The attributes corresponding to the five elements in China.

I. Origin of the Five Elements:

In Daoist cosmology, the Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) are not just physical entities but also five dynamic energy patterns of the intrinsic primordial qi (life energy).

The generation and restriction of the Five Elements originate from the theory of the origin of the universe in the "Tao Te Ching" ("Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things").

The generation process is as follows: ·Chaos: From Wuji to Taiji, Yin and Yang are generated.·

Manifestation of the Five Elements: Yin and Yang engender each other. The Five Elements are formed. All things thrive and grow.

(The "Laozi" makes its point clearly at the very beginning: "The Five Elements each have their proper positions, and mountains and rivers have forms.")

Dynamic balance: The generation and restriction among the Five Elements maintain the cosmic cycle (such as seasons and the alternation of day and night).

II. Generation and Restraint:

The Daoist response principle uses the relationship between the Five Elements in Daoist families to explain the relationship between natural laws and human destiny: Principles and examples of Daoist practice.

Generation: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood.

Alchemy: "Fire refines metal into elixir." (Fire engenders Earth, Earth engenders Metal.)

Restriction: Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal → Wood.

Fengshui: "Water restrains fire" to neutralize persistent energy (Water restrains fire).

Imbalance in reverse restraint can lead to reverse restraint (for example, flood is "water restraining earth").

Medicines: "Excessive liver fire injures lung metal." It is treated by nourishing yin and cooling fire.

Note: Daoism emphasizes "harmony and moderation", and uses rituals, talismans or inner cultivation to balance the disharmony of elements.

III. Five Elements and Inner Elixir:

The Realm World of the Body. Daoist inner elixir practice correlates the Five Elements with organs and spiritual stages.

  1. Organs: 
  2.  | Wood → Liver (holds the hun and po souls).
  3. | Fire → Heart (holds the shen and po souls).
  4.  | Earth → Spleen (holds prayers).
  5.  | Metal → Lung (holds the po soul).
  6.  | Water → Kidney (carries essential qi)
  7. Huang Jingting: "The Five Elements generate each other and return to one; three and five combine for a nine-fold cycle."
  8. Alchemy process：
  9. Refinement into Qi (Water → Fire) → Refining Qi into Spirit (Wood → Metal) → Refining Spirit into Emptiness (the Five Elements combine with the Dao).
  10.  The Five Elements in Rituals: Daoist magic uses the power of the Five Elements as energy to guide Daoist rituals and talismans: 
  11.  • Five-sided flags:
  12. |East - Green (Wood).
  13.  |South - Red (Fire).
  14. |Center - Yellow (Earth).
  15. |West - White (Metal). 
  16. |North - Black (Water).•
  17. Stepping Star Ceremony: Priests walk in the pattern of the Five Elements (for example, flood steps for disasters related to water).
  18. • Elemental evasion techniques:
  19. Wood Element Evasion: Hiding among plants.
  20. Fire Evasion: Disappear into tobacco.
  21. Earth Evasion: Travel through underground.
  22. Metal Solution: Combine with finance.
  23. Water Evasion: Dive into the river.
  24. Baopuzi (embrace the teacher of simplicity): "The way of the Five Elements connects to the sacred power; when inspired, people hold awe."
  25. Five Elements and Nature: Daoist Ecological Ethics. Daoism regards the Five Elements as ecological principles guiding sustainable coexistence.
  26. •Lunar calendar:
  27. Spring sowing (growth of wood).
  28.  | Summer flourishing (peak of fire).
  29. | Autumn harvest (contraction of metal).
  30. | Winter storage (tranquility of water).
  31.  | Earth nourishes between the four seasons.。
  32. • Sacred animals:
  33.  |Azure Dragon (Wood)|
  34.  |Vermilion Bird (Fire)|
  35.  |Yellow Dragon (Earth)|
  36.  |White Tiger (Metal)|
  37. |Black Tortoise (Water)| 
  38. • Disaster interpretation: Earthquakes indicate "the collapse of earth qi".
  39. Wildfires reflect "vigorous fire".
  40. | Flood performance "Water's Disorder".
  41. Conclusion: The modern significance of the Five Elements. The Daoist Five Elements theory transcends simple materialism and provides a dynamic framework for understanding complex systems (such as the body, society, and ecology). It emphasizes interconnection, transformation, and balance, resonating with modern holistic sciences ranging from traditional Chinese medicine to environmental studies.
  42. It emphasizes interconnection, transformation and balance, resonating with modern holistic sciences ranging from traditional Chinese medicine to environmental studies.
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