lamp fire 佛燈火 Fire
火
12 Yi Hai 乙亥 42 Yi Si 乙巳

Bing Wu 丙
13 Bing Zi 丙子 43
午
Cave water 洞下
Sky water 天河水 Water
水
Ding Chou 丁 Ding Wei 丁
14 44
丑 未

Wu Shen 戊
15 Wu Yin 戊寅 45
申
Fortress earth 城
Highway earth 大驛土 Earth
頭土
16 Ji Mao 己卯 46 Ji You 己酉

Geng Geng Xu 庚
17 47
Chen 庚辰 戌
Jewellery metal 釵釧
Wax metal 白腊金 Metal
金

18 Xin Si 辛巳 48 Xin Hai 辛亥

19 Ren Wu 壬午 49 Ren Zi 壬子

Willow wood 楊柳 Mulberry wood 桑柘

Wood
木 木
Gui Chou 癸
20 Gui Wei 癸未 50
丑

21 Jia Shen 甲申 Stream water 泉 51 Jia Yin 甲寅 Rapids water 大溪水 Water
 22 Yi You 乙酉 中水 52 Yi Mao 乙卯

Bing Chen 丙
23 Bing Xu 丙戌 53
辰
Roof tiles earth 屋
Desert earth 沙中土 Earth
上土
24 Ding Hai 丁亥 54 Ding Si 丁巳

25 Wu Zi 戊子 55 Wu Wu 戊午
Lightning fire 霹靂
Sun fire 天上火 Fire
火
26 Ji Chou 己丑 56 Ji Wei 己未

Geng Yin 庚 Geng

27 57
寅 Shen 庚申
Conifer wood 松 Pomegranate wood 石
Wood
柏木 榴木

28 Xin Mao 辛卯 58 Xin You 辛酉

Ren Chen 壬
29 59 Ren Xu 壬戌
辰
River water 長流
Ocean water 大海水 Water
水
30 Gui Si 癸巳 60 Gui Hai 癸亥

Applications[edit]
The wuxing schema is applied to explain phenomena in various fields.
Phases of the Year[edit]
The five phases are around 73 days each and are usually used to describe the
transformations of nature rather than their formative states.

 Wood/Spring: a period of growth, which generates abundant vitality, movement

and wind.
 Fire/Summer: a period of swelling, flowering, expanding with heat.
 Earth can be seen as a transitional period between the other phases or seasons
or when relating to transformative seasonal periods it can be seen as late
Summer. This period is associated with stability, leveling and dampness.
 Metal/Autumn: a period of harvesting, collecting and dryness.
 Water/Winter: a period of retreat, stillness, contracting and coolness.
Cosmology and feng shui[edit]
Main article: Feng shui
 Another illustration of the cycle

The art of feng shui (Chinese geomancy) is based on wuxing, with the structure of
the cosmos mirroring the five phases, as well as the eight trigrams. Each phase has
a complex network of associations with different aspects of nature (see table):
colors, seasons and shapes all interact according to the cycles.[17]
An interaction or energy flow can be expansive, destructive, or exhaustive,
depending on the cycle to which it belongs. By understanding these energy flows, a
feng shui practitioner attempts to rearrange energy to benefit the client.

Movement Metal Metal Fire Wood Wood Water Earth Earth

Trigram han
乾 兌 離 震 巽 坎 艮 坤
zi

Trigram piny
qián duì lí zhèn xùn kǎn gèn kūn
in

Trigrams ☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷

Thunde
I Ching Heaven Lake Fire Wind Water Mountain Field
r

Planet
Neptun
(Celestial Venus Mars Jupiter Pluto Mercury Uranus Saturn
e
Body)

Color Grey White Red Green Purple Black Blue Yellow

Day Friday Friday Tuesda Thursda Thursda Wednesd Saturday Saturday

 y y y ay

Autum Autum Summ Intermedia Intermedia

Season Spring Spring Winter
n n er te te

Cardinal
West West South East East North Center Center
direction

Dynastic transitions[edit]
According to the Warring States period political philosopher Zou Yan (c. 305–
240 BCE), each of the five elements possesses a personified virtue (德; dé), which
indicates the foreordained destiny (運; yùn) of a dynasty; hence the cyclic
succession of the elements also indicates dynastic transitions. Zou Yan claims that
the Mandate of Heaven sanctions the legitimacy of a dynasty by sending self-
manifesting auspicious signs in the ritual color (yellow, blue, white, red, and black)
that matches the element of the new dynasty (Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire, and Water).
From the Qin dynasty onward, most Chinese dynasties invoked the theory of the
Five Elements to legitimize their reign.[18]
Chinese medicine[edit]
Main article: Traditional Chinese medicine

Five Elements – diurnal cycle [citation needed]

The interdependence of zangfu networks in the body was said to be a circle of five
things, and so mapped by the Chinese doctors onto the five phases.[19][20]
In order to explain the integrity and complexity of the human body, Chinese medical
scientists and physicians use the Five Elements theory to classify the human body's
endogenous influences on organs, physiological activities, pathological reactions,
and environmental or exogenous influences. This diagnostic capacity is extensively
used in traditional five phase acupuncture today, as opposed to the modern eight
principles based Traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, in combination the two
systems are the study of postnatal and prenatal influencing on genetics, psychology
and sociology.[21][22]
Moveme
Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
nt

Planet Jupiter Mars Saturn Venus Mercury

idealism,
Mental passion, agreeableness, h intuition, rational erudition, resourcef
spontaneity, c
Quality intensity onesty ity, mind ulness, wit
uriosity

anger, kindne hate,

Emotion anxiety, joy grief, bravery fear, passion
ss resolve

Virtue Benevolence Propriety Fidelity Righteousness Wisdom

Zang (yin heart/

liver spleen/pancreas lung kidney
organs) pericardium

small
Fu (yang
gall bladder intestine/Sa stomach large intestine urinary bladder
organs)
n Jiao

Sensory
eyes tongue mouth nose ears
Organ

Body
tendons pulse muscles skin bones
Part

Body
tears sweat saliva mucus urine
Fluid

middle
Finger index finger thumb ring finger pinky finger
finger

Sense sight taste touch smell hearing

 Taste[23] sour bitter sweet pungent, umami salty

Smell rancid scorched fragrant rotten putrid

early adolescence/
Life pre-puberty adulthood old age, conception
childhood intermediate

Covering scaly feathered naked human furred shelled

Hour 3–9 9–15 change 15–21 21–3

Spring Summer
Year Summer Final Fall Equinox Winter Solstice
Equinox Solstice

360° 45–135° 135–225° Change 225–315° 315–45°

Music[edit]
Main articles: Chinese music and Chinese musicology

The Huainanzi and the Yueling chapter (月令; Yuèlìng) of the Book of Rites make the
following correlations:

Movement Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

Color Qing (green and blue) Red Yellow White Black

Arctic Direction east south center west north

Basic Pentatonic Scale pitch 角 徵 宮 商 羽

Basic Pentatonic Scale pitch

jué zhǐ gōng shāng yǔ
pinyin

solfege mi or E sol or G do or C re or D la or A
  Qing is a Chinese color word used for both green and blue.
Modern Mandarin has separate words for each, but like many other languages,
older forms of Chinese did not distinguish between green and blue.[24]
 In most modern music, various five note or seven note scales (e.g., the major
scale) are defined by selecting five or seven frequencies from the set of twelve
semi-tones in the Equal tempered tuning. The Chinese shi'er lü system of tuning
is closest to the ancient Greek tuning of Pythagoras.[25]
Martial arts[edit]
Tai chi uses the five elements to designate different directions, positions or footwork
patterns: forward, backward, left, right and centre, or three steps forward (attack) and
two steps back (retreat).[18]
The Five Steps (五步; wǔ bù):

 Jinbu (进步; 進步; jìnbù) – forward step

 Tuibu (退步; tùibù) – backward step
 Zuogu (左顾; 左顧; zǔogù) – left step
 Youpan (右盼; yòupàn) – right step
 Zhongding (中定; zhōngdìng) – central position, balance, equilibrium
The martial art of xingyiquan uses the five elements metaphorically to represent five
different states of combat.

Movement Fist Chinese Pinyin Description

Metal Splitting 劈 Pī To split like an axe chopping up and over

Water Drilling 鑽/钻 Zuān Drilling forward horizontally like a geyser

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/横 Héng Crossing across the line of attack while turning over

Wuxing heqidao, Gogyo Aikido (五行合气道) is a life art with roots in Confucian,
Taoists and Buddhist theory. It centers around applied peace and health studies
rather than defence or physical action. It emphasizes the unification of mind, body
and environment using the physiological theory of yin, yang and five-
element Traditional Chinese medicine. Its movements, exercises, and teachings
cultivate, direct, and harmonise the qi.[18]
Gogyo[edit]
The Japanese term is gogyo (Japanese:五行, romanized: gogyō). During the 5th and
6th centuries (Kofun period),[26] Japan adopted various philosophical disciplines such
as Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism through monks and physicians
from China. In particular, wuxing was adapted into gogyo. These theories have been
extensively practiced in Japanese acupuncture and traditional Kampo medicine.[27][28]

Introduction
Chinese Zodiac five elements, 'Wu Xing' in Chinese (pinyin: wuxíng)
refers to the five elements - Jin (metal), Mu (wood), Shui (water), Huo
(fire), and Tu (earth). It is also named the Five Movements, Five Phrases,
Five Steps or Five States of Change.

The theory of the five elements thinks that the world is composed of these
five elements and changes with their generation or controlling
relationships. It not only affects the human’s destiny but also makes the
universe and its creatures cycle constantly. In China, the theory is a very
important part of traditional Chinese culture and mostly used in
philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine as well as fortune-telling.
Generating And Controlling Cycle

The five elements go in a specific order and one creates or controls the
next.

The Generating Cycle (sheng)

(Inter-promoting, begetting, engendering, mothering or enhancing cycle)
Generating: Wood makes Fire burn; Fire creates Earth; Earth bears Metal;
Off of Metal runs the Water; Water makes Wood grow.
The Controlling Cycle (kè)
(Destructing, overcoming or inter-restraining or weakening cycle)
Fire melts Metal; Metal chops down Wood; Wood breaks the Earth; Earth
soaks up Water and blocks its flow; Water controls Fire.
Characteristics/Personality Of Five Elements
Words to describe the people of Five Elements:
Wood – Exceptionally gifted, Idealists, Planner, Owl
Water – Sympathetic, Perfectionist, Coordinator, Chameleon
Fire – Courageous, Passionate, Good at research, King, Koala
Earth – Kindness, Tolerant, Honest, Leader, Peacock
Metal – Determined, Persistent, Workaholic, Manager, Tiger
12 Chinese Zodiac Animals And Five Elements
Each of 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs is associated with one of the five
elements. Check the following table to find out the fixed element for each
sign:

Five Elements Zodiac Animal Signs

Metal Monkey, Rooster

Wood Tiger, Rabbit

Water Rat,Pig

Fire Snake, Horse

Earth Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Dog

Also, each animal sign is further divided into the five elements, depending
on the year that the sign occurs. Following shows you the corresponding
element for each animal in different years. By clicking one of the
following links, you could get the personality and destiny for the people
with the corresponding element and sign. Each of the sign has a name in
Chinese astrology, e.g. Metal Rat is 'Rat on the Roof' and Fire Tiger is
'Tiger Passing through the Forest'. Get to know your name by
clicking Names for Chinese Zodiac Signs.
 Horse
Metal Horse (1930, 1990)
Wood Horse (1954, 2014)
Water Horse (1942, 2002)
Fire Horse (1966, 2026)
Earth Horse (1978, 2038)

Sheep
Metal Sheep (1931, 1991)
Wood Sheep (1955, 2015)
Water Sheep (1943, 2003)
Fire Sheep (1907, 1967)
Earth Sheep (1919, 1979)

Monkey
Metal Monkey (1920 1980)
Wood Monkey (1944 2004)
Water Monkey (1932 1992)
Fire Monkey (1956 2016)
Earth Monkey (1968 2028)
 Rooster
Metal Rooster (1921 1981)
Wood Rooster (1945 2005)
Water Rooster (1933 1993)
Fire Rooster (1957 2017)
Earth Rooster (1969 2029)

Dog
Metal Dog (1970 2030)
Wood Dog (1934 1994)
Water Dog (1922 1982)
Fire Dog (1946 2006)
Earth Dog (1958 2018)

Pig
Metal Pig (1971 2031)
Wood Pig (1935 1995)
Water Pig (1923 1983)
Fire Pig (1947 2007)
Earth Pig (1959 2019)
 Rat
Metal Rat (1960, 2020)
Wood Rat (1924, 1984)
Water Rat (1912, 1972)
Fire Rat (1936, 1996)
Earth Rat (1948, 2008)

Ox
Metal Ox (1961, 2021)
Wood Ox (1925, 1985)
Water Ox (1973, 2033)
Fire Ox (1937, 1997)
Earth Ox (1949, 2009)

Tiger
Metal Tiger (1950, 2010)
Wood Tiger (1974, 2034)
Water Tiger (1962, 2022)
Fire Tiger (1926, 1986)
Earth Tiger (1938, 1998)
 Rabbit
Metal Rabbit (1951 2011)
Wood Rabbit (1975 2035)
Water Rabbit (1963 2023)
Fire Rabbit (1927 1987)
Earth Rabbit (1939 1999)

Dragon
Metal Dragon (1940 2000)
Wood Dragon (1964 2024)
Water Dragon (1952 2012)
Fire Dragon (1976 2036)
Earth Dragon (1928 1988)

Snake
Metal Snake (1941 2001)
Wood Snake (1965 2025)
Water Snake (1953 2013)
Fire Snake (1917 1977)
Earth Snake (1929 1989)
 Horse
Metal Horse (1930, 1990)
Wood Horse (1954, 2014)
Water Horse (1942, 2002)
Fire Horse (1966, 2026)
Earth Horse (1978, 2038)

Sheep
Metal Sheep (1931, 1991)
Wood Sheep (1955, 2015)
Water Sheep (1943, 2003)
Fire Sheep (1907, 1967)
Earth Sheep (1919, 1979)

Monkey
Metal Monkey (1920 1980)
Wood Monkey (1944 2004)
Water Monkey (1932 1992)
Fire Monkey (1956 2016)
Earth Monkey (1968 2028)
 Rooster
Metal Rooster (1921 1981)
Wood Rooster (1945 2005)
Water Rooster (1933 1993)
Fire Rooster (1957 2017)
Earth Rooster (1969 2029)

Dog
Metal Dog (1970 2030)
Wood Dog (1934 1994)
Water Dog (1922 1982)
Fire Dog (1946 2006)
Earth Dog (1958 2018)

Pig
Metal Pig (1971 2031)
Wood Pig (1935 1995)
Water Pig (1923 1983)
Fire Pig (1947 2007)
Earth Pig (1959 2019)
 Rat
Metal Rat (1960, 2020)
Wood Rat (1924, 1984)
Water Rat (1912, 1972)
Fire Rat (1936, 1996)
Earth Rat (1948, 2008)

Ox
Metal Ox (1961, 2021)
Wood Ox (1925, 1985)
Water Ox (1973, 2033)
Fire Ox (1937, 1997)
Earth Ox (1949, 2009)

Tiger
Metal Tiger (1950, 2010)
Wood Tiger (1974, 2034)
Water Tiger (1962, 2022)
Fire Tiger (1926, 1986)
Earth Tiger (1938, 1998)
 Rabbit
Metal Rabbit (1951 2011)
Wood Rabbit (1975 2035)
Water Rabbit (1963 2023)
Fire Rabbit (1927 1987)
Earth Rabbit (1939 1999)

Dragon
Metal Dragon (1940 2000)
Wood Dragon (1964 2024)
Water Dragon (1952 2012)
Fire Dragon (1976 2036)
Earth Dragon (1928 1988)

Snake
Metal Snake (1941 2001)
Wood Snake (1965 2025)
Water Snake (1953 2013)
Fire Snake (1917 1977)
Earth Snake (1929 1989)

Chinese Zodiac Five Elements Chart

Each element associates with some properties or aspects of nature. The
following chart shows you their associations.
 Elements Metal Wood Water Fire Earth

Zodiac signs
Monkey Tiger Rat Horse Dragon/Dog
(yang)

Zodiac signs
Rooster Rabbit Pig Snake Ox/Sheep
(yin)

1am-3am,7am-9am,1pm-
Hours 3pm-7pm 3am-7am 9pm-1am 9am-1pm
3pm,7pm-9pm

Seasons Autumn Spring Winter Summer Intermediate

Climate Dryness Wind Cold Heat Dampness

Colors White Green Black Red Brown

Numbers 4, 9 3, 8 1, 6 2, 7 5, 0

Directions West East North South Central

Organs (Yin) Lungs Liver Kidneys Heart Spleen

Large Small
Organs (Yang) Gall Bladder Urinary Bladder Stomach
Intestine Intestine

Skin, Body Tendons, Bones, Bone Marrow, Blood

Body Part Muscles
Hair Ligaments Teeth, Hair Vessels

Sense Organs Nose Eyes Ears Tongue Mouth

Diseases Dry Wind Cold Hot Wet

Tastes Spicy Sour Salty Bitter Sweet

Smell Rotten Rancid Putrid Scorched Fragrant

Sounds Crying Shouting Groaning Laughing Singing

Emotion Greif Anger Fear Joy Worry

Mental Quality Intuition Sensitivity Spontaneity Creativity Clarity

Energy Contracting Generative Conserving Expansive Stabilizing

Planets Venus Jupiter Mercury Mars Saturn

Heavenly Vermilion
White Tiger Green Dragon Black Tortoise Yellow Dragon
Creatures Bird

Heavenly
Geng Xin Jia Yi Ren Gui Bing Ding Wu Ji
Stems

Year Ends with 0, 1 4, 5 2, 3 6, 7 8, 9