Notes on the Five Elements

The Chinese hope to improve their Ch'i and fate by examining their Five Elements.

• Wood
• Fire
• Earth
• Metal
• Water

Like Yin, Yang and Ch'i, the Five Elements are not physical substances. They are powers or essences describing all matter and attributes.

The Chinese associate these elements with:

<LH></LH>
• time
• space
• matter
• senses
• colours
• psychological moods.

For example, they assigned the element Wood to spring; the colour green; the East.
Fire heralded summer; the South; and red.
Earth, positioned at the centre, was mid-autumn and yellow.
Metal is autumn; white and the West.
Water governs black (the deeper the water, the blacker it gets); the North; and winter.

Official Colours

---

The Cycle Of Development

The Five Elements have relative effects on each other, creating and destroying one another in a fixed succession. The cycle of development is as follows:

<LH></LH>
• Fire produces Earth (ash);
  
• Earth produces Metal (minerals);
  
• Metal creates Water (although water rusts metal, this order derives from the observation that when water is in a metal cup, it condenses on the outside;
  
• Water feeds Wood (trees need water to grow);
  
• Wood aids Fire.

The Chain Of Destruction

<LH></LH>
• Wood harms Earth;
  
• Earth obstructs Water;
  
• Water destroys Fire;
  
• Fire melts Metal;
  
• Metal chops down Wood.

Tip: Jump clockwise to each alternative/second element to see what destroys what

 

---

Then there are other Chains:

(a) Mutual Control - A Balancing Factor

Jump clockwise to each third station to see what element is required to control the threat from the element under study.  For example: Fire threatens Metal but the third station is Water - which (i) has been symbiotically created by Metal and thus (ii) provides a controlling role

(b) Mutual Dissolution

Jump clockwise to each fourth element to see what element is required to mutually dissolve the conflict.  For example Fire threatens Metal  but the fourth station from Metal is Earth is invoked thus neutralising the threat.

(c) Influence by Default

If four elements are present in one house, their advess influences area all mutuallly controlled and dissolved.  The element which is NOT present, therefore has an influence by default.  That is to say, the most notable effect is that of the negative condition of the missing element.
example, Wood represents creation, growth and expansion.  if all four elements except Wood were present, then the prime interpretation is a lack of growth and ability to expand.

---

Personalities In Relation To The Elements

Chinese philosophers suggest each person's nature possesses varying quantities of these corresponding natural elements.

Each of the five human elements, they say, can be divided into 72 different types or amounts.

The following are notes from one geomancer that describes the deep inter relationship:

Everyone has the Five Elements. If someone is deficient in an element, this isn't necessarily bad.
One first must check out the other elements to see whether they are well balanced. The ideal situation is to follow the mean, not have too much or too little of an element.
On a scale of 1 to 72, the average 36 is the middle road, the most harmonious of natures. But if one has a lot or a little of an element, neither has a good or bad connotation, one simply must see all the elements in relation to each other.

Go to Top
The element Wood, for example, stands for the Confucian ideal of benevolence, loyalty, and forgiveness.

If a person possesses only a little Wood, he is like a green leaf floating on a lake. When the east wind blows, he goes this way, when the west winds blows he goes that way: He is easily influenced. So whatever he hears, he agrees with or reputes. He doesn't have his own opinion.

A person with type-36 Wood is like a growing tree: Under the influence of the wind his leaves flutter - meaning in the small things he is flexible - he bends but still has roots. When others say something, he listens, ponders all sides, and then makes his own decision. If he has a great deal of Wood, he is like an old sturdy tree. When the wind blows, he isn't swept along. He doesn't listen to others (only to himself). He can be so inflexible that under a strong typhoon gust, he might break. He is prejudiced and just plain can't learn from others. No matter how long people talk to him, he still holds to his set position.

Go to Top
Gold, also translated as Metal, stands for righteousness. People with little Metal speak, are very meticulous and careful, appear aloof and arrogant, strange and isolated.

A little Metal can also be the essence of a very independent person. A person possessing the mean of Metal is fair, speaks the right amount, and always says the correct, appropriate thing. If someone is wrong he will criticize, but not overdo.
In contrast, the person with a lot of Metal tends to be unfair and self-righteous, leaping on any chance to gossip, criticize, and put his nose into others' business. He is argumentative and prone to complain. On the other hand, he can fight for principles and help and care for others.

Go to Top
Fire is the element of wisdom, reason, and etiquette.

When angered (literally "produce Ch'i"), the person possessing little Fire swallows his pride (Ch'i) without expressing himself. When he is criticized, he doesn't speak up and ask for proof or defend himself. He is meek, with little passion to expend except for self-pity. The 36-person's anger is based on principle and logic. He knows how and when to put his foot down, but after he finishes stating his point or criticizing, he stops. The person with a maximum amount of Fire can flare up without reason. He can be loud, unreasonable, unheeding, and highly critical of others.

---

Go to Top
Earth, the element assigned to honesty and faith

A person short on Earth will be an opportunist and a cheapskate. He will easily down play a given situation and use it to his advantage. He has an eye out for good opportunities. He can be narcissistic, selfish, and slick. He may be a procrastinator and a cheater, always looking for shortcuts. People with a medium amount of Earth are honest and dependable, very frank, and helpful to others. People who have lots of Earth are like our aggy or hick. They are backward, old-fashioned, and unfashionable. Although something might be done to improve a situation or help themselves, they are scared to venture because people might criticize them, so they maintain their old customs. They do, however, like to help others to the point of self-sacrifice.

For example:

If three friends, one with little Earth, one with a medium amount, and another with lots of Earth, go to a restaurant, the first two have $10 each, while the last has only $5. When the bill comes, the one with little Earth will say he has only $5, the next will offer to lend the difference, and the third will offer to treat them all, though he's short on cash.

Go to Top
Water is the element of insight, motivation, and social contacts

One divides water into:

• living (or flowing);
• dead (or still).

Each person possesses both kinds. Flowing water is a person's drive and effectiveness in society. Still water reflects a person's clearness of mind. He identifies seven of the seventy-two possible types of flowing water.

(i) The Flowing Variety

The smallest amount is valley water, which trickles down from a small mountain and then disappears (evaporates or seeps into a cave or a crack) before reaching level ground. These people are agoraphobic - they don't like to go out and are uneasy in open spaces. They prefer to spend time in the country and around the familiar sights of home. They also have a hard time mixing in society.

(ii) The Fountain springing out of the ground

This second type of moving water is appealing, glamorous, strong and controlled. But in fact, fountain water rises only to return to its pool and rise again. These people run around expend a lot of energy, but go nowhere. Habitually, they go to the office, work, and return home.
A famous vivacious former actress was characterised as being a fountain. Every day she energetically performed chores for her family, entertained her husband's business associates and friends, and ended the day feeling tired and dissatisfied, only to replay her routine the next day.

(iii) The Stream

The stream's activity is wide. It affects those whose progress may be meandering but ultimately has direction. When faced with an obstacle, the stream may be set back for a brief interval, but it always finds a way to get around it and continue its course.

(iv) Rivers

The Rivers (the mean) are still more powerful and directed. They enjoy wider and unhindered social contact and activity - seeing and making friends during vacation.

(v) Large Rivers

The Large River has a lot of drive, but can flood over its shores or drag things along in its path, sometimes leaving chaos behind without being affected by it. He always accomplishes tasks efficiently. This is the prototype aggressive person.

(vi) The Sea

The Sea has a network of connections everywhere and travels a lot, touching people in different countries and different walks of life. It is the way of the jet-setter, or a social and political creature.

(vi) The Ocean

Although the Ocean has high and low tides, it belongs on any shore. As an Ocean, one is unpredictable, going in very direction, but attractive - all rivers flow to that person. ...

The first type of the seventy-two varieties is - Still Water.
It is said that the well water with limited vision and no movement in thought - a stagnant mind. The second type is sewer water - a person with unclear thoughts who clings to the wrong opinions and who is polluted from outside sources. The third type is troubled water, an unstable, hysterical person's assessment of things. The fourth type is muddy water, or someone with innate understanding who is nevertheless inarticulate and unclear.

Pool water, on the other hand, has a clear knowledge that is learned and not instinctive. A person with pond water may have a clear understanding at home, but when he enters society his thought may be polluted by nearby roads (ideas), causing misunderstanding and poor decisions. Lake water stands for pure knowledge. As the sun and the moon rise and set, the middle of the lake shows the reflections. As things happen, the person reflects them like a mirror. He clearly knows what is going on and can intuit the essence of people and things around him.