The 5 Elements or 5 Phases in Chinese Medicine

The 5 Elements or 5 Phases in Chinese Medicine

Chinese Character for Fire

The Fire Element

Sequence: Fire Generates Earth, Controls Metal, and Insults Water

Zang Fu: Heart (Yin) and Small Intestine (Yang)

Shang Shu: That which blazes upward is bitter

Chinese Character for Earth

The Earth Element

Earth Generates Metal, Controls Water, and Insults Wood

Zang Fu: Spleen (Yin) and Stomach (Yang)

Shang Shu: That which permits sowing and reaping is sweet

Chinese Character for Metal

The Metal Element

Metal Generates Water, Controls Wood, and Insults Fire

Zang Fu: Lung (Yin) and Large Intestine (Yang)

Shang Shu: That which can be molded and become hard is pungent

Chinese Character for Water

The Water Element

Water Generates Wood, Controls Fire, and Insults Earth

Zang Fu: Kidneys (Yin) and Urinary Bladder (Yang)

Shang Shu: That which soaks and descends is salty.

Chinese Character for Wood

The Wood Element

Wood Generates Fire, Controls Earth, and Insults Metal

Zang Fu: Liver (Yin) and Gall Bladder (Yang)

Shang Shu: That which can be bent and straightened is sour

References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.

Browse All Chinese Medicine Reference Texts ▶