Element Interaction
Creation 生
In the cycle of creation, every element generates another, creating mutual dependability. The wood element is a source of combustion for fire to keep it alive. Fire, in turn, burns the wood into ashes which feeds the earth with nutrients. The earth is then mined for minerals and formed metals. When applied to high heat, metal liquifies, generating water. Water then falls in the forest where wood grows taller and stronger. This ideology is used for feng shui in order to give movement and positivity to a space.
Wood feeds fire
Fire produces earth
Earth generates metal
Metal produces water
Water feeds wood
Control å…‹
The cycle of control allows a certain element to change the form of another element. This cycle is balanced since an element is both controlled and in control. Fire melts metal, controlling its physical state. Metal formed into a tool can cut wood controlling the physical form of wood. As wood grows, it extracts minerals, weakening the Earth. Earth restrains water and holds it in the soil. When in contact with fire, water controls fire by extinguishing it.
Fire melts metal
Metal cuts wood
Wood weakens earth
Earth holds water
Water extinguishes fire
Weakening æ´©
The weakening cycle is the reciprocal of the cycle of creation. It also represents mother and daughter relationships. The daughter element, though created by the mother element, can drain the resources and power of the creator, their mothers. Metal is the child of earth, however when an extensive amount of metal is placed on wood it can exhaust and weaken. Earth weakens fire since it can overwhelm the pervasiveness of fire, but can not extinguish it completely. Wood feeds the fire as the parent element, but the fire weakening wood by burning it to ashes. Wood can absorb water and diminish liquid resources. Water is the cause of rust in steel, therefore weakening the metal. These elements are connected to the idea that a mother will give her child anything for their happiness, but the child will continuously take and weaken their mother, draining her and her resources, a theme in the Joy Luck Club.
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Metal weakens earth
Earth weakens fire
Fire weakens wood
Wood weakens water
Water weakens metal
Harm ä¾®
The cycle of harm is the inverse of the cycle of control. When trying to control an element, the controller can also be harmed in the process. Wood, for example, though in control by metal, can still alter the purity of metal. Metal can harms fire since the fire might extinguish before the metal is melted. Fire changes water’s physical state to gas. Water harms the earth; it can flood it and take stagnate growth. Earth can harm wood by burying it.
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Wood harms metal
Metal harms fire
Fire harms water
Water harms earth
Earth harms wood