Wu Xing

The five- element theory (Ch =五行Wuxing Five Phases, Japanese五行Gogyo, Korean O Haeng 오행 ) is a Daoist theory to describe nature. The five- element theory examines the principles that determine the run dynamics ( changes ) in the realm of the living, that emphasizes becoming, transformation and passing away. The five elements of wood, fire, metal, water and earth are derived directly from nature. From their ( abstract ) properties it is concluded that the relationship between earth and heaven and man within these spheres.

The long tradition of five- element theory works in the Chinese philosophy and is of importance in Shiatsu, Feng Shui, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Qigong. Other effects it has in traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM), acupuncture and holistic approaches of modern Western medicine.

Buddhism knows the elements of earth, water, fire, air and void as the Five Elements. This doctrine differs from the Daoist. The ancient Greek philosophy developed the four- element theory with the elements of air, fire, water and earth, and partly to the airwaves as the quintessence of the fifth element.

The five elements

The doctrine is rooted in the traditional Chinese philosophy. After that, leave all things in the five large ( assumed) basic elements ( Xing ) divide. These five elements are not static, but are subject to constant change and transformation and are in a producing and consuming relationship. In this, the environment and the laws of nature can be traced back. In this sense, the basic elements are to be regarded as phases of change or action qualities. In the Shang Dynasty (about 1600-1046 BC ) them the five directions, north, south, east, west and center have been assigned. With this increasingly ( assigned ) on all sides meaning and effect were added to each additional five properties or states in which the human being, the nature of the heavens and the earth are.

The interaction of these elements results in a process flow, which is described as a cycle, and applied to a variety of processes in the area of the organic, for example, in the human body, in the character of customer, in astrology or in organizations, such as a business or in politics.

Spiritual background

Questions and methodology of the five- element theory is very similar to the I Ching, the Book of Changes. Both are on the common spiritual background of Taoism.

As in the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu is in the five- element theory, the Dao, the monistic creative function of a large, self- unnamable and occurs as the realization principle accessible only as a complementary dualism in appearance: as Yin and Yang. Generate these two, as described in the article to the I Ching, by doubling the four Hsia and by tripling the eight Gua, the eight trigrams. The Earth as changing quality is ascribed to both dual Poland ( Yin and Yang ), the four Hsia the other four elements (see: Cosmological arrangement ).

In Daoism, all statements about reality as a symbol and not as reality itself apply. Therefore, there is no exclusive claim for its validity, it can quite a number of statements and theories (here, the I Ching and the five- element theory ) exist side by side, one changes depending on the application informally between them. This approach appears to us in Western thought often problematic, but is still practiced: the calculation of the tide on the moon conditions and the description of the times of the day after the sun's path is of course the Earth as a reference point in the middle, though the geocentric world view has long been refuted. Just about classical physics has its defined scope and has become obsolete not by relativity theory and quantum theory.

Cyclic arrangement

The five elements represent Phases of processes or action qualities dar. It is therefore not elements in terms of ingredients, but to aspects of a dynamic sequence, which is experienced as cyclical and usually presented in a five divided circle clockwise. The idea of organic processes as cyclical does not mean a steady, monotonous repetition, but also includes a ( usually linear thought in the West ) Evolution: each pass of the cyclical process of changing the starting position for the next run.

The changing phases in the process are often clear at the season Consequently, water is at the bottom as a calming starting point and essential part of any dynamics, and corresponds to the winter. Wood follows as preparatory, expanding phase, spring (pre). Fire is the culmination of the action itself; it is for the summer. Earth is (about the metamorphosis towards the fruiting ) and late summer for the changing aspect that causes the cyclical process of evolution. Metal concentrates and textured the action, this ensures the effect of the action, according to the ripening in the fall. The rejoins the resting phase (water ) to.

Nährungszyklus

In the discussed order ( cyclically clockwise) the elements feed each other, which gives birth to an element the other element, they are like the mother to the child in the relationship.

Weakening cycle

Each element is developed by weakening his predecessor's Nährungszyklus (cyclic relation counterclockwise). This corresponds to the relationship grandmother - grandchild, the child's mother weakens the grandmother.

Control cycle

Deficiency or excess of one of the five elements of the process under consideration would disrupt the process as a whole or its wearer damage ( a living organism ). Controlling procedures can not be done arbitrarily, without disturbing the process. Rather, the inherent laws should also be considered in the process control from the outside:

The control relation is therefore a pentagram in a circle, caused by the fact that each element acts on his second successor.

Injury cycle

The opposite relation ( on the pre-predecessor ) is described as destructive, hurtful.

Cosmological arrangement

A less well-known in the West arrangement of the five elements is obtained if the principle of changing the earth moves into the center of the wheel and the remaining four items on two orthogonal axes are arranged:

• Vertical: water below (large Yin, statics) - Fire up ( big Yang, dynamics)
• Horizontal: Wood left (small Yang, expansion) - metal right ( small yin, contraction)

This exploratory quaternio is the working principle of the process instead of the process dynamics, even in the center of focus, and thus resembles the orthogonal Western conceptual systems that are used for orientation (example: four- element theory, Compass Rose, Cartesian coordinate system, Four Seasons). In traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM), the vertical axis is as constitutional, the horizontal called situational.

Projection

Both representations ( cyclic and cosmic ) can be used as two different planar projection possibilities one and the same spatial pyramid are considered ( with the earth at the top and an apex angle of 36 degrees). This property shows that both planar representations alternatively not next to each other, but ( three-dimensional) can be constructively transformed into each other (see the two arrangements of the eight trigrams "old heaven" and " new heaven " in the I Ching )

Assignments, analogies

The five elements is associated with a variety of other terms that are comprehensible only in their specific experience environment to some extent. The best known is probably the assignment to forms and colors:

The list of other analogies is virtually unlimited. The formation always takes place with the five senses, the (basic ) elements are five seasons associated with five directions, five flavors, five emotions, five weather conditions, five landforms, five planets, five relationships, five tones in music ( pentatonic ). A similar analogy is also the basis of Chinese medicine. The Fuwa (福 娃, Fuwa ), the mascot of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the series of analogies has been extended.

Wu Xing - assignment by Grand Master Wu Jue Gong

After a very old Chinese tradition, the five elements / conversion phases are assigned ( "Overview of Phases (5 elements - Wu Xing ) by Grand Master Wu Jue Gong " ) partly different and much more extensive correspondences. A distinction is made according to the knowledge or the tradition of the "Old Heaven " and the " New Heaven ". The old knowledge of mankind, earth and cosmos was therefore distorted as a result of the transition and could only be preserved in a sacred place until today.

Five Element theory in Japan

In Japan, there is an alternative version of the five - element theory, which of the four " Western" elements " earth ", " water ", " fire " and " wind / air " uses and adds a fifth the "void / ether". This form of the five- element theory also appears in Tibetan medicine.

This five- element theory is used by Miyamoto Musashi in Gorin no Sho, The Book of Five Rings. It is for the Japanese martial arts of importance, especially for the art of fencing.

"Five Element theory " in the West

In ancient times, a similarly structured teaching that continues to resonate today in the West developed. Aristotle added to the usual in ancient Greek four elements of water, fire, earth and air or the ether added, which was later referred to as quintessence (from Latin quinta essentia, literally " fifth beings " ) and in alchemy a special role played.