The Five Elements Theory is an important part of ancient Chinese philosophical thought, which originated from the concept of nature and philosophy in ancient China, and runs through many fields such as traditional Chinese medicine, I Ching, and agriculture. The Five Elements Theory was first found in the Zhou Yi and is regarded as one of the core theories of ancient Chinese philosophy. The five elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which not only represent the five forms of matter, but also contain corresponding relationships. Gold begets water, water begets wood, wood begets fire, fire begets earth, and earth begets gold, and this generative relationship constitutes the internal connection and mutual checks and balances between the five elements. The relationship between the five elements and mutual restraint reflects the unique concept of the correlation between things in nature in ancient China.
First of all, let's take a look at the connotations and correspondence of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Gold represents convergence, storage, and solidity; Wood represents growth, expansion, and straightening; Water represents flow, washing, and cold; Fire represents heat, upward, and brilliance; Soil represents stability, thickness, and fertility. These correspondences do not stop at the material form, but extend to the human organs, emotions, climate, time, color, and other aspects.
Next, let's take a look at the organs, emotions, climate, time, color and other contents corresponding to gold. The corresponding organ of gold is the lungs, the mood is sad, the climate is dry, the time is night, and the color is white. The main qi of the lungs, and the corresponding emotional sorrow is just like the connotation contained in the solidity of gold. In terms of climate, dryness is compatible with the astringent properties of gold. Evening is the time when the lung meridian qi is at its most vigorous, so the time corresponding to gold is night. The color of gold is white, and it is also associated with the lung meridians.
Then, let's take a look at the organs, emotions, climate, time, color, and other things corresponding to wood. The corresponding organ of wood is the liver, the mood is anger, the climate is humid, the time is early in the morning, and the color is cyan. The liver is the master of excretion, and anger is the internal manifestation of this excretion. The humid climate is matched by vigorous wood. Early morning is the time when the liver meridian qi is most vigorous, so the corresponding time of wood is early morning. Cyan is associated with the liver meridian and also expresses the properties of wood.
Next, let's take a look at the organs, emotions, climate, time, and color of water. The water corresponds to the kidneys, the emotions are fear, the climate is cold, the time is night, and the color is black. The kidneys are the main ones that store the essence and energy, and fear often hurts the kidneys. The cold climate is in harmony with the flow characteristics of the water. Night is the time when the kidney meridian qi is at its most vigorous, so the time corresponding to water is night. The color black is associated with the kidney meridian and also expresses the properties of water.
Finally, let's take a look at the organs, moods, climates, time, colors, and so on. The organ corresponding to the fire is the heart, the emotion is joy, the climate is hot, the time is noon, and the color is red. The heart is the god, and joy is the expression of the heart. The hot climate is in harmony with the upward nature of fire. Noon is the time when the heart meridian qi is at its most vigorous, so the time corresponding to fire is noon. The color red is associated with the Heart Sutra and also expresses the properties of fire.
The theory of the five elements runs through the diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine, and through the understanding of the five elements, it helps Chinese medicine doctors to better grasp the condition and find the appropriate method. The organs, emotions, climate, time, colors and other contents corresponding to the five elements also have a certain enlightening effect on our lives, helping us to better regulate our bodies and emotions and conform to the laws of nature.