Five phases (Five elements)
The five phases: wood, fire, earth, metal and water, and their movements and changes, also known as five elements.
Wood
One of the five phases, with which the season spring, the color blue or green, the taste sourness, and the liver and gallbladder in the body are associated.
Fire
One of the five phases, with which the season of summer, the color red, the taste bitterness, and the heart and small intestine in the body are associated
Earth
One of the five phases, with which the season of late summer, the color yellow, the taste sweetness, and the spleen and stomach in the body are associated
Metal
One of the five phases, with which the season of autumn, the color white, the taste acridity-pungent, and the lung and large intestine in the body are associated
Water
One of the five phases, with which the season of winter, the color black, the taste saltiness, and the kidney and bladder in the body are associated; pathologic aspect of body fluid.
Categorization according to the five elements
Classification of material things and phenomena into five categories by comparing their structures, properties and actions with five elements
Engendering
The relationship in which each element and its associated phenomena give rise to or promote another sequential element, also the same as generating.
Wood engenders fire
The category of wood generates or promotes the category of fire, also the same as wood generating fire.
Fire engenders earth
The category of fire generates or promotes the category of earth, also called fire generating earth.
Earth engenders metal
The category of earth generates or promotes the category of metal, also called earth generating metal.
Metal engenders water
The category of metal generates or promotes the category of water, also called metal generating water.
Water engenders wood
The category of water generates or promotes the category of wood, also called water generating wood.
Restraining
The relationship in which each element and its associated phenomena restrict/check/control another element
Wood restrains earth
The category of wood restricts or checks the category of earth, also called wood controlling earth.
Fire restrains metal
The category of fire restricts or checks the category of metal, also called fire controlling metal.
Earth restrains water
The category of earth restricts or checks the category of water, also called earth controlling water.
Water restrains fire
The category of water restricts or checks the category of fire, also called water controlling fire.
Metal restrains wood
The category of metal restricts or checks the category of wood, also called metal controlling wood.
Overwhelming
Abnormally severe restraining of five elements in the same sequence as normal restraining, also known as over-acting.
Rebellion
Restraining opposite to that of the normal restraining sequence of the five elements, also known as insulting
Five constants
A collective term referring to wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in normal movement
Inhibition and generation
The engendering and restraining for maintaining relative balance coordination in the five elements theory relationships and normal
Harmful hyperactivity and responding inhibition
One of the principles of the five elements theory indicating that hyperactivity of any elements is harmful, and its restriction will restore the normal balance.
Mother qi
Qi of the viscus that engenders in the engendering sequential relationship of the five elements
Child qi
Qi of the viscus that is engendered in the engendering sequential relationship of the five elements
Mother and child affecting each other
Influence of one element exerted on the element that is engenders or that engenders it sequentially
Wood characterized by bending and straightening
Fire characterized by flaring up
Earth characterized by sowing and reaping
Earth producing myriads of things
Metal characterized by clearing and downward
Water characterized by moistening and descending
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