Chinese 5 Element Theory – Wu Xing

Chinese Five Elements Theory – Wu Xing (五行) Explained

The Chinese five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Wood comes first, water comes last with earth in the middle. In Chinese five element theory the relationships between the five Chinese elements forms four dynamic cycles:

Creative cycle (also known as generating cycle or productive cycle) follow the arrows clockwise around the outside:
Each element is the mother of the following element and the son of the preceding element. Wood feeds fire, fire creates (ash) earth, earth produces metal, metal collects (condensation) water and water nourishes wood completing the cycle.
Weakening cycle (also known as exhaustive cycle) counter-clockwise around the outside:
The opposite of the creative cycle. For example; when metal ore is removed from the earth it becomes exhausted.
Destructive cycle (also known as overcoming cycle or control cycle) follow the straight lines:
Each element exerts control to suppress or inhibit the following element. For example; wood takes nutrients from earth, earth can stop the flow of water, water can overcome fire, fire can melt metal and a metal (axe) can split wood.
Suppression cycle (also known as insults cycle or counter-acting cycle) backwards around the straight lines:
If the acted-upon element is too strong, or the acting element is too weak, the cycle can temporarily reverse. For example; if there’s not enough water to put out a fire the water is vaporized and the fire continues. However, if the flow of water is too strong it could overcome its river banks and flow freely.

Chinese five element theory chart created by ADDucation and released under the Creative Commons Zero license. No credit required but always appreciated.

The Chinese five elements (also known as five phases and five elementals) influence every aspect of daily life in Chinese culture. From setting up home (feng shui) to cooking healthy Chinese food. Entertaining guests (tea ceremonies), listening to music, health (Chinese medicine) and relaxation (tai chi and other martial arts). Making decisions (Chinese astrology) through philosophy, spirituality and religion (Chinese cosmology).

List of Chinese Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Chinese Five Elements Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine List

More people rely on traditional Chinese medicine for their health and well being than western medicine. A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner takes a holistic approach to diagnosis.

The external evidence presented by a person (their body, pallor, skin, hair, gait, nails, feet, hands, tongue and bodily fluids) is taken in conjunction with the meridian system (which charts the flow of life-energy “qi” through the body) to diagnose “blockages” and suggest treatments.

Treatments could include acupuncture, acupressure, manipulative therapy “Tui na”, massage and herbal remedies.

Important! This ADDucation list is published for information only and does NOT constitute medical advice. If you have any health issues always seek professional medical advice.

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)
Color/s	Green (Azure Blue)	Red	Yellow (Brown)	White (Silver)	Black
Ying organs (Zang)	Liver	Heart / pericardium	The spleen / pancreas.	The lungs	The kidneys
Yang organs (Zu)	Gall bladder.	Small intestine	Stomach	Large intestine.	Urinary bladder.
Face parts / Sensory organs	Eyes	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ears
Bodily fluids	Tears	Sweat	Saliva	Mucus	Urine
Sense	Sight	Speech	Taste	Smell	Hearing
Body part	Tendons	Pulse	Muscle	Skin	Bones
Bodily fluid	Tears	Sweat	Saliva	Mucus	Urine
Fingers	Index finger.	Middle finger.	Thumb	Ring finger.	Little finger.
Body tissue	Ligaments	Arteries	Muscles	Skin and hair	Bones
Life-stage	Birth	Childhood and adolescence.	Adulthood	Maturation, old age.	Old age, death.
Hun-Po theory / Five shen system	Hun (ethereal soul)	Shen (Emperor of the Heart) Unified shen	Yi (intellect)	Po (corporeal soul)	Zhi (will to act)

List of Chinese Five Elements in Chinese Cosmology

How Chinese Cosmology Uses Chinese Five Element Theory

In Chinese cosmology (The System of Correspondences) the universe has three layers:

Heaven (tian)
Earth (Di 地)
Humans (ren 人)

When the yin and yang aspects of each of the five elements are in balance we can lead happier balanced lives. Heaven and earth gave birth to the ten thousand things, including humans, and we are the most valuable treasure.

Each layer is made up from the same five elements and they are connected to universal energies which resonate within each layer and between the three layers. Consequently our bodies mirror the energy in the universe internally.

For example, the five yin organs (the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys) are connected to earthly energy, and the six yang organs (the small intestine, gall bladder, stomach, large intestine, bladder and pericardium) are connected to heavenly energy. The energy of all five elements connects the layers together in the universal macrocosm.

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)	Chinese 5 Elements Notes
The Planets	Jupiter	Mars	Saturn	Venus	Mercury	These five planets, combined with the Sun and the Moon, make up the Seven Rulers (Qi Zheng). Their position in twenty eight Chinese lunar houses governs everything that has happened in the past or is yet to happen in the future on a personal, earthy and universal level.
Direction	East	South	Center	West	North
Heavenly creatures	Azure Dragon / Blue-green Dragon.	Vermilion Bird / Scarlet Bird.	Yellow Dragon.	White Tiger.	Black Tortoise / Mysterious Warrior.	The 28 lunar houses are divided into four directions, each with seven houses. The east by the blue/green dragon, the south by the red bird, the west by the white tiger and the north by the black turtle and snake.
Seasons of the year	Spring	Summer	Changing of the seasons / Late Summer.	Autumn	Winter	Each season lasts seventy two days.
Development	Sprouting	Blooming	Ripening	Withering	Dormant
Climate	Windy	Hot	Damp	Dry	Cold
Moon Phase	New Yang	Full Yang	Yin/Yang balance.	New Yin	Full Yin
Direction and Natural phenomena	Expansive and external in all directions.	Ascending	Stabilizing (harmony)	Contracting and internal	Descending
Spiritual dimension	Ethereal soul (hun 魂)	Spirit (shen 神)	Intention (yi 意)	Corporeal soul (po 魄)	Vital essence (jing 精)
Beneficial emotion	Kindness (ren 仁)	Respect (li 禮)	Honesty (xin 信)	Discernment (yi 義)	Wisdom (zhi 志)
Damaging emotion	Anger (nu 怒).	Excessive joy (xi 喜)	Worry (si 思)	Grief (ku 苦)	Fear (kong 恐)

Chinese Five Elements in Martial Arts Table

Chinese Five Elements Theory in Martial Arts & Five Elements Boxing (Wuxingquan)

The Chinese five elements (directions) can be combined with the eight powers/trigrams of the Bagua (Ba Fa/Pa Kua/eight symbols) associated with Taoist cosmology to give thirteen tactics, often referred to as “five elements, eight methods”.

The Chinese five elements can also be combined with the I Ching 64 permutations “hexagrams” (derived from the trigrams) and the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac (Sheng Xiao).

These combinations offered many other tactics which have evolved into other arts and methods.

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)
Directions	Look around / move left (Zuo gu)	Move forwards (Jin bu)	Centered (Zhong ding)		Move backwards (Tui bu)
Orientation	Outward	Upwards	Centering	Inward	Downward
Energy	Generative energy	Expansive energy	Stabilizing energy	Contracting energy	Conserving energy
Taichi chuan energies	Joining or connecting energy / jin (connecting jin)	Following energy / jin (following jin)	Do not let go and do not resist	Adhering energy / jin (adhering jin)	Sticking energy / jin
Wuxingquan five fists	Crushing Fist (Pengquan).	Cannon Fist (Paoquan).	Crossing Fist (Hernquan).	Splitting / Cutting Fist (Piquan).	Drilling Fist (Tzuanquan).

List of Chinese Zodiac Signs

Chinese Five Elements Theory – List of Zodiac Signs

Each of the 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs is associated with one of the Chinese five elements. Use the table below to find the fixed Chinese element for each sign of the Chinese Zodiac.

Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs	Chinese 5 Elements (Wu Xing)
Monkey, Rooster	Metal
Tiger, Rabbit	Wood
Rat, Pig	Water
Snake, Horse	Fire
Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Dog	Earth

Each Chinese animal sign is also sub-divided into the five elements. In Chinese astrology the animal signs play a similar role to the signs of the zodiac in western culture.
You can find your Chinese animal sign and associated personality traits, lucky colors, ideal partners and more by entering your birth year on ADDucation’s Chinese Animal Signs of the Zodiac List…

Chinese Five Elements in Chinese Music

Chinese Five Elements Theory in Chinese Music List

The Chinese pentatonic scale has just five notes compared to the seven note western scale. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si becomes:

Gong (Do)
Shang (Re)
Jiao (Mi)
Zhi (Sol)
Yu (La)

Each tone influences the human body in different ways:

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)	Notes
Note	Jiao (Mi) Affects the liver. Soothing, giving a sense of comfort and relaxation. Can be used to dispel anger.	Zhi (Sol) Affects the heart. Invigorating with a sense of passion and excitement. Can be used to treat depression.	Gong (Do) Affects the spleen. Mediating in nature giving a sense of calm and seriousness. Ideal to help anyone who has been frightened.	Shang (Re) Affects the lungs. Cleansing in nature and gives a sense of quietness. Can be used to help anyone suffering from anxiety and irritability.	Yu (La) Affects the kidneys. Cooling and moistening in nature with a sedative effect. Can be helpful for insomnia caused by excessive joy or sorrow.	Gong=Do (note 1) Shang=Re (note 2) Jiao=Mi (note 3) Zhi=Sol (note 5) Yu=La (note 6) notes 4 (Fa) and 7 (Si) are omitted.
Tone	Chueh (Jiao) Chueh based music is Spring like. Makes one feel conciliatory and kind hearted.	Chih (Zhi) Chih based music is highly emotional, even fiery and makes one feel generous.	Keng (Gong) Keng based melodies are noble and can make one tolerant and kind.	Shang Shang based melodies are unbending and heavy like metal which makes one feel righteous and friendly.	Yue (Yu) Yue based tunes are melancholy, like running water and can help restore balance and feel generous.	Five tones are based on perfect fifth, in order of Gong, Zheng, Shang, Jiao, Yu. Mode-structures of Gong and Zheng have sprightly major property, while mode-structures of Jiao and Yu have oppressive ditty property, mode-structure of Shang is between the two. Because mode-structures of five notes do not include acumination sound, tense and disharmonious intervals like minor second, tritone, major second seventh, the whole music is tranquil and soft, by which people can express emotions. For example, happy memories, beautiful wishes, nature and so on.
Emotions / Feelings	Anger	Over excitement	Anxiety /Meditate	Grief / Worry	Fear	See the emotions in our Chinese Horoscope table.
Moods	Happiness	Joy	Desire	Anger	Sadness
Virtues	Humanity	Manner	Trust	Righteousness	Wisdom	Virtues ascribed by Dong Zhong Shu.

Chinese Five Elements and Feng Shui

Chinese Five Elements Theory in Feng Shui List

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)
Compass direction	East	South	Center	West	North
Shapes	Rectangular	Angular	Square	Round	Undulating
Orientation	Outward	Upwards	Centering	Inward	Downward

Chinese 5 element theory underpins the Chinese art (system/practice/mythology) of Feng Shui which is used to design and position things, based on ying and yang energy flow, to achieve harmony with the environment.

Chinese Five Elements in Religion

Chinese Five Elements Theory and Religion List

The Chinese five elements are an integral part of ceremonies and rituals in religions including Taoism, Confuscianism, Buddism and others.

Taoist shrines typically include:

Five bowls of fruit which represent the Chinese five elements in their pre-natal (earlier heaven) form in the creative cycle between the elements.
Five plates of food which represent the Chinese five elements in their post-natal (later heaven) form in the destructive cycle between the elements.
Taoist Hung-Po theory, also known as the five-shen system associates spirits with the five yin organs in the body; heart, kidney, spleen, liver, and lungs.

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Chinese Five Elements in Other Lists

More Chinese Five Elements Theory References

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Elements (Wu Xing)	Wood (mu 木)	Fire (huo 火)	Earth (tu 土)	Metal (jin 金)	Water (shui 水)
Materials	air, sound, minerals, mana, ink, acid, mind, rubber, paper, static, wax, plywood, health.	visible light, soap, thermal radiation, uv rays, rust, bleach, infrared beams, burn, blaze, oil, glass, mass, clay.	rock, carbon, dust, sand, energy, powder, space, sugar, smoke, gems, ash, gravity, earthquakes.	gold, platinum, holy water, snow, ice, frost, alloys, forge, nimbus clouds, ether, milk.	the sea, vegetation, electrical currents, storms, rain, steam, fluid, mud, slime, sludge, salt, time, pressure, glass mirror, shadows.
Livestock	Dog	Sheep, goat	Cattle	Chicken	Pig
Animal type	Scaly	Feathered	Human	Furred	Shelled
Sound	Shouting	Laughing	Singing	Weeping	Groaning
Climate / Weather	Wind	Hot / Heat.	Dampness / Humid.	Dryness	Cold

ADDucation Lists Related to Chinese Five Elements:

Chinese 5 Elements Cooking…
This list of was compiled by Joe Connor, last updated 08 Aug 2020.
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