The Five Elements
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — the moving patterns behind every I Ching correspondence.
→ generatesFire
⇢ controlsEarth
Generated by Water
Controlled by Metal
Direction
東East東南Southeast
Season
春Spring初夏Early Summer
Early SpringSpring EmergenceSpring Expansion
→ generatesEarth
⇢ controlsMetal
Generated by Wood
Controlled by Water
Peak ExpressionSummer Ascent
→ generatesMetal
⇢ controlsWater
Generated by Fire
Controlled by Wood
Direction
西南Southwest東北Northeast
Season
長夏Late Summer初冬Early Winter
→ generatesWater
⇢ controlsWood
Generated by Earth
Controlled by Fire
Direction
西北Northwest西West
Season
晚秋Late Autumn秋Autumn
Autumn DescentAutumn Refinement
→ generatesWood
⇢ controlsFire
Generated by Metal
Controlled by Earth
Phases of transition
Winter Consolidation
Water