Five elements · 五行
金 The Metal Element
Metal is the element of clarity and structure. It is autumn, the harvest, the season of cutting away what is no longer needed. In people, Metal is linked to precision, discipline and a strong sense of right and wrong.
- Season
- Autumn
- Direction
- West and Northwest
- Colours
- White, grey, silver, gold
- Shapes
- Round, oval, arched
- Planet
- Venus
- Virtue
- Righteousness (義)
Metal as a Day Master
In BaZi, your Day Master is the heavenly stem of the day you were born, and it describes your core nature. The Metal stems are 庚 Gēng (Yang), 辛 Xīn (Yin). A Metal Day Master is often decisive, principled and organised. Yang Metal (庚) is raw ore or a sword: strong and direct. Yin Metal (辛) is fine jewellery: refined, precise and valuable.
Metal also appears in the earthly branches 申 Monkey, 酉 Rooster, which is why those zodiac animals share some of Metal's character.
How Metal relates to the other elements
The five elements move in two cycles. In the generating cycle, Wood feeds Fire, Fire makes Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water and Water nourishes Wood. In the controlling cycle, Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal and Metal cuts Wood. The Destiny Kua daily reading compares each day's element with your Day Master using these relationships.
| Relationship | Element | Meaning for you |
|---|---|---|
| Feeds you (Resource, 印) | Earth | Support, learning, rest |
| You feed (Output, 食傷) | Water | Expression, creativity; can drain you |
| You control (Wealth, 財) | Wood | Effort that turns into results |
| Controls you (Pressure, 官殺) | Fire | Discipline, pressure, responsibility |
| Same element (Companion, 比劫) | Metal | Friends, peers, competition |
Metal in your home
Add Metal with round shapes, metal frames and bowls, white and grey tones, and clocks. A metal wind chime (風鈴) is a classic Metal cure. The West and Northwest are Metal's sectors.
Materials: Metal, stainless steel, brass, marble.
Too much or too little Metal
Signs of too little Metal: clutter, missed deadlines and a lack of structure. Signs of too much: a cold, clinical space full of hard surfaces. Adding a few soft textiles warms an over-Metal room; tidying and one round metal object strengthens a weak one.
Balancing Metal
Too much Metal can feel cold or rigid; add Water (flowing shapes, blue) to soften it. Too little Metal feels scattered; add round shapes and Earth tones.
Common questions
Which Day Masters are Metal?
People born on 庚 (Gēng) or 辛 (Xīn) days.
Is a wind chime Metal?
A metal wind chime is one of the classic Metal cures, used to break up stuck or harmful energy. Wooden and bamboo chimes count as Wood.
What is the best Metal colour for clothing?
White, grey, silver or gold.