4-2. Basic Theory – Five Elements

Five Elements

The Five Elements are a measure to examine one’s body balance, similar to “Qi,” “Blood,” and “Water.” Originally, the Five Elements classify nature using five representative substances in the natural world: “Wood,” “Fire,” “Earth,” “Metal,” and “Water.” This concept is applied to the human body and classified into five categories known as the “Five Zang (Organs),” which are divided into Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys.

• Wood (Mu): The Wood element represents growth, expansion, and vitality. It is associated with the Liver and Gallbladder organs, the color green, the season of spring, and the emotion of anger. The Wood element governs planning, vision, and flexibility.
• Fire (Huo): The Fire element represents warmth, enthusiasm, and transformation. It is associated with the heart and small intestine organs, the color red, the season of summer, and the emotion of joy. The Fire element governs relationships, communication, and creativity.
• Earth (Tu): The Earth element represents stability, nourishment, and grounding. It is associated with the spleen and stomach organs, the color yellow, the season of late summer, and the emotion of sympathy or worry. The Earth element governs digestion, nurturing, and the sense of stability.
• Metal (Jin): The Metal element represents structure, clarity, and organization. It is associated with the lungs and large intestine organs, the color white, the season of autumn, and the emotion of grief or sadness. The Metal element governs respiration, elimination, and the ability to let go.
• Water (Shui): The Water element represents fluidity, adaptability, and wisdom. It is associated with the kidneys and bladder organs, the color blue or black, the season of winter, and the emotion of fear or calmness. The Water element governs circulation, reproduction, and the capacity to conserve and store energy.