Four Pillars of Destiny · 四柱

The Five Elements (五行)

In short

The Five Elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — are the five energies that make up everything. In the order Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water each produces the next (the generating cycle), and each controls the one two steps along (the controlling cycle). Which elements are abundant or scarce in your chart is the starting point for character and balance (the Useful God).

Five-element generating cycle — clockwise from Wood to Fire Earth Metal Water — Generating cycle (clockwise)

Five-element controlling cycle — skip one Wood controls Earth Water Fire Metal — Controlling cycle (skip one)

木Wood· Spring
The rising, growing energy of spring — the grain of benevolence (仁) and beginnings.
火Fire· Summer
The blazing, illuminating energy of expansion — the grain of propriety (禮) and passion.
土Earth· Transitional (late in each season, 土用)
The centering, mediating energy — the grain of faith (信) and embrace.
金Metal· Autumn
The gathering, refining energy of resolve — the grain of righteousness (義) and restraint.
水Water· Winter
The downward-flowing, storing energy — the grain of wisdom (智) and flexibility.

Curious about the five-element balance in your own chart?

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Bazi and the Five Elements are a traditional East Asian study, offered here for reflection.