Five Elements
From today onwards, we shall take a closer look (from the perspective of TCM) at the Theory of Five Elements.
The theory of the five elements, just as the theory of yin and yang, originated in antiquity in China. It is the cognition of the material world made by people in ancient China. This theory was used to explain and analyze things and their changes in the natural world in ancient times. The theory of the five elements, together with the theory of yin and yang, formed a special world outlook in ancient China. Later on the theory of the five elements was applied to TCM and became one of the important components in the theoretical system of TCM.
The implication of the five elements and the categorization of things according to the theory of the five elements
People in ancient China believed that wood, fire, earth, metal and water are indispensable to daily life and productive labor and that these five elements were key to the normal variations in the natural world. For example, people drink water and use fire to cook food; metal and wood can be made into various tools; earth ensures the growth of all things. Besides, these elements are interrelated and influence each other. Such a cognition and understanding eventually evolved into the theory of the five elements.
Implication of the five elements
In Chinese,
"wu" （五） refers to five categories of things in the natural world, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water;
"xing"（行） means movement and transformation.
So "wuxing" (the five elements) actually refers to the movement and transformation of these five elements as well as their interrelationships.
The theory of the five elements holds that all things in the natural world are derived from wood, fire, earth, metal and water. So they all bear the basic properties of these five elements and maintain a harmonious balance through the activities of constant inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements.
The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.
- Zeno
No comments:
Post a Comment