Importance of the Five Elements

The  core of Chinese sciences of the Universe: Feng Shui, the  Chinese Horoscope and various divinity methods revolves  around the understanding of the importance of Five Important  Elements. These elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal.

According  to ancient Chinese, these Five Elements are interactive which stimulate and shape our daily life. 

It is important to understand that there is a natural order in which leads to harmony, prosperity and happiness.

The  productive sequence is as follows: water nourished plants and trees: producing wood, wood makes fire which burnt into ashes to form earth, earth is the source of metal. Metal  can be condensed to water or can be melted into liquid i.e.  `water'. Therefore it is known as the productive sequence.

There  is also a destructive order, which is the cause of bad events  and calamities.

This is a result of the distrubances to the natural order. This is where: water puts out fire; fire melts metal; metal breaks  wood; wood (roots of plants) penetrates the earth; and earth  is absorbed water. In this situation, Feng Shui experts will advice you to place a neutralizing element to avoid such harmful effects. We will also get to understand more about this later on in the later chapters.

For  example buildings can be classified as belonging to one of the 5 elements: 

Watercourses can also be classified as belonging to one of the 5 elements:

TEN  HEAVENLY STEMS

The  5 elements : Water, Earth, Fire, Wood and Metal are further sub-divided into TEN Heavenly Stems:

Heavenly Stem Example Element JIA  (hard wood)  YI (soft wood)  Trees  Hewn timber  Wood BING (sun fire)  DING (kitchen fire)  lightning  burning  incense  Fire WU (mountain earth)  JI (sand earth)  hills  earthenware  Earth GENG (rough metal)  XIN  (refined metal)  metal  ores  kettles  Metal XIN  (refined water)  GUI  (rain water)  salt water  fresh  water  Water

The  Ten Heavenly Stems reflect the plane of Heaven on the Chinese compass. This Ten Heavenly stems by combining with the Twelve  Chinese Zodiac animals (Earthly Branch) forms the basis  of the Chinese  Calendar System.

The  relationship between the Ten Heavenly stems and TwelveEarthly  Branchare as follows:

Element Heavenly Stem Earthly  Branch Wood JIA  (hard wood) & YI (softwood) Tiger  & Rabbit Fire BING (sun fire) & DING (kitchen fire) Horse  & Snake Earth WU (mountain earth) & JI (sand earth) Dog  & Ox Metal GENG (rough metal) & XIN (refined metal) Rooster  & Monkey Water REN  (sea water) & GUI (rain water) Pig  & Rat