Introduction to the Five Phases (五行)

The Five Phases (五行) is a fundamental concept in ancient Chinese cosmology, philosophy, and metaphysics, describing the dynamic relationships and interactions between five elemental movements, Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土), Metal (金), and Water (水).

FIVE PHASES 五行

The earliest mention of the FIVE-PHASES in the Six Classics appears in the Shangshu (Book of Documents) _wiki, specifically in the chapter Hong Fan _wiki, which states: One, the Five Phases: 1 is ㊌_WATER, 2 is ㊋_FIRE, 3 is ㊍_WOOD, 4 is ㊎_METAL, and 5 is ㊏_EARTH.

The FIVE-PHASES refer to their movement on the ground. Substances move on the ground, while their energies connect with the heavens, giving rise to the FIVE-PHASES.

FIVE-PHASES correspondence with year cycle

The Shenshu Jing states that each of the FIVE-PHASES has its own period of dominance, except for ㊏_EARTH, which has no fixed position. Instead, Earth becomes dominant for 18 days before each of the four seasonal transitions (Spring Commences / Summer Commences / Autumn Commences / Winter Commences).

The Lili (Calendar Records) explains: ㊍_WOOD dominates for 72 days after ³¹⁵立春_{Spring-Commences}, ㊋_FIRE dominates for 72 days after ⁰⁴⁵立夏_{Summer-Commences}, Autumn Commences — ㊎_METAL dominates for 72 days after ¹³⁵立秋_{Autumn-Commences}, ㊌_WATER dominates for 72 days after ²²⁵立冬_{Winter-Commences}, ㊏_EARTH, however, asserts dominance for 18 days before each of these Commences, totaling 72 days across the year.

When summed, this totals 360 days, forming a complete annual cycle. The system illustrates how the phases and their transitions harmonize with seasonal changes, ensuring the balance and continuity of natural cycles throughout the year.

FIVE-PHASES correspondence with 12 growth cycle

Kaoyuan (Investigation of Origins) _ctext states:

㊍_WOOD begins its growth in ^BB亥_N30W.
㊋_FIRE begins its growth in ^B2寅_E30N.
㊎_METAL begins its growth in ^B5巳_S30E.
㊌_WATER begins its growth in ^B8申_W30S.
㊏_EARTH also begins its growth in ^B8申_W30S but is adopted growth in ^B2寅_E30N.

Each element follows a twelve-stage growth cycle, including:

^G0长生_Growth
^G1沐浴_Bathing
^G2冠带_Dressing
^G3临官_Enterprise
^G4帝旺_Prosperity
^G5衰_Decline
^G6病_Sickness
^G7死_Death
^G8墓_Tomb
^G9绝_Termination
^GA胎_Conception
^GB养_Nurturing

These stages cycle through the twelve EARTHLY-BRANCHES, reflecting the ceaseless rotation and continuity of heavenly processes.

Since the natural order of heaven follows a perpetual cycle of birth and rebirth

when ㊍_WOOD prosper, ㊋_FIRE has already begun to grow
when ㊋_FIRE prosper, ㊎_METAL has already begun to grow
when ㊎_METAL prosper, ㊌_WATER has already begun to grow
when ㊌_WATER prosper, ㊍_WOOD has already begun to grow

This sequence illustrates the principle of growth progressing to maturity, followed by decline, and ultimately returning to renewal. Such alternation underpins the harmonious flow of the four seasons and the smooth distribution of the FIVE-PHASES energies.

Regarding ㊏_EARTH, it is said to grow in ^B8申_SHEN and be adopted grow in ^B2寅_YIN. This corresponds to the POST-NATAL positions of ☷_EARTH and ☶_MOUNTAIN. ☷_EARTH in the I Ching is described as “where all things receive nourishment.” ☶_MOUNTAIN is described as “where all things come to completion and begin grow.” These interpretations emphasize ㊏_EARTH role as the foundation of transformation, embodying both the end and the beginning within the endless cycle of creation and decay.

FIVE-PHASES correspondence with HEAVENLY-STEMS and EARTHLY BRANCHES

The HEAVENLY-STEMS correspond to the Five-PHASES as follows:

^S0甲_⊕WOOD and ^S1乙_⊖WOOD belong to ㊍_WOOD
^S2丙_⊕FIRE and ^S3丁_⊖FIRE belong to ㊋_FIRE
^S4戊_⊕EARTH and ^S5己_⊖EARTH belong to ㊏_EARTH
^S6庚_⊕METAL and ^S7辛_⊖METAL belong to ㊎_METAL
^S8壬_⊕WATER and ^S9癸_⊖WATER belong to ㊌_WATER

The EARTHLY-BRANCHES are associated with the Five-PHASES and directions:

^B2寅_YIN, ^B3卯_MAO, ^B4辰_CHEN belong to ㊍_WOOD and correspond to the East
^B5巳_SI, ^B6午_WU, ^B7未_WEI belong to ㊋_FIRE correspond to the South
^B8申_SHEN, ^B9酉_YOU, ^BA戌_XU belong to ㊎_METAL correspond to the West
^BB亥_HAI, ^B0子_ZI, ^B1丑_CHOU belong to ㊌_WATER correspond to the North
㊏_EARTH is considered prosperous during ^B4辰_CHEN, ^BA戌_XU, ^B1丑_CHOU, and ^B7未_WEI, corresponding to the four seasons

Regarding the FIVE-PLANETS:

^B2寅_YIN and ^BB亥_HAI are attributed to ㊍_WOOD Jupiter
^B3卯_MAO and ^BA戌_XU to ㊋_FIRE Mars
^B4辰_CHEN and ^B9酉_YOU to ㊎_METAL Venus
^B5巳_SI and ^B8申_SHEN to ㊌_WATER Mercury
^B0子_ZI and ^B1丑_CHOU to ㊏_EARTH Saturn
^B6午_WU represents the Sun, and ^B7未_WEI represents the Moon

Since ^B0子_ZI and ^B1丑_CHOU are positioned below, they correspond to Earth; while ^B6午_WU and ^B7未_WEI are positioned above, representing the Sun and Moon.

The arrangement of the EARTHLY-BRANCHES, ^B2寅_YIN, ^B3卯_MAO, ^B4辰_CHEN, ^B5巳_SI, ^B8申_SHEN, ^B9酉_YOU, ^BA戌_XU, ^BB亥_HAI, spreads around like the flow of the four seasons through Heaven and Earth. This layout defines the sequence of ㊍_WOOD, ㊋_FIRE, ㊎_METAL, and Water based on their orders.