The Five Elements Theory (Wuxing 五行 ) (Wuxing 五行 )

Yin Yang Interaction Five elements

Wu 五 : Xing 行 : Five Movement changes 《说文解字》： “ 五行也，从二，阴阳在天地间交舞也。 ”

The Five Elements Theory A cognition tool To explain and analyze all things and their changes in the natural world

Five Elements  Functional properties of five basic materials  Classification of functional properties of things & phenomena into five categories  Each element is a symbol that represents a category of related functions and properties

Categorization of things  Wood  Fire  Earth  Metal  Water

Assigns abstract generalizations Five elements CharacteristicsAbstracted properties & Extended implications Wood 木曰曲直 germination, extension, softness, and harmony Flexing, extending, growth, free development. Fire 火曰炎上 heat and flaringWarm, heat, ascending, brightness. Earth 土曰稼樯 growing, nourishing, and changing Reception, cultivation, transformation. Metal 金曰从革 cleaning up, killing, strength, and firmness Change, purifying, astringency. Water 水曰润下 cold, moisture, and downward flowing Moistening, downward movement, cold, coolness, closure, storage.

8 木曰曲直 wood can be flexed and extended property of growing, developing and flourishing

9 火曰炎上 fire flames up property of warmth, heat, ascending

10 土爰稼穑 Earth provides for sowing and reaping property of generating, holding and receiving

11 金曰从革 Metal works for change property of clearing, descending and astringing

12 水曰润下 water moistens and flows downward property of cold and coolness, moistening, downward going

Process of categorization Compare Image Properties Function Abstract properties of the five elements Categorization

Explaining changes Use the interrelationship of the five elements to:  (1) Explain Interrelationships and changes of all things and phenomena  (2) Explain interrelationships of the parts in a system

Interactions  Inter-generation  Inter-restraint  Over restraint  Counter restraint Normal Abnormal

Inter-generation Interactions Water Earth Fire Metal Inter-restraint Wood

Inter-generation 相生 WoodFire Promoting Generating Mother Child

Inter-restraint 相克 Control Restraint Water Fire Dominator Submitter

Control Restraint Water Fire Wood Generate

Harmonious relationship Inter-generation Inter-restraint Harmonious balance

Contrast & Compliment Inter- generation Inter- restraint

Over restraint 相乘 Causes: (1) One element becomes too powerful (Dominator) (2) One element becomes weak (Submitter)

Counter restraint 相侮 Cause: (1) One element becomes very powerful (Submitter) (2) One element becomes too weak (Dominator)

Inter-restraint Normal Restraint Dominator Submitter EarthWood Earth Wood Restraint Counter Earth Wood Restraint Over Normal Abnormal

Inter-generation of abnormality 母子相及 Mother Child Mutual involvement of mother & child

Applications  Physiology  Pathology  Diagnosis  Treatment

Physiological applications 1. Explaining functions of the five organ systems (Zang) 2. Explaining the interrelationships among the five organ systems (Zang)

Functions of Zang The physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang (organ systems) are classified according to the attributes of the five elements

The five elements & five zangs Five elements Characteristics of element Characteristics of zang (Organ systems) Five zangs (Organ systems) Wood Free developmentFreedom from stagnation (flow of Qi) Gan (Liver) Fire Hot, tends to flame upHeart yang warms the body Xin (Heart) Earth Receives and generates Transforms food into nutrients. Source of Qi & blood Pi (spleen) Metal Clearing, Depurates & astringes clearing and descending properties Fei (Lung) Water moistening & flowing downward. Stores essence, manages water metabolism Shen (Kidney)

Inter-generating Intrinsic relationships among five zangs 肾 Sheng Water Kidney 脾 Pi Earth Spleen 心 Xin Fire Heart 肺 Fei Metal Lung 肝 Gan Wood Liver Inter-restraint

Pathological application 1. Abnormal inter-restraint Over restraint Counter restraint 2. Inter-generation of abnormality Mother organ system to child organ system Child organ system to mother organ system

Over restraint 相乘 肾 Sheng Kidney 脾 Pi Spleen 心 Xin Heart 肺 Fei Lung 肝 Gan Liver Over restraint

脾 Pi Spleen 肝 Gan Liver Over active Weaken attacking

Counter restraint 相侮 肾 Sheng Kidney 脾 Pi Spleen 心 Xin Heart 肺 Fei Lung 肝 Gan Liver Normal restraint Counter restraint

Counter restraint 相侮 肝 Gan Liver 肺 Fei Lung Normal restraint Counter restraint Invades

Inter-generating Intrinsic relationships among five zangs 肾 Sheng Kidney 脾 Pi Spleen 心 Xin Heart 肺 Fei Lung 肝 Gan Liver Inter-restraint

肝 Gan Liver Inter-generation of abnormality Mother to Child 心 Xin Heart 肝 Gan Liver 心 Xin Heart Normal Abnormal Normal Abnormal

Inter-generation of abnormality 肝 Gan Liver 肾 Sheng Kidney Child to Mother Normal Abnormal Normal 肾 Sheng Kidney 肝 Gan Liver

Application in diagnosis  Normal manifestation of diseases  Abnormal manifestation of diseases

Normal manifestation ElementsFlavorColorPulseDiseased Zang WoodSourGreenTautGan (Liver) FireBitterRedFullXin (Heart) EarthSweetYellowSlowPi (Spleen) MetalAcrid （ pungent) WhiteFloatingFei (Lung) WaterSaltyBlackDeepShen (Kidney)

Abnormal manifestation SweetYellowSlow Pulse Spleen Deficiency SourGreenTaut Pulse Spleen disease transmitted from liver

Therapeutic application Control transmission of disease 1. Over restraint 2. Counter restraint 3. Mutual involvement of mother and child element Decide therapeutic principle 1. Inter-generation 2. Inter-restraint

Inter-generating Control transmission 肾 Sheng 脾 Pi 心 Xin 肺 Fei 肝 Gan Inter-restraint Over restraint Counter restraint Mutual involvement of mother and child element

Establish therapeutic principle Using inter-generation relationship 1. Deficiency syndrome Tonifying the mother element 2. Excessive syndrome Purging the child element

Establish therapeutic principle Using inter-restraint relationship 脾 Pi 肝 Gan Strong Purging Weak Tonifying Over restraint