THE generating and overcoming processes in wuxing

We’ve discussed I Ching and the structure of gua mainly based on the theory of yin and yang. Yin and yang coexist everywhere in the universe, which reflects a duality in all things. The duality of yin and yang has been the keystone in the Chinese core values. It is also the core of I Ching system as well as being recognized in most branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy.

Wuxing, namely, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth, is another conceptual scheme developed by our Chinese ancestors to learn about the universe. Wuxing and yinyang may have different origins but both conceptualizations have been immemorially long established. It is profoundly valued yet challenging to combine these two different systems of wuxing and I Ching (yin and yang).

But first: What is wuxing? The definition of wuxing is abstruse and vague. It can be viewed as five elements, five phases, five traits, five categories, five processes and so on. The word xing covers all of them and is broader. Thus, we can’t simply regard the term xing as merely as element, stage, phase, category, trait, change or process.

In my opinion, wuxing should contain at least two aspects, the five elements/categories based on five primary traits, and the generating and overcoming interrelations among them. Each element directly generates another element. For instance, while correlating with all the other four elements, Water only directly generates Wood as well as is only directly generated by Metal, and only directly overcomes Fire and is only directly overcome by Earth. The immediate interconnections of generating and overcoming processes are indicated by colored arrows in Picture 1.

The five elements are in the process of constant change. An element is said in its own phase during the process of either generation or restriction. For example, the phase of Water covers the process of generation from “being enriched by” Metal to “nourishing” Wood. Water’s phase, viewed from the process of restriction, covers from “being curbed by” Earth to “extinguishing” Fire. (See Picture 1a&b)

As such, the process of generation belongs to the yang sphere while the process of restriction belongs to the yin sphere. Picture 1a shows the generating cycle of wuxing in a circle, with the overcoming cycle forming a star. Picture 1b shows the same interconnections in an opposite manner.

In Pic. 1a, five arrowed bonds (in blue) form a closed cycle of generation. Wherein five arrowed bonds (in red) form a star of overcoming. As a matter of fact, you will find that any one element has four direct bonds connecting to other four elements: generating and being generated, overcoming and being overcome.

From either Pic. 1a or 1b, we can easily see that one element returns to itself after five phases of generating or overcoming. With the help of the pictures, there are in wuxing apparent equivalences of a certain number of phases of generating and overcoming in forming a closed cycle, i.e., for an element to return to itself.

Such equivalences are listed in Picture 2. You would find that one generating phase is equivalent to three overcoming phases; three generating phases are equivalent to four overcoming phases, etc. For example, from Water to reach Fire, there needs three phases of generating (3 blue bonds). Equivalently, four phases of overcoming (4 red bonds) also lead Water to Fire.

From a distinctive perspective, any element to return to itself, that means to accomplish a closed cycle, it can be reached by combination of a certain number of generating phases and a certain number of overcoming phases. Remember that a complete cycle needs five generating phases or five overcoming phases.

For Metal to return to itself, the path can be via three generating phases (3 blue bonds) to be Fire, then plus one overcoming phase (1 red bond); or via four generating phases (4 blue bonds to Earth) plus three overcoming phases (3 red bonds to Metal).

Explanation: Three generating phases plus one overcoming phase: The former is equal to four overcoming phases, which results in five overcoming phases; otherwise, the latter is equal to two generating phases, which results in five generating phases. Either entails a closed cycle, as shown in Picture 2a or 2b.

Four generating phases plus three overcoming phases: The former is equal to two overcoming processes, which results in five overcoming processes; otherwise, the latter is equal to one generating process, which results in five generating processes. Either result can form a closed cycle. Take a look at the right column of both tables in Picture 2a. The sum of the number of each row of both tables equals five (overcoming phases). Similarly, if you add the number of each row of the left column of both tables in Picture 2b, you will also get the sum of five (generating phases).

Mutual generating and overcoming phases with yin and yang

Now, let’s discuss the relation between wuxing and yinyang. It is a tough job to coordinate the two systems due to their different algorithms. Yin and yang (including all the gua in I Ching system) is based on binary algorithm while wuxing adopts a decimal system. Thus, it’s hard to have one-to-one mappling of them.

Picture 3 shows two small right pyramids. The base surface has four corners — D, C, B, and E, which are matched with Water, Metal, Wood and Fire in wuxing, respectively. Corner A, the top of the pyramid, represents Earth. Please note that A is located in the center but not in the same surface as the other four.

Picture 3a is a diagram which can be viewed as the generating cycle of wuxing. The red arrowed bond in the picture indicates the generation. Descriptively, C→D represents the phase of “Metal enriching Water” while D→B represents that of “Water nourishing Wood.” B→E represents the phase of “Wood feeding Fire” while E→A represents that of “Fire creating Earth.” Finally, A→C means “Earth bearing Metal.” The arrow head points to the generated element.

On the contrary, Picture 3b shows the overcoming cycle of wuxing in a shape of pyramid. The blue arrowed bond indicates the overcoming relationship. C→B represents the phase of “Metal chopping Wood” while B→A represents that of “Wood parting Earth.” A→D represents the phase of “Earth absorbing Water” while D→E represents that of “Water extinguishing Fire.” Finally, E→C means “Fire melting Metal.” The arrow head points to the “conquered” element.

If we flip the pyramid in Picture 3a upside down and put it below that in Picture 3a, the two pyramids form a “diamond” in a three-dimensional space showing the complementary yet opposite （相反相成）— generating and overcoming （相生相克）— relationship of wuxing. The shape resembles a regular octahedron (Picture 3c). The five generating arrowed bonds in red are symmetric to the five overcoming arrowed bonds in purple. The two corners of “Earth” are symmetric to each other on the central axis.

Such a diamond model would surly provide an effective vehicle for us to explore the connection and correlation of yinyang, Bagua, wuxing, medical studies, music and rhyme, personality identification, fate prediction, gaming and risk control...