Five Element Theory: The Elements
An Introduction to the Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Nov 11, 2008
Five Element Theory has been around for thousands of years. It was first written about in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine (the Huang Di Nei Jing), at least two thousand years ago. The theory has evolved over the years, but it has retained its central idea - that the health and wellness, of an individual or the universe, is based on the elements being in balance.
The Five Elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.
The Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine
All elements have a number of different things associated with them, from seasons and times of day to organs to emotions.
Wood is the element of birth, and beginnings. Some of its associations are:
- Wind
- Spring
- The direction East
- The flavour Sour
- Green
- Liver
- Gall Bladder
- Eyes
- Sight
- Ligaments and tendons
- Nails
- Tears
- Shouting
- Anger
- 'Ethereal' soul
Fire is the element of growth, childhood, and development. It is associated with:
- Heat
- Summer
- The direction South
- The flavour Bitter
- Red
- Heart
- Small Intestine
- Tongue
- Blood Vessels
- Mind
- Sweat
- Speech
- Laughing
- Joy
Earth is the element of ripening, coming of age and maturity. It is associated with
- Dampness
- Transition
- The Center direction
- The flavour sweet
- Yellow
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Mouth
- Taste
- Muscles/Flesh
- Lips
- Saliva
- Singing
- Worry
- Intellect
Metal is the element of harvest and age. It is associated with
- Dryness
- Autumn
- The direction West
- The flavour pungent
- White
- Lungs
- Large Intestine
- Nose
- Smell
- Skin
- Body hair
- Mucus
- Weeping
- Grief
- 'Corporeal' Soul
Water is the element of storage, completion and what might be called hibernation. In the I Ching, a traditional book of Chinese philosophy, it is also associated with darkness and danger, though those associations do not necessarily carry over into Traditional Chinese Medicine or Five Element Theory. In Five Element Theory, Water is associated with:
- Cold
- Winter
- The direction North
- The flavour salty
- Black/Blue
- Kidneys
- Bladder
- Ears
- Hearing
- Bones
- Head hair
- Urine
- Groaning
- Fear
- Willpower
The Five Elements interact with each other in two cycles, the Generating Cycle, also called the Mother's Cycle, or the Controlling Cycle, also called the Grandmother's Cycle.
The Generating Cycle of Five Element Theory
Wood->Fire ->Earth->Metal->Water->Wood
Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates ash, enriching Earth; Earth contains Metal; Metal 'creates' Water through condensation; Water feeds Wood.
The Five Elements are normally pictured in a circle following the Generating Cycle clockwise.
The Controlling Cycle of Five Element Theory
Wood ->Earth->Water->Fire->Metal->Wood
Wood's roots hold the Earth in place, banks of Earth restrain rivers of Water, Water controls Fire, Fire purifies and melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood.
When the elements are in balance the cycles flow smoothly. Sometimes one or more elements will become stronger or weaker then the rest, interfering with the balance. When the elements are out of balance, the cycles break, and sickness develops. When the Controlling Cycle is so out of balance it reverses (for example if Fire becomes so strong it vaporizes the controlling Water) it is called an Insulting Cycle.
For more information on how the Five Element Theory can affect day to day life, visit the Five Element Diet.
Resources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huangdi_Neijing
- Ni, Maoshing. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary. New York: Shambala Publications, Inc. 1995
- Lundberg, Paul. The Book of Shiatsu. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2003
- Huang, Alfred. The Complete I Ching. Vermont: Inner Traditions.1998
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