Chris Meistre

Wu Xing can be translated as the 5 Movements, 5 Steps or 5 Elements. Whatever you call it, this system is used to describe the interaction and relationships between everything and anything. The most common place to find this is in alternative medicine practices and martial arts.

The 5 elements of Wu Xing are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

These five elements generate four cycles. Two of these cycles are mentioned here as an example of how it can be interpreted..

1) Generation

This is a creation cycle. It can be described as the following:

• Wood eats Fire
• Fire creates Earth (ash)
• Earth bears Metal
• Metal carries Water (i.e. a bucket to carry water)
• Water nourishes Wood

Generation

2) Overcoming

This is a destruction or destroying cycle. It can be described as the following:

• Wood separates Earth (i.e. roots of a tree)
• Earth absorbs Water
• Water quenches Fire
• Fire melts Metal
• Metal chops Wood (i.e. an axe)

Overcoming

Everything in the Universe can relate to these 5 elements in their 4 cycles. Below is a table of examples I have been able to find on the Internet.