The Five Elements and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Stay in Hong Kong long enough as an expat, and after talking to your local friends about healthcare and wellness, you’ll inevitably start becoming more holistic and looking into traditional Chinese medicine for overall health. Here is a HK-Cityguide with the fundamentals of how nature’s five elements relate to your body’s balance and wellbeing.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical discipline that encompasses several Chinese philosophy such as the Five Elements (五行), Yin and Yang (陰陽) and Qi (氣). These concepts combine into a framework that explains the world around us, ranging from the colours we find in nature, the emotions we experience as people, to the seasons of the year.
It provides ways for TCM practitioners to approach the well-being of its patients with a completely different vantage point. In modern western medicine, the approach of TCM is now referred to as integrative medicine and it is better understood by the world.
According to the ancient Chinese text the Shang Shu (尚書/The Book of Documents), the Five Elements are Water (水), Fire (火), Wood (木), Metal (金) and Earth(土). In Chinese culture, it is believed that every object in the universe consists of a flow of Qi – the vital energy that runs through all of nature – and belongs to one of the elements mentioned above.
It is essential to understand the Five Elements are not permanently in a stable state of existence, rather they are always in mutual transformation in a fluid manner. The relationship between the Five Elements theory is complex, as one element can be the adversary of another, while being the element that enhances or fosters others at the same time.
Additionally, the Chinese letter Xing (行 / phase) indicates the dynamic and codependent state of existence. Therefore, all of the Five Elements share equal importance, especially when it comes to achieving balance within our bodies.
Water
The Water Element is believed to be the first element of the five. It is raised by the Metal Element and gives rise to the Wood Element, while countering against the Fire Element (金生水，水生木，水剋火).
According to the Shang Shu, Water is characterised as the element of descending, coolness, fostering and closeness (水曰潤下作鹹). In TCM theory, saltiness belongs to the Water Element and fear is the corresponding emotion. It is the main element of Winter.
Body parts such as the waist and hips are vulnerable to its influence. And this is why the Shang Shu describes this element as descending, as it moves down to the lower body parts.
Fire
The Fire Element is the second element. It is raised by the Wood Element and gives rise to the Earth Element. while being countered by the Water element (木生火，火生土，水剋火).
According to the Shang Shu, Fire is characterised as the element of ascending and warmness (火曰炎上作苦). In TCM theory, the bitter taste belongs to the Fire Element, while joy is the element’s corresponding emotion. It is the main element of summer.
Body parts such as the chest and ribs are vulnerable to its influence. And this is why the Shang Shu describes this element as ascending, as it moves upwards to upper body parts.
Wood
The Wood Element is the third element. It is raised by the Wood element and gives rise to the Fire Element while countering the Wood Element (水生木，木生火，金剋木).
According to the Shang Shu, Wood is characterised as the element of growth, smoothness and ascending (木曰曲直作酸). In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, sourness belongs to the Wood element and anger is the corresponding emotion. It is the main element of spring.
Body parts such as the liver and eyes are vulnerable to its influence. The Shang Shu describes this element as ascending; just like the Fire Element, it moves upwards to upper body parts.
Metal
The Metal Element is the fourth element. It is raised by the Earth Element and gives rise to the Water Element while being countered by the Fire Element (土生金，金生水，火剋金).
According to the Shang Shu, Metal is characterised as the element of renewal, collection and consolidation (金曰從革作辛). In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, spiciness belongs to the Metal element and sadness is the corresponding emotion. It is the main element of spring.
Body parts such as the lungs and skins are vulnerable to its influence. The Shang Shu classifies this element ascending, residing mainly in the upper part of the body.
Earth
The Earth Element is the fifth element. It is raised by the Fire element and gives rise to the Metal element, while being countered by the Wood Element (火生土，土生金，木剋土).
According to the Shang Shu, Earth is characterised as the element of birth, carrying, nurturing and acceptance (土爰(曰)稼穡作甘). In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, sweetness belongs to the Earth Element and anxiety is the corresponding emotion. It is the main element of late summer (長夏), which is the last 18 days of summer. Thus, we can see the deep connection between the Fire and Earth elements.
Body parts like the spine are vulnerable to its influence.This echoes with Shang Shu’s description of the element since the spine is there to erect the body, similar to how the Earth is there to support everything.
