Chinese Element Symbols
The Chinese element symbols are called Wu Xing (woo shing) and are part of the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is a 60 year cycle, made up of five sets of the 12 zodiac animal signs. Every zodiac animal sign has 5 variations based on the elements (i.e. wood pig, fire pig, earth pig, metal pig, water pig).
Although not used as often today, the symbols were used as a mnemonic device in many traditional Chinese fields in the past. The five elements described interactions and relationships between phenomena. The symbols were used in many early Chinese thought fields, including Feng Shui, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, military strategy, and martial arts.
The symbols are still referenced in some forms of complementary and alternative medicines and martial arts. They are mainly used as a way to memorize and recall information, using descriptive phrases.
Here are the 5 Chinese element symbols and their positive, negative, and aggressive phrases:
Mu - Wood |
Water makes Wood Wood makes Fire Fire makes Earth Earth makes Metal Metal makes Water |
Huo - Fire |
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Tu - Earth |
Water destroys Fire Fire destroys Metal Metal destroys Wood Wood destroys Earth Earth destroys Water |
Jin - Metal |
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Shui - Water |
Water resists Fire Fire resists Metal Metal resists Wood Wood resists Earth Earth resists Water |
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