The Five Elements Theory The Five Elements Theory

(Wuxing (Wuxing 五行五行 ))

Yin Yang

Interaction

Five elements

Wu 五 :

Xing 行 :

Five

Movement changes

《说文解字》：“五行也，从二，阴阳在天地间交舞也。”

The Five Elements Theory

• A cognition tool

• To explain and analyze all things and their changes in the natural world

Five Elements

Functional properties of five basic materials

Classification of functional properties of things & phenomena into five categories

Each element is a symbol that represents a category of related functions and properties

Categorization of things

Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

Assigns abstract generalizations

Five elements

Characteristics Abstracted properties &Extended implications

Wood木曰曲直

germination, extension, softness, and harmony

Flexing, extending, growth, free development.

Fire火曰炎上

heat and flaring Warm, heat, ascending, brightness.

Earth土曰稼樯

growing, nourishing, and changing

Reception, cultivation, transformation.

Metal金曰从革

cleaning up, killing, strength, and firmness

Change, purifying, astringency.

Water水曰润下

cold, moisture, and downward flowing

Moistening, downward movement, cold, coolness, closure, storage.

8

木曰曲直 wood can be flexed and extended

property of growing, developing and flourishing

9

火曰炎上 fire flames up

property of warmth, heat, ascending

10

土爰稼穑 Earth provides for sowing and reaping

property of generating, holding and receiving

11

金曰从革 Metal works for change

property of clearing, descending and astringing

12

水曰润下 water moistens and flows downward

property of cold and coolness, moistening, downward going

Process of categorization

CompareImagePropertiesFunction

Abstract properties of the five elements

Categorization

Explaining changes

Use the interrelationship of the five elements to:

(1) Explain Interrelationships and changes of all things and phenomena

(2) Explain interrelationships of the parts in a system

Interactions

Inter-generation Inter-restraint

Over restraint Counter restraint

Normal

Abnormal

Inter-generation

Interactions

Water

Earth

Fire

Metal

Inter-restraint

Wood

Inter-generation 相生

Wood FirePromoting

Generating

Mother Child

Inter-restraint 相克

Control

RestraintWater Fire

Dominator Submitter

Control

RestraintWater Fire

Wood

Generate Generate

Harmonious relationship

Inter-generation

Inter-restraint

Harmonious balance

Contrast & Compliment

Inter-generation

Inter-restraint

Over restraint 相乘

Causes: (1) One element becomes too

powerful (Dominator) (2) One element becomes weak (Submitter)

Counter restraint 相侮

Cause:

(1) One element becomes very powerful (Submitter)

(2) One element becomes too weak (Dominator)

Inter-restraint

Normal

Restraint

Dominator Submitter

EarthWood

EarthWoodRestraint

CounterCounter

EarthWoodRestraint

Over

Normal

Abnormal

Inter-generation of abnormality 母子相及

Mother Child

Mutual involvement of mother & child

Applications

Physiology Pathology Diagnosis Treatment

Physiological applications

1. Explaining functions of the five organ systems (Zang)

2. Explaining the interrelationships among the five organ systems (Zang)

Functions of Zang

The physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang (organ systems) are classified according to the attributes of the five elements

The five elements & five zangs

Five elements

Characteristics of element

Characteristics of zang (Organ systems)

Five zangs (Organ systems)

Wood Free development Freedom from stagnation (flow of Qi)

Gan (Liver)

Fire Hot, tends to flame up Heart yang warms the body

Xin (Heart)

Earth Receives and generates

Transforms food into nutrients. Source of Qi & blood

Pi (spleen)

Metal Clearing, Depurates & astringes

clearing and descending properties

Fei (Lung)

Water moistening & flowing downward.

Stores essence, manages water metabolism

Shen (Kidney)

Inter-generating

Intrinsic relationships among five zangs

肾 ShengWater

Kidney

脾 PiEarth

Spleen

心 XinFire

Heart

肺 FeiMetalLung

肝 GanWood Liver

Inter-restraint

Pathological application

1. Abnormal inter-restraintOver restraint Counter restraint

2. Inter-generation of abnormality

Mother organ system to child organ system

Child organ system to mother organ system

Over restraint 相乘

肾Sheng Kidney

脾Pi

Spleen

心Xin

Heart

肺Fei

Lung

肝Gan Liver

Over restraint

Over restraint

脾Pi

Spleen

肝Gan Liver

Over active Weaken

attacking

Counter restraint 相侮

肾Sheng Kidney

脾Pi

Spleen

心Xin Heart

肺Fei

Lung

肝Gan Liver

Normal restraint

Counter restraint

Counter restraint 相侮

肝Gan

Liver

肺Fei

Lung

Normal restraint

Counter restraint

Invades

Inter-generating

Intrinsic relationships among five zangs

肾ShengKidney

脾Pi

Spleen

心Xin

Heart

肺Fei

Lung

肝GanLiver

Inter-restraint

肝GanLiver

Inter-generation of abnormality

Mother to Child

心Xin

Heart

肝GanLiver

心Xin

Heart

Normal

Abnormal

Normal

Abnormal

Inter-generation of abnormality

肝GanLiver

肾ShengKidney

Child to Mother

Normal

AbnormalAbnormal

Normal

肾ShengKidney

肝GanLiver

Application in diagnosis

Normal manifestation of diseases Abnormal manifestation of diseases

Normal manifestation

Elements Flavor Color Pulse Diseased Zang

Wood Sour Green Taut Gan (Liver)

Fire Bitter Red Full Xin (Heart)

Earth Sweet Yellow Slow Pi (Spleen)

Metal Acrid （ pungent)

White Floating Fei (Lung)

Water Salty Black Deep Shen (Kidney)

Abnormal manifestation

Sweet Yellow Slow Pulse

Spleen Deficiency

Sour Green TautPulse

Spleen disease transmitted from liver

Therapeutic application

Control transmission of disease1. Over restraint

2. Counter restraint

3. Mutual involvement of mother and child element

Decide therapeutic principle1. Inter-generation

2. Inter-restraint

Inter-generating

Control transmission

肾Sheng

脾Pi

心Xin

肺Fei

肝Gan

Inter-restraint

Over restraintCounter restraint

Mutual involvement of mother and child element

Establish therapeutic principle

Using inter-generation relationship

1. Deficiency syndrome Tonifying the mother element

2. Excessive syndrome Purging the child element

Establish therapeutic principleUsing inter-restraint relationship

脾Pi

肝Gan

Strong

Purging

Weak

Tonifying

Over restraint