Zhou Dynasty
The first encounter with the Chinese Elements was in 619 B.C.E. when Duke Wen, a ruler from the Zhou Dynasty, mentions it in the historical record Zuo Zhuan. The text states, “‘Water, fire, metal, wood, earth, and grains are called the six natural resources (or treasures).'" This first draft of the Chinese elements originally contained the current five plus grains. About 30 years later, the Zuo Zhuan mentions another statement regarding the Chinese elements, but during the reign of Duke Xiang. The text states, “Heaven has produced the five elements which supply humankind’s requirements, and the people use them all. Not one of them can be dispensed with,” inferring that each element coincides within one another and all five are necessities to the universe.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the period where the ideas of Wu Xing (five elements) were officially established and fully developed to it’s present form. During this time, the five elements was used towards the benefits of imperialism in China, convincing the population that follow the Chinese elements would lead to success. A Han Dynasty text that included Wu Xing material was the Huainanzi, writings of the Huainan masters. This text included ideas of how the rulers with the use of Wu Xing is connected to cosmology and morality. A quote from the text states, “The natural qualities of Heaven and Earth do not exceed five. The [ruler] is able to use wuxing correctly in order to govern without waste,” revealing how Chinese philosophers perceived the five elements as a pathway to success. The Han ideas also brought the about the cycle of change regarding the five elements. During the Confucius era, the two cycles of change was made: the cycle of creation (生, shēng) and the cycle of conquest (克/剋, kè). In the cycle of creation, one element produces another such as water creates wood and wood creates fire. On the contrasting side, the cycle of conquest is where one element destroys the other such as water extinguishes fire and fire melts metal.
Han Dynasty - Now
During the Warring States period, Zou Yan, a Chinese philosopher, was the first to incorporate the five elements to the dynastic cycle. This meant that every dynasty would assign themselves one of the elements where it would become the dynasty’s virtue. Each dynasty would have a different element, overcoming the element or hardships from the previous one. The Han Dynasty associated themselves with water, then the state of Wei followed with the earth element. The Jin Dynasty then succeeded the state of Wei where they associated with metal. The recognition of a Chinese element with a dynasty continued throughout the centuries up until the Song period. The Yuan and Ming Dynasties (1269-1644) showed disinterest with incorporating an element of Wu Xing. Once the current China Republic came about, the usage of a Chinese element had faded, but is still included in Chinese cosmology and concepts such as Chinese naming and Feng Shui.