Yin & Yang and the 5 phases of change (Wu Xing)

  • Yin and Yang as polarity arising from the One
  • Qi, the universal energy, flows between the poles
  • Qi manifests itself in the five phases of change
  • The five phases of change in the course of a life, a year, a day
  • The five phases of change determine, nourish and control each other
  • Organs and meridians, sensory organs, tissues, body fluids, emotions, virtues, etc. are assigned to the five transformation phases

Basic simplified explanation

The principles of yin and yang (the harmony of opposites, originally the light and shadow side of a mountain) and the five phases of transformation in traditional Chinese medicine are based on the Taoist concept which, among other things, emphasises attunement to nature and natural laws and was developed through the observation of nature and its laws. Originally, the laws were derived by observing the planets, with Jupiter representing wood/wind, Mars representing fire, Saturn representing earth, Venus representing metal and Mercury representing water.

 

Put simply, everything can be divided into yin and yang and 5 elements (seasons, shapes, colours, food, organs, body tissue, sensory organs, ...). Everything is in constant motion and subject to constant balancing. Movements are triggered by the universal energy Qi.

 

Tao, Yin & Yang and Qi

The opposing qualities of yin (feminine) and yang (masculine), which are conditional and inherent in each other, arise from the primordial unity (also called Tao), whereby qualities and not woman and man are meant, which have spiritual, mental and physical levels - symbolised by the yin-yang symbol (also Tai Ji symbol for the Supreme Outer). Qi (‘life energy’) arises from the movement of unity into the opposites Yin and Yang, of which there are various manifestations in the body - the inherited energy/pre-natal energy (Yuan Qi), energy of the air (Qing Qi), energy of food (Gu Qi), nourishing energy (Ying Qi), energy of the breast (Zong Qi), energy of each organ (Zang fu Qi), energy of each meridian (Zhi Qi), protective energy (Wie Qi), pathogenic energy (Xie Qi).

The five phases of change

The five phases of transformation - wood (air), fire, earth, metal (ether) and water - arise from qi. The five phases of change have a cyclical relationship to each other, which can be found, for example, in every day (morning, midday, late afternoon, evening and night), in every year (spring, summer, late summer (harvest time), autumn, winter) and in life (birth and childhood, youth and young adulthood, adulthood, mature adulthood, old age and death), but also in the interplay of energies and bodily functions in the human organism. They are mutually dependent, create and control each other. The five phases of transformation are reflected in the organs, bodily functions and tissues, energy pathways (meridians) and functional circuits assigned to them, as well as the associated emotions, psychological and character qualities, flavours and smells.

 

 

Overview

Here is a rough overview of the correspondences of the five transformation phases and their equivalents (organs and meridians / sensory organ according to TCM / tissue / body fluid / emotions / virtue)

 

  • Wood (air): Liver and gallbladder / eyes / sight / sinews, nails / tears / generosity, tolerance, anger, rage / patience
  • Fire: Heart, pericardium, small intestine and triple warmer (highest control instance of the entire circulation of juices) / tongue / speech / blood vessels / blood / joy, love, hate, hysteria, impatience / wisdom, concentration
  • Earth: Stomach and spleen-pancreas / mouth, lips / taste / muscles / saliva / kindness, confidence, worry, doubt / giving
  • Metal (space): Lungs and large intestine / nose / odour / skin, body hair / phlegm / courage, bravery, sadness, depression / drive
  • Water: Kidneys and bladder / Ears / Hearing / Bones, teeth, head hair / Urine / Trust, wisdom, fear, mistrust / Remaining true to moral principles