The cornerstone of Chinese Metaphysics and Traditional Chinese Medicine has always been the 5 elements, namely Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal.
The balance of the 5-elements denotes a balance of the body and thereby leading to a balanced life and health.
The 5-Elements are interdependent on each other and any excess or insufficiency throws the 5- Element cycle off.
Look at the diagram below.
五行是中国术数及中医学的轴心基石, 它包括5个元素,水,木,火,土,金。
这五行的平衡代表身体的平衡,从而也代表着生命和健康的平衡。
五行彼此相互依赖,相生相克,任何过量或不足都会导致整体循环失调。
请看下面的图表。
Notice that there is a Production cycle where Water produces Wood, Wood produces Fire, Fire produces Earth, Earth produces Metal and finally Metal produces Water.
This is a continuous and ever forming cycle.
Next notice the Destruction cycle where Metal destroys Wood, Wood Destroys Earth, Earth destroys Water, Water Destroys Fire and Fire Destroys Metal.
This again is a continuous cycle and represents the Destruction of elements.
The Production as well as Destruction of the elements bring about the elemental balance that we depended upon for life, just like the cycle of birth and death.
这相生相克的循环带给这世界五行之平衡,生命之源泉。 就如生生死死永无止境的循环。