Fengshui Lesson (02) Understandig Five Elements
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In Fengshui, the Five Elements theory is a key foundation for understanding the workings of the universe, environmental influences, and personal fortune. The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are significant components of ancient Chinese philosophy and natural science. They interact with each other. Today, we will explore the basic concepts of the Five Elements and their applications in Fengshui.
Basic Concepts of the Five Elements
The theory of the Five Elements originates from ancient Chinese philosophy, which proposes that all things and phenomena in the universe can be classified into five basic elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element has its own unique properties and functions, and they exist in relationships of mutual generation and mutual restriction. In the perspectives of Fengshui:
Wood (木): Trees, with trunks and branches, symbolize principles and talent. The tree trunk is solid, representing persistence and determination. The branches are flexible, growing towards sunlight and space, symbolizing talent. The commonly known "Four Literary Stars" represent soft wood branches, often associated with academic studies, but more broadly it signifies "talent," including artistic and creative activities.
Fire (火): Represents brightness and rapid change. Fire burns brightly, symbolizing expression of performance and being noticed. Fire needs an object to burn, so its brilliance often comes at the cost of physical exhaustion after hard work. People may see your brightness and success, but not the hardship behind it. Unlike animals, humans use fire to cook, so fire also represents civilization and wisdom.
Earth (土): Symbolizes practicality, restraint, stability, and stubbornness. The stars "Five Yellow" and "Two Black," associated with major and minor illnesses, belong to the Earth element. Beyond health and disease, Earth can also represent accumulated wealth because gold can be hidden in the earth.
Metal (金): Metals can be used to make tools, both large and small. Large tools are “hard metal," representing strength and resilience. Ideal hard metal is firm and unyielding. Small tools are "soft metal," which is malleable and adaptable. Due to fast change in presence, soft metal can be more trendy. The Chinese character for soft metal 兌 is associated with 悅 happiness, as it shares the same root with the word for "joy."
Water (水): Water flows and has no fixed shape, also symbolizing capriciousness. The north is associated with Water, and historically, the northern tribes that troubled China represent extreme capriciousness, like bandits acting without restraint. Due to its ever-changing nature, Water can also be associated with artistic talent.
Mutual Generation and Restriction of the Five Elements
The relationships of mutual generation and restriction among the Five Elements are central to Fengshui. The Flying Stars chart reflects these relationships, and each year, different flying stars enter, triggering responses from the Five Elements. Understanding these interactions helps us understand interpersonal dynamics and the development of events in a space.
Mutual Generation (相生): This refers to the supportive and enhancing relationships between the elements. Each element promotes the next: Wood generates Fire (wood can be burned to produce flames), Fire generates Earth (ashes left after burning turn to soil), Earth generates Metal (metals are found in the earth), Metal generates Water (metal can condense water droplets), and Water generates Wood (water nourishes plants). The cycle of mutual generation amplifies the properties of the elements.
Mutual Restriction (相剋): This refers to the controlling and limiting relationships between the elements. Each element restricts another: Wood restricts Earth (plants absorb nutrients from the soil), Earth restricts Water (soil absorbs water), Water restricts Fire (water extinguishes fire), Fire restricts Metal (fire melts metal), and Metal restricts Wood (metal tools can cut down trees). Mutual restriction can increase tension. Some restrictions are beneficial, while others can cause harm.
The Relationship of the Five Elements in Fengshui: Generating and Restricting
Metal generates Water: It’s often said that the combination of metal and water brings emotional depth. This suggests a love for enjoyment and relaxation, but it can also lead to excessive indulgence and spending. When there’s too much water, it becomes hard to control, leading to overly playful or reckless behavior. In extreme cases, too much water can lead to complications such as miscarriage in pregnant women.
Wood generates Fire: Fire is bright and attractive, making it easy for individuals to be appreciated and admired. However, when fire is too strong, it can lead to burnout, like a person feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, as if they were "ants on a hot pan."
Fire generates Earth: Earth symbolizes wealth, so fire can bring an abundance of resources. However, if the earth energy is tied to the harmful stars (such as the Five Yellow or Two Black stars in Fengshui), it can lead to illness. Overly strong earth energy can also result in dullness or stubbornness.
Earth generates Metal: Metal is strengthened and supported by earth, making it powerful and effective. However, if the metal energy becomes too strong, it can lead to overwhelming pressure, resulting in stress.
Water generates Wood: Water enhances creativity and intelligence, as is often said about the Wen Chang star, associated with academic success. When wood is nourished too much by water, it can lead to a rebellious or free-spirited artist's temperament. Strong wood, especially if over-stimulated by water, can become unyielding and stubborn.
Thus, the relationships between the five elements must be balanced and not overly intensified.
The Restricting Relationships of the Five Elements
Restricting, or controlling, in the Five Elements isn’t necessarily bad. It represents regulation or refinement, though it can be challenging in practice.
Metal restricting Wood: Just as a carpenter uses metal tools to shape wood, this represents refinement and improvement. It can also be compared to a gardener trimming plants to make a garden more beautiful.
Fire restricting Metal: Fire tempers metal to create useful tools. However, if soft metals are exposed to fire, they melt quickly. This can be symbolic of health issues, especially for women and young girls, possibly indicating kidney problems.
Earth restricting Water: This represents the containment of water’s unpredictable nature. Like a reservoir that stores water, earth controls water and makes it useful.
Water restricting Fire: Water extinguishes fire, representing conflict and challenges. When fire is suppressed by water, it can result in diminished brightness, possibly signifying vision problems or loss of vitality.
Wood restricting Earth: This is the least desirable scenario. Wood restricting earth creates tension, affecting health and fertility. In extreme cases, it can lead to serious diseases such as cancer.
Application of the Five Elements in Fengshui
In Fengshui arrangements, objects representing the five elements are used to balance and enhance energy. For example, ceramics represent earth, bronze statues represent metal, green rugs represent wood, and plants also symbolize wood.
By understanding specific issues, you can use the five elements to either correct imbalances or enhance certain aspects of life.
In general, Fengshui arrangements don’t require mythical creatures or religious symbols.
Conclusion
Understanding the Five Elements not only helps us grasp the principles of Fengshui but also enables us to create a more harmonious environment in our daily lives. By applying the Five Elements wisely, we can improve situations, enhance our quality of life, and even boost our fortunes.
On the contrary, improper placement—such as planting large trees in the northeast—can hinder fertility because wood restricting earth, and the northeast is associated with young people, represented by the "Gen" trigram.
I hope today’s introduction helps you better understand and apply this ancient wisdom.
