The Five Elements
Have you noticed their existence in your daily life?
Can you describe what they are like?
…is it hot, shiny, or playful?
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth
Our ancestors also discovered that the interaction of Yin and Yang produced the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth that make up the nature, first recorded in The Book of Documents (Shangshu). At that time, the noted scholar, Zou Yan, pointed out that the interaction of the Five Elements would produce various dynamics in nature by influencing and supporting each other, similar to what scientists today call “ecosystem”. The history of human cultural development is the same as the changes in nature, and it also follows the law of the Five Elements that generates and restrains each other. Master Zou’s theory had a great influence on the later development of fields such as philosophy, medicine, calendar, and architecture.
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How the Five Elements Work
In Chinese, the character “行” in the Five Elements（五行）means movement.
Our ancestors used the Five Elements Theory to describe the operation pattern and changes of things. The Five Elements operate like a team. They often cooperate with each other (mutual generation), but also clash sometimes (mutual restraint).
The Chinese thinks that Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth are good friends. They help each other in a way known as “Mutual Generation”.
The Five Elements generate each other as such:
Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood
By contrast, “Mutual Restraint” refers to Five Elements obscuring each other.
The Five Elements restraints each other as such:
Metal → Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal
The Five Elements exist in nature. Through mutual generation and restraint, they keep everything in balance and harmony. Human beings should also live in harmony with nature, love animals and plants, protect the water and the soil, to achieve a balance between the soul and the natural environment.
PLAY to LEARN Be Creative
The Five Elements have their own characteristics. Imagine that the school is going to have a Five-Element makeup party. Which element best represents you? How would you style yourself?
