Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics
The Five Elements and Their Characteristics
Another extremely important concept in Chinese astrology is the concept of the five elements - wood, earth, fire, water and metal. This differs from the Western concept of the elements, which is air, fire, water and earth. Elemental representations are used extensively in Feng Shui as "cures", and each animal sign is accompanied by a yearly element as well. For example we are now in the year of the Wood or Green Monkey.
A brief description of each element is:
- Wood - The wood element represents the creative force of nature and all things green and growing. It is associated with Spring and new life, and the colors green and blue. Wood people are creative, strong and resilient - seeking growth and new creation in all that they do. All flowers, plants, trees, and things made of wood represent this element. The natural shape representing wood is rectangular.
- Earth - The earth element nurtures all that we do, and represents solidity and grounding. Earth people are firm and resolute - we can say they are "down to Earth" - just like in Western astrology. They are also practical, hard working and very conservative. The color for earth is yellow, just like the loess soil of central China. Natural stones, rocks, tiles, bricks, and flat or rectangular shapes represent the earth element
- Metal - Metal symbolizes autumn, and the tools used in the harvest and reaping of produce. The evening also represents the metal element - with the golden sunset. Metal people are forceful, strong and determined - and can often be driven by a need to succeed. All round shapes, knives, jewelry, and tools represent the metal element.
- Fire - Fire is very similar to the Western astrological definition, and symbolizes the life force. It is an element of summer, and of the south. Optimism, enthusiasm and motivation are governed by fire, as is anger and war. Fire people are quite intelligent, impulsive, fervent, and dynamic - true leaders. The colors of Fire are orange and red, and the shape associated with fire is triangular. Stoves, candles, and hearths all represent the fire element.
- Water - Also similar to the Western definition, water represents emotions and emotional depth. Water is considered cleansing in Chinese astrology, and governs all forms of communications and travel as well. Water people are fluent, have deep feelings and often strong intuitions or psychic powers as well. The colors of water are blue and black, and this element is represented by any irregular or wavy shape. Fountains, fish ponds, aquariums, and tinkling bells all represent the water element.
Each animal also has a predominate natural element assigned to it - compatibility between this natural element and the yearly element is a key factor in determining whether a year will be auspicious or not. It is also very important to understand how the elements relate to each other by looking at the cycle of construction and destruction, as follows:
Constructive Elemental CycleIn the constructive cycle, we say that wood creates fire which creates earth and so forth. This uses the positive manifestations of each of the elements and shows basic compatibility. For instance, a person born in a wood year would have an elemental compatibility with a water or fire year. In the reverse, water puts out fire, which destroys metal, which chops wood, which depletes the earth, which is washed away by water. Two elements next to each other in this cycle are NOT compatible. Pages 16 and 17 of your text detail these cycles as well, and also discuss the concept of a buffer element - if an element is in between two destructive elements it can lessen their impact.
Wood -> Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water -> WoodDestructive Elemental Cycle
Water -> Fire -> Metal -> Wood -> Earth -> Water
