Chinese Five Elements 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 the 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 earth (ash), earth produces metal, metal collects water (e.g. condensation) and water nourishes wood, which completes the creative cycle. - Weakening cycle (also known as the exhaustive cycle). Follow the arrows counter-clockwise around the outside:
The weakening cycle is the opposite of the creative cycle. For example; when metal ore is removed from the earth it becomes exhausted. - Destructive cycle (also known as the overcoming cycle or control cycle). Follow the straight lines in the direction of the arrows:
Each element exerts control to suppress or inhibit the following element. For example; wood takes nutrients from the earth, earth can stop the flow of water, water can overcome fire, fire can melt metal and metal (e.g. in the form of an axe) can split wood. - Suppression cycle (also known as insults cycle or counter-acting cycle). Follow the straight lines backwards around the straight lines:
If the element being acted-upon 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 in a river is too strong it may overcome its banks causing a flood.
Chinese five element theory chart created by ADDucation and released under the Creative Commons Zero license. No credit required but always appreciated.
- ADDucation’s five elements theory lists and tables are compiled by Joe Connor and last updated on
The Chinese five elements (also known as five phases and five elementals) influence every aspect of daily life in Chinese culture including; setting up home (feng shui), cooking healthy Chinese food, entertaining guests (tea ceremonies), listening to music, health (Chinese medicine), exercise and relaxation (meditation, tai chi and other martial arts), making decisions (Chinese astrology), philosophy, spirituality and religion (Chinese cosmology).
Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Tips:
- Chinese 5 Elements Cooking…
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The Five Phases also correspond with the five seasons of the Chinese traditional calender, each with 72 days as follows:
* Harvest time is between western summer and autumn, from solstice to equinox (August-September).
Thanks Zhongbi, we’ll find a way to get that info into the main table.