[BalancedHealth] 5 Elements in Chinese Philosophy

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Misty L. Trepke

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The Five Elements in Chinese Philosophy

The yin and yang philosophy was further refined into the system of

the five elements to gain a deeper understanding of how the body,

mind and spirit work and acupuncture.

 

The microcosm of the body is linked to the universe and is affected

by the daily and seasonal cycles of nature. (Think about the seasonal

affective disorder which manifests itself in winter or when the light

is not sufficient). The individual and the world are changing all the

time. But Chinese believe that these changes are occurring in certain

order and in cycles. (We can think about these like our economic

cycles or agricultural cycles. A period of growth is always followed

by a period of stagnation or unemployment. In the stock market, a

bull market is always followed by a bear market etc.) In the same

way, a seed planted in spring blooms in summer, seeds itself in late

summer to autumn, dies in winter, and a new seed grows again in

spring. It is part of a never-ending cycle and each phase has its

role to play in maintaining the balance of nature. The same process

of change occurs within the body. Cells grow and die to make way for

new cells, and body systems depend upon each other in a similar way

to the seasons, working together to ensure the balanced functioning

of the body, mind and spirit and the healthy flow of life through the

whole person.

 

 

Representation of the Five Elements

 

Chinese philosophy recognizes five distinct elements of cyclical

change called water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. These five

elements can be related to our four seasons (with a fifth late summer

season) as shown in the table below. The elements can also be related

to different colors, emotion, taste, voice and various organs. These

can also be related to the selection of food and herbs. Notice the

correspondence between the Chinese philosophy and the underlying

Indian philosophy, which also classifies everything in the universe

under earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

 

Season Element Yin-Yang Phase Yin Organ Yang Organ Energy

Pattern

Color Emotion Taste Voice

Winter Water Full yin Kidney Urinary bladder Conserved Black

Fear

Salty Groans

Spring Wood New yang Liver Gallbladder Expansive Green Anger

Sour Shouts

Summer Fire Full yang Heart Small Intestine Culmination,

completion Red Joy Bitter Laughs

Late Summer Earth yin-yang balance Spleen Stomach Balance

Yellow

Sympathy Sweet Sings

Autumn Metal New yin Lungs Large Intestine Contraction and

accumulation White Grief sadness Pungent Weeps

 

Each person's physical and mental constitution can be described as a

balance of the elements in which one or more may naturally dominate.

The proportion of the elements in a person determines his or her

temperament. Oriental medicine considers the ideal condition as one

in which all the five elements are in balance or in harmony. Wood is

said to be the mother of fire and the son of water. (Water allows

wood to grow, wood provides fuel for the fire). Using these

relationships one can describe all possible yin-yang imbalances

within the body. The thrust of five element diagnosis is to isolate

and treat the imbalanced element, because an imbalanced element is

like a weak link in your energetic chain that can undermine the

strength of your mind, body and spirit.

 

How the Five Elements are Manifested Internally and Externally

Element Universe Individual

Wood Growing, flourishing, rooted yet pushing upward Striving,

controlling, flexible strength, self-assured

Earth Productive, fertile Solid, stable, reliable, tenacious,

grounded

Metal Hard, structured, symmetric Organized, substantial,

strong,

durable

Fire Dry, hot, ascending Dynamic, sparkling, enthusiastic

Water Wet, cool, descending Flowing, adaptable, pliant

 

Related Topic:

 

The philosophy of the

Dao<http://www.holistic-online.com/Acupuncture/acp_philosophy.htm>

Yin and

Yang<http://www.holistic-online.com/Acupuncture/acp_yin_yang.htm>

 

 

http://www.holistic-

online.com/Acupuncture/acp_five_elements.htm<http://www.holistic-

online.com/Acupuncture/acp_five_elements.htm>

 

Namasté, Sláinte, Peace and Ble§§ings, Cindi

 

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.

Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten

lost.

 

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