Elements of Nature is key concept of the Oriental philosophy. It describes every object in our universe as combination of five (or six) elements they are called: Tree, Fire, Soil, Metal, Water and six element Fire-Minister or Lighting.
Each of them represent different aspects of nature manifestations, which we call - qualities. For example Tree element has qualities: borning - growing, green colour, wind climate, east side, sour taste and even anger emotion; Fire element represents: blossom, red colour, hot climate, south side, hot taste and laugh.
This multi-meaning of elements probably comes from hieroglyphic interpretation, as for us "white" word means white colour and also meaning light, good, "while" black is meaning darkness, bad.
Element are also interacts to each other. They are forming so called Wu-Xing law (fig.1). When one element gives birth to another, and suppresses opposite element. For example: Tree is giving birth to the Fire, but Tree is exhausts Soil.
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| Fig. 1. Wu-xing |
The sixth element is special because it is not envolved in generation-suppression
cycle of other elements. As the Chinesse says -
"it has name but hasn't place". It represent all immaterial
processes and qualities such as: information, void, thoughts.
Elements as frame of reference make it possible for us to characterize objects and processes. That is why main feature of elements is their capability to control object or process.
Somewhere at abstract level object and process are a kind of dual (Yin-Yang) representation (realization) of any unified essence (Element). As the Chinese say: there can be much or little Yin-Qi or Yang-Qi.
That is why the Chinese say: three Yin and three Yang. Form has flourishing or ruin. This means that control is fulfilled by Five Elements
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