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Look
around and you will always "see" at least
one of the five elements that are (according
to TCM and eastern philosophy) the fundamental components
of the Universe. The five are:
The
English word "element" has a somewhat fixed
connotation that is not present with the Chinese.
Hence the theory is often known, more accurately,
as the Five Transformations or Five Phases.
The Five Element theory views the Universe and its
functioning as being cyclical and interactive. Accordingly,
all of the 'ten thousand things' within and indeed
without it are interdependent or of "dependent
origination". This Taoist theory that 'all phenomena
are connected' bears comparison to the Buddhist ideas
of 'karma' and some Indian sub continent and other
eastern ideas on reincarnation.
Associations
Everything
in existence (a.k.a. 'matter' or 'the ten thousand
things') contains some quantity of all five elements,
however, according to the theory one of the five so
particularly predominates or manifests itself in each
thing, and may thus be categorized accordingly.
Taoist physicians and sages further determined that
each element has special associations with particular
organs in the human body as well as to other things
such as colours, flavors, the time of day, the season
of the year, and the way we respond physically and
emotionally to external influences and all of the
forces of nature.
The Five Elements theory identifies the five different
modes (elements) in which chi energy may manifest
itself. The five (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Air)
are arranged into a cyclical sequence that represents
the flow of energy between these elements as 'phases'.
Each phase of an element characterises a stage in
a cyclical process. The characteristic of each phase
is determined by the 'energy dynamic' personified
as the never ending round of the seasons in the natural
world.
It is not per say the passage of time that changes
things; everything changes anyway.
Thus the 5 element theory is simply an observation
on natural, creative change; and it is the natural
world that confirms that throughout that all the forces
and energies in nature can be in constant smooth and
harmonious transition from one phase to another -
just as one season 'becomes' the next.
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