The theory of the five elements explains the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang-organs according to the attributes of the five elements, pairing each of the five zang-organs with the corresponding one of the five elements.
For example,
- Wood is characterized by free development while the liver prefers freedom to stagnation, so the liver pertains to wood;
- fire is hot and tends to flame up while heart-yang warms the whole body, so the heart pertains to fire;
- earth receives and generates while the spleen transforms food nutrients and is the source of qi and blood, so the spleen pertains to earth;
- metal depurates and astringes while lung-qi maintains inside and normally descends, so the lung pertains to metal;
- water moistens and closes while the kidney stores essence and manages water metabolism, so the kidney pertains to water.
Some of the intrinsic relationships among the functional activities of the five zang-organs also reflect the relationships of inter-promotion and inter-restraint. So they can be explained with the theory of inter-promotion and inter-restraint among the five elements.
In terms of inter-promotion,
= the state of wood promoting fire corresponds to the state of the liver promoting the heart because liver-blood can nourish heart-spirit;
= the state of fire promoting earth corresponds to the state of the heart promoting the spleen because heart-spirit can regulate the transporting and transforming functions of the spleen;
= the state of earth promoting metal corresponds to the state of the spleen promoting the lung because the spleen can transports and transforms food nutrients to nourish the lung;
= the state of metal promoting water corresponds to the state of the lung promoting the kidney because the lung depurates and descends qi to help the kidney receive qi;
= the state of water promoting wood corresponds to the state of the kidney promoting the liver because kidney-yin can nourish liver-yin.
In terms of inter-restraint,
= the state of wood restraining earth corresponds to the state of the liver restraining the spleen because liver-qi relieves stagnation of spleen-earth to bring the transporting and transforming functions of the spleen into full play;
= the state of earth restraining water corresponds to the state of the spleen restraining the kidney because the spleen governs metabolism of water to prevent edema due to abnormal flow of kidney-water;
= the state of water restraining fire corresponds to the state of the kidney restraining the heart because sufficient kidney-yin can assist the heart to control hyperactivity of heart-fire;
= the state of fire restraining metal corresponds to the state of the heart restraining the lung because the warmth of heart-yang can prevent lung-qi from excessively depurating and descending;
= the state of metal restraining wood corresponds to the state of the lung restraining the liver because lung-qi depurates and descends to prevent liver-qi from excessively ascending.
The mystery of existence is the connection between our faults and our misfortunes.
- Madame de Stael
9 comments:
Master Goh,
a)Sometimes, instead of DM getting sick due to overly inter restrain/inter promotion, family members get affected. How do we read who actually will get sick?
b)And so, Strong DM will die of over promotion sickness, weak DM will die of over restrain sickness?
Karen
Karen,
a) On this matter, you need to consider the Palace & the Deity simultaneously.
For instane, Resource Deity represents mother & Month Pillar represents, also, represents mother (& parents).
Hence, in the event where the Resource Deity is located in Month Pillar & is under severe attacked, it could be the mother that get sick.
By saying so, we have to bear in mind that there are so many representations by each of the deity, element & pillar. Hence, at times, it is quite difficult to pinpoint precisely which person will get sick.
Sometimes, we need to consider the age of the DM. In general, if he/she is young, it is quite unlikely that the DM is the unlucky one.
Karen,
b) You are pointed to one of the possibilities.
However, we can't examine the death or illness in this mannar.
Put it in correct perspective, as long as the harmonious relationship is destroyed, the person would suffered from illness. DM needs not involved in it.
Hello Master Goh,
Can you please elaborate on what you mean by " free development" and "freedom":
Wood is characterized by "free development" while the liver prefers "freedom" to stagnation
Why is wood = liver? I thought wood = limbs, hair.
Thank You.
TomT,
Try spending some times observing the trees in the garden. Trees (ie wood) need space to grow. Both the branches and roots are alike. No matter how hard the ground may be, the roots would still penetrate deep in.
Both the wood & liver share the same characteristics.
Liver ensures the smooth flow of the blood & qi within the body. If the flow is blocked, we can feel bloated and blood stagnate in the chest. Hence, liver prefers freedom (ie smooth flow).
In addition to limbs & hairs, liver & gall bladder also represented by the wood elements.
Hi
the word control is often misleading.Ie: Output controls power - i dont control my superiors, they control me, thats why i try to avoid them, but it would be wrong to say i control them, just because output controls power.
Also, if i love my girl, she becomes output, not wealth. The moment i control her, she is wealth
Any comments appreciated
Paul
Paul,
Pertaining to the first part of your comments on the controlling relationship between Proper Authority Deity & Output Deity, I do agree that we (being the subordinates) do not 'control' the superiors.
BUT, don't forget Superior is responsible & accountable to higher authority for the performances of his/her subordinates. In this respect, Output Deity controls Proper Authority Deity (the superior) connotes our behaviours & speeches (represented by Output Deity) does affect our Superior (ie Proper Authority Deity).
If the energy of Output Deity is of equal strength with that of Proper Authority Deity, the relationship is healthy.
If, however, the energy of output deity is very much more stronger than the Proper Authority Deity, I would considered that as the threats, stress or burden or trouble to the superior.
We don't control our superior in that sense :)
Paul,
As for the 2nd part of your comments, who can tell me why ancient scholars assigned Wealth Deity as Wife to a Male DM & Proper Authority Deity as Husband to a Female DM?
Hi Master Goh and Paul,
From what I heard, in ancient China,wife is considered “an item”/”an asset” to the husband. The more wives/concubines, the wealthier the man.Wife, thus was assigned Wealth Deity to a Male.
As an asset, the wife was being managed by the husband. Thus, to the wife, her husband was the Proper Authority Deity.
But in the age of ‘house husbands’, some cultures where women are the head of households, homosexual marriages, do you think this concept is still applicable?
Karen
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