Origin of the Five-Element Theory

Li Heng

Translated by Han Chouping

The first word ‘Wu’ means five. The second word ‘Xing’ primarily means the ‘lines’ and secondly the ‘virtue or moral conduct’. 

As a result, it is not accurate to translate ‘Xing’ into ‘element’. Since the ‘Wu Xing’ is not limited to simple categorization method but a part of philosophical ideology, I personally do not agree with the false analogy of ‘element’ in translation but prefer to remain its pinyin ‘Xing’.

It’s generally believed that the development of five-element theory contains the origin of concept, abstraction of characteristics, attributes of things, lifting-up of interactions (mutually generating, restraint, overacting and counteracting) and establishment of a school of thought.

There are three viewpoints regarding the origin of five-element concept.

1. Five Directions

In the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), people started to conduct spatial orientation using the concept of ‘five directions’—east, west, south, north and center.

 They also offered sacrifices and worships to Gods of Five Directions (shown in the figure below) and prayed for favorable weather and a good harvest. 

 2. Five Materials

The concept of five materials emerged in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BCE). The five materials—wood, fire, earth, metal and water, were essential material substances for human life and productive labor. 

In Zuo Zhuan’s (Chronicles of Zuo) record on the 27th year of the reign of Duke Xiang (590-573 BCE), the text says, ‘Heaven has produced the five materials which supply humankind’s requirements, and the people use them all. Not one of them can be dispensed with.’ 

In Shang Shu’s (The Book of Documents) record, the text says, ‘Water and fire are used for cooking and metal and wood are used for cultivating. Earth gives birth to all things, which are used by people.’  

Table 1. Five Materials

 3. Five Stars

During life and productive labor practice, ancient ancestors were aware of the impact of time, season and celestial cycles on farming. 

As a result, astrology was well elaborated among the folk people. Through long-time observation on celestial cycles, ancient people discovered the regular movements of visible Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. 

The Treatise on Astronomy, the Book of Han (Han Shu Tian Wen Zhi) states, ‘Regular movements of five stars guarantee crop production and a good harvest’. 

The Records of the Grand Historian on Calendars (Shi Ji Li Shu) states, ‘The Yellow Emperor examined astronomic calendar and established the five elements’. In this regard, five elements might have occurred as a result of astronomic calendar. 

Additionally, it’s known to all that five planets appear in different colors after exposure to sunlight: Jupiter appears blue, Mars red, Saturn yellow, Venus white and Mercury dark-gray. 

These coincidently matched with five colors in five-element theory. In remote past, except for the bright white color of Venus, ancient people would not have known colors of other planets without an astronomical telescope.    

Table 2. Five Stars and Five Elements

Remarks

According to the order of times, it can be generally assumed that the five-element theory is primarily based on but not limited to five directions. 

Its development contained person (five directions), material substances (five materials), earth (five directions, five materials) and heaven (five stars). 

Edited by DHL

References

1. Li Heng, Li Ding, Han Chouping, The Li Lineage of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine（www.amazon.com 海外亚马逊有售）

2. 李恒编著，李鼎审定《针灸医道传承》（www.jd.com 京东有售）