Wuxing: The Five Phases in Chinese Thought

Wuxing describes five phases: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

A bounded introduction#

Historical theories use their relationships to explain patterns of change, including generating and overcoming cycles. This concerns a philosophical model rather than a list of the chemical elements.

A way to read critically#

When encountering a five-phase chart, identify its author, period and purpose. A historical classification by itself does not prove a modern scientific, medical or predictive claim.

Reference#

Scholarly reference. The questions above are editorial reading suggestions. They are not a survey, a claim about all Chinese people or a quotation from a classical author.