The Five Elements in 20 seconds

Wood feeds Fire, Fire makes Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water, Water nourishes Wood. Balance matters more than any one element.

This is the producing (生) cycle, the first thing to learn about the Five Elements. There is also a controlling cycle, where Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal and Metal cuts Wood. Your chart, your Day Master and even colour choices at home are read through these two cycles together.

1. The Five Elements (五行) in 20 seconds.
2. Wood feeds Fire. Fire makes Earth.
3. Earth bears Metal. Metal carries Water.
4. Water nourishes Wood, and the cycle repeats.
5. Balance matters more than any one element.
6. Which element are you? Use the free calculator.

• The producing cycle runs Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, then back to Wood.
• Each element supports the next one, so no element is good or bad on its own.
• In a chart or a room, aim for balance rather than piling on a single “lucky” element.

Explore the Five Elements