The Five Elements - Wu Hing
Chinese philosophy divides the world into five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These elements are symbolic and represent five forces in nature. The constant interplay between these five forces constitutes the structure and the make-up of creation. The first element is Wood. It represents the life force or spirit, which is responsible for the growth of living organisms in nature (such as trees).
This formless life force is usually concealed from our sight by its form, which is Wood, its material structure. Wood burns and gives rise to Fire. From Fire come ashes - Earth. Earth gives rise to Metal (called "Air" in Western occult philosophy). From the Earth with its Metals, Water springs up. Water gives rise to plants and Wood is created. Therefore, Water gives rise to Wood, and the cycle is constantly replenishing and renewing itself. This is creative interplay of the five elements (Seng cycle). The five elements interplay destructively, meaning they breakdown creation. Disintegration is necessary before regeneration can occur. Therefore, disintegration and generation are but two aspects of the same process (Yin and Yang). The destructive interplay (Ko cycle) is as follows:
Wood destroys Earth - plants break up rocks
and soil, ancient wooden plows tilled the soil.
Earth destroys Water - Earth absorbs Water,
Earth impedes the natural flow of Water.
Water destroys Fire - Water extinguishes Fire.
Fire destroys Metal - Fire melts Metal.
Metal destroys Wood - Metal cuts Wood.