Library

The Five Elements refer to Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth. Why are they called "Xing" (Moving/Proceeding)? Because the Qi of these five moves through the space between Heaven and Earth, thereby miraculously transforming and exquisitely generating all things. The ancients correlated the Five Elements with Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, with the Eight Trigrams (Bagua), with the Four Directions, the Four Seasons, as well as the body, Zang-Fu organs, sounds, colors, and odors. There was no correlation that was not made, discussed repeatedly, and seen often. However, regarding the principles of mutual generation and restriction, according to medical theory, there are often inconsistencies. Who can say there is no doubt? Yet, can we simply preserve this doubt without inquiry?

Therefore, Zhao Yangkui said: People all say Water restricts Fire, but I alone say Water nourishes Fire. People all say Metal generates Water, but I alone say Water generates Metal. People all say Earth restricts Water, but I alone tonify Earth within Water. People all say Wood restricts Earth, but I alone raise Wood Qi to cultivate Earth. What is meant by Water restricting Fire refers to the postnatal, tangible Water and Fire. What is meant by Water nourishing Fire refers to the prenatal, intangible Water and Fire. Gold in the sea does not adhere to Earth; when washed, it requires only sand and gravel, not smelting. Human voice is governed by Lung Metal; its clarity or turbidity, lightness or heaviness originates from the Dantian. Furthermore, Lung Metal Qi returns and stores itself in Kidney Water during sleep at night. If there is Fire in the Kidney, Metal fears the heat and dares not return; if there is no Fire in the Kidney, Metal fears the cold and also dares not return. Therefore, when Qi rushes upward from below the navel, this is due to Kidney deficiency failing to grasp Qi and return it to its source.

Earth is divided into Kun Earth and Gen Earth. Kun Earth is generated by Li Fire, while Gen Earth is born from Kan Water. Whenever dampness prevails causing swelling and fullness, if dredging fails, one can control it by tonifying Earth. If there is cold-type diarrhea or profuse watery stool, one must tonify the Ministerial Fire of the Gate of Life (Mingmen) so that Fire can generate Earth. When Earth is strong, it has the capacity to control Water; Yang can transform Yin, and Yin transforms into turbid urine which is then separated and excreted.

Wood relies on Earth for growth; how could there be a principle of restriction? Only when Earth is stagnant in the upper part does its root (Wood) restrict downwards. Thunder shakes it, Wind disperses it, Rain moistens it, and Sunlight warms it, allowing natural vitality to flourish. Once entering the Dui trigram (Autumn), Gen stops it, and Kun stores it, serving as the foundation for next spring's germination. How can one wish to chop it down just because it restricts Earth? Moreover, among the Five Elements' generation and restriction, only Wood lacks harsh governance. Even if it possesses the power to destroy ruined walls and broken wells, knowing it takes many Jiazi cycles, yet due to a Wood disease lasting only one or two days, one claims it restricts Earth and immediately chops it down?

Bu Chen Zi said: People only say Water generates Wood, not knowing Earth also generates Wood. People only say Earth generates Metal, not knowing Fire also generates Metal. People only say Fire generates Earth, not knowing Earth becomes Earth by itself. People only say Metal generates Water, not knowing Water is generated by Earth. The sprouting of Wood is Qi, it is Spring ascending Qi, it is Yang Qi, it is Yuan Qi (Original Qi), it is Stomach Qi; they originate from the same source but have different names. Although it grows with Water, if there is no Earth to cultivate it, Water will flourish while Wood withers. Observing the formulas Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) and Xiaoyao San (Free Wander Powder), it can be generally seen that nourishing Water is less effective than soothing Earth.

Metal in ore cannot be extracted without Fire; once extracted, it cannot form vessels without Fire. It neither restricts Wood nor fears Fire. Thus, in the Luoshu, Fire 7 resides in the West, Metal 9 resides in the South, refining and shaping its substance. Therefore, most decoctions for nourishing the Heart are actually Lung medicines; this is not only Metal generating Earth but also regulating the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifying Fire for deficient Earth aims to warm and nurture all things; the concept of "generation" cannot be discarded. Imagining from ancient times to now, under the same Heaven and Earth, what gain or loss is there? If changes occur like vicissitudes, it is merely moving East to West, not derived from generation and transformation. Using pottery as an analogy strays far from truth. Generation is from non-existence to existence; transformation is from existence to non-existence; huasheng (transformative generation) is non-existence returning to existence. Vessels are indeed formed by Fire, but essentially are clay molds; saying Fire generates Stone seems plausible. As for Earth? Regarding Jia-Ji transforming into Earth, Wu-Gui transforming into Fire secretly generating Earth, Zhu Xi said: At the beginning of chaos, where was Earth? Since Heaven One generates Water, where Water condenses becomes Earth. Hard becomes Stone, hardest becomes Metal, rising up becomes Mountain, thus Mountains have the shape of water waves. Then Mercury, Cinnabar, Coal, Gypsum, Green Vitriol, Sulfur, etc., varying in hardness, temperature, color, and taste, all emerge from mountain Earth. What substance condensed them? It is also said that Heaven is outside Earth, there is no Water outside Heaven, and underground is Water carrying [Earth], so Earth floats on Water, connecting with Heaven. If Heaven is outside Earth, then what carries Earth is Heaven, Hongjun (Great Harmony), which is One Qi. Qibo said: Earth resides in the center of Heaven, lifted by Great Qi. Shao Yong based his theory on this: Heaven relies on form, Earth attaches to Qi; that Qi is tightest, thus it can support Earth. Why speak of Water? If Earth floats on Water, it would either not collapse or sink; how can it connect to Heaven? And if Earth needs Water to carry it, what carries the Water? If one says it is still Earth, then Water-Earth, Earth-Water, will be thousands of layers without end. This is unorthodox talk, suitable only for farmers and woodcutters chatting under bean trellises over tea, as a joke.

Lung Metal generating Water may apply to Qi transformation, like the Great River flowing east day and night, specifically due to Earth Qi ascending. Looking at waterfalls on high mountains, clear springs overflowing in remote areas, Ru, Han, Huai, and Si rivers converge and flow down from here. Li Bai wrote: The Yellow River's waters come from Heaven, rushing to the sea never to return. Who or what is this Metal Spirit that can generate life thus? Moreover, Water and Fire have vitality everywhere, not relying solely on Metal and Wood. For example, Fangzhu gathers dew, metal stems collect water, breath collects water, hammering iron produces fire, striking stone produces fire, round mirrors produce fire. Water contains Fire, Fire contains Water, Wood contains Water and Fire, Metal contains Water and Fire, Earth contains Water and Fire. Water has Yin and Yang; Fire has Yin and Yang.

Yang Fire is the Fire of the Sun. Summer-heat illness caused by the Six Qi is injury from summer heat, which can be cooled with cold water or resolved with bitter-cold herbs. Yin Fire is the Fire of lamps and candles, requiring grease/oil to sustain it; it cannot tolerate a drop of Water Qi, extinguishing upon contact with Water. Fire within Water is Dragon-Thunder Fire, formless yet having presence, intensifying with rain and extinguishing with Yang. Human Ministerial Fire is similar. Daily failure to restrain desires leads to Yang deficiency and Yin excess, leaving Dragon Fire without a hiding place, wandering above and not returning, causing symptoms like upper diaphragm irritability, heat, and cough. Skilled practitioners treat this with Kidney-warming herbs, and it vanishes instantly. Fire within Earth is the ember fire in stoves/hearths; it burns with Wood, slowly extinguishes with dampness, and stays unburnt overnight if covered with warm ash. Therefore, Fire in the Spleen and Stomach is mostly nourished with sweet-warm herbs for this reason. Fire within Wood, due to living water irrigation, rarely manifests externally. Like dry wood generating fire, spreading uncontrollably until strength is exhausted. Internal blazing Liver Fire causing depression and irritability requires acrid-cool dispersing agents to allow its nature to proceed; otherwise, cold herbs may increase stagnation, and hot herbs may increase blazing. Fire within Metal: In old gold/silver mines or places where metals were buried, nights often shine brightly after long periods. This is Metal stagnating in Earth, unable to release its guiding function, occasionally manifesting hard brightness externally. In humans, sensations like needle pricks or mosquito bites in skin pores, or burning heat in the neck and back, indicate Lung Metal Qi deficiency with Fire exploiting the void. Or like pearls hidden in rivers, jade shining in mountains, it is the aura of treasures. Observing that abundant Qi brings handsome appearance helps understand this.

Yin Water is rain, dew, fog; in the human body, it is sweat, tears, nasal mucus. Yang Water is ditches; in the human body, it is urine and strangury. Water within Wood is the resinous fluid in wood; in humans, it is marrow. Fire within Fire (Note: Text likely implies Water within Fire or similar correspondence, translating literally): Molten gold in smelting; in humans, it is blood. Water within Earth is well springs; in humans, it is saliva. Water within Metal is mercury; in humans, it is essence.

Furthermore, within generation lies restriction, and within restriction lies generation. Generation dare not generate, restriction dare not restrict; there are profound principles unexplored, hence citing one to cover the rest. Generating Liver is Kidney. If days pass dryly, unable to get Water but instead getting Fire, Wood loses Water and easily withers; receiving further Fire transmission causes Dragon-Thunder to erupt simultaneously, leading to burning/cracking disaster. Restricting Water is Earth. If its dominance is not controlled, Fire dares not approach, how can it generate life? However, Water gains boundaries from Earth, giving it a source. Thus, when Water is deficient, tonifying Lung to nourish it is important, but especially cultivating Earth to store it. Heart is the son of Liver. Why does Wood not generate Fire? Do you not see that when Lung pathogen is excessive, Liver fears restriction? If self cannot be preserved, how can it protect others? Know that to allow generation, prevent restriction so generation is not hindered; ignore restriction, assist generation, and restriction will peel the skin. Water is insidious, why does Earth fear and not restrict it? Because Lung Metal Qi is prosperous. Metal prosperity generates Water, making momentum arrogant. Heart knows indulgence is unbearable, power shifts downward, suddenly wanting to coerce obedience, changes become unpredictable. Others say Lord Fire generates Earth, Earth re-generates Ministerial Fire, so among Five Elements, only Fire has two, ultimately似是而非 (seemingly correct but incorrect). Others say Wood is the source of life, what world without Wood? Others say Lung Metal is high, all vessels face Lung. Others say Heart Fire is master of the body, if master is unclear, twelve officials are endangered. Others say Earth is mother of all things, tonifying Spleen is better than tonifying Kidney. Others say Water is source of ten thousand transformations, corresponding to Chi pulse in diagnosis; having Chi is like tree roots, even if troubled, cannot harm, seemingly too heavy a responsibility. Again, some say only Earth and Metal parasitize the mother. Metal is Qian/Heaven, Earth is Kun/Earth. Qian Father, Kun Mother, all things rely on generation. All things rely on their generation, how can they speak of parasitism? Is Nuwa her mother clan, and Pangu her maternal grandfather? Speaking of the Five Zang, Metal governs Lung, residing highest, governing Qi and controlling Blood to nourish bones/body, denying origin from Spleen Earth. Spleen Earth transforms food/grain, relied upon by all for life, how can it parasitize Heart Fire? And Metal generates from Earth, Earth from Fire. Before Fire exists, are there no Spleen/Lung, no Heaven/Earth? Opening eyes and urinating, making people laugh. Some say Wu Earth lives in Yin, dies in Shen; Ji Earth lives in Shen, dies in Yin. Never heard of Kun thickly carrying things, enduring forever. Wu/Ji worldly Earth, Yin/Shen alternating life/death. Forced and erroneous, seeking clarity of Dao, obscuring Dao. Alas! Just the Five Elements, just the Zang-Fu, arguing upside down like this, yet not grasping the truth. This is why it miraculously transforms and exquisitely generates all things. As for Heaven Number 5, Earth Number 5, five positions meeting with respective combinations, thus Stems/Branches cross-match Five Elements and Bagua, circulating and opposing, forming books on rhythm/calendar, astrology, wind observation, geography. Later generations revere them as bridges. Are there separate Wood/Fire/Earth/Metal/Water outside the Five Elements? Then Bu Chen and Yangkui's theories not only deviate from classic intent but also contradict their own works. Can we still expect later generations to listen respectfully? Preserving doubt without asking, who says otherwise?