Commonly called the Five Elements, the Wu Xing, or Five Phases, are stages that Qi passes through as Yin and Yang interact. All of the Phases have Yin and Yang representations.

The Phases are known as Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. It is important to realize that the energies are not literally made of earth, metal, water, wood or fire, they just have energetic associations with these substances. It is also important to understand that each Phase can represent different things, depending upon the context it is being referenced within. The information provided here illustrates the Five Phases within the context of Feng Shui. If you were to study traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the associations provided for the Five Phases would be different.

The Phases and Their Qualities

Wood Qi moves upward and expands, like the dynamic growth of a tree. The Wood Phase does not literally refer to plants or items made of wood, but it can help to visualize a tree when learning about Wood Qi. In addition to growth, Wood is also associated with education and kindness. Wood is a nurturing phase of Qi. Shapes associated with Wood include tall and rectangular shapes. The color green is also associated with Wood. In the human body, Wood is associated with the liver and the limbs.

The energetic quality of Fire is radiance and heat. Fire is the most Yang Phase. Although Fire does not refer to actual fire, it has similar properties in some ways. Fire Qi represents beauty, elegance and passion. It is associated with triangular or pointed shapes and the colors red, pink, orange and purple. The body parts associated with Fire are the heart and eyes.

Metal is the most dense form of energy. It has a sharp, piercing, and contracting quality. Yin Metal is sometimes referred to as "soft Metal", and can be visualized as jewellry or decorative items. Yang Metal is also called "hard Metal" and is associated with items like axes or other weaponry. The qualities of Metal Qi include justice, authority and loyalty. Metal is associated with rounded or spherical shapes, and the colors white, silver and gold. In the human body, Metal represents the lungs.

Earth energy rotates around its own axis. It has an anchoring, compacting quality. Earth Qi has associations with stability, trustworthiness and wealth. Earth can be represented by cubic, flat or broad shapes, and the colors brown, beige and yellow. The body parts associated with Earth Qi are the skin and flesh.

Water energy descends and moves freely. It represents the most Yin of the Phases. Water is always in motion, and adapts to the shape of its container, so it can be associated with intelligence, wisdom and creativity. Shapes assoicated with Water Qi are wavy and undefined, and it is associated with dark blue and black colors. In the human body, Water represents the kidneys.

As with Yin and Yang, the concept of balance is very important when dealing with the Five Phases. No Phase is worse than or better than any other, and all should be present and in balance for harmony to be present.

The Three Main Cycles of the Five Phases

Each Phase generates another Phase in a cycle known as the Production Cycle, sometimes called the Enhancing Cycle. Earth contains (gives birth to) Metal. On the surface of Metal, Water forms via condensation. Water nourishes Wood in the form of vegetation. This vegetation burns, giving rise to Fire, which generates ash (Earth). The Production Cycle is a natural, positive transformation of the energies, and is sometimes referred to as the Forward Cycle.

A second cycle involving the Five Phases is the Reduction Cycle, or Weakening Cycle. It is the reverse of the Production Cycle. Here, the Phase that a particular Element gives rise to is seen to weaken that Element. This is like a parent being worn out by his or her child. Thus Metal weakens Earth, Water weakens Metal, Wood weakens Water, Fire weakens Wood, and Earth weakens Fire.

The final cycle of the Five Phases is the Controlling Cycle. Each Phase controls the Phase that is two positions in front of it. Therefore Metal is controlled by Fire (since fire melts metal). Water is controlled by Earth (since earthen dams can inhibit the flow of water and earthen banks channel it). Wood is controlled by Metal (since metal can cut wood). Fire is controlled by Water (since water douses fire). Finally, Earth is controlled by Wood (since the roots of vegetation can grow into, and draw nutrients out of the earth). The Controlling Cycle is seen as a relatively aggressive, oppositional type of interaction.

Note that in the practice of Feng Shui, the Reduction Cycle is generally preferred when reducing the effects of a harmful Phase than the Controlling Cycle. It is seen as gentler and more harmonious. However, the Controlling Cycle is not necessarily a bad thing, it just needs to be approached with care. It is like the laws of a society. We need a certain amount of control, but too much can be oppressive and lead to conflict.

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Primary References

The Five Elements: The Rudiments Of Chinese Metaphysics

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About Feng Shui || Yin and Yang || The Five Phases || The Luo Shu and He Tu || Qualities of Qi || The Eight Trigrams (Part 1) || The Eight Trigrams (Part 2) || The Early Heaven and Later Heaven Sequences || The Luo Pan and the 24 Mountains || Taking Directions || Direction vs. Location || The Key Factors || Introduction to Landforms || Forms in the Urban Environment || The Four Celestial Animals || The Shapes of Forms || Introduction to Eight Mansions || East and West Groups || The Positive Wandering Stars || The Negative Wandering Stars || Calculating the Life Gua || Using the Life Gua || Common Mistakes in Eight Mansions || Introduction to Flying Stars || Plotting the Stars 1 || Plotting the Stars 2 || Timeliness of the Stars || Facing Stars and Sitting Stars || Characteristics of the Stars || Activating and Deactivating Stars || Period 8 Flying Stars || Activating the Prosperous Facing Star || Bedroom Flying Stars || Integrating Flying Stars with Eight Mansions

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