Taoism wood fire earth metal water
If the interdependence between the elements of the universe is expressed through yin and yang, the ancient Taoism expressed the cyclical nature of the world also in terms of the Five Elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
According to the teachings of Zou Yan (350-270 BC approximately) a student of North China, wood pokes the fire, from which the ashes fall to earth, from whose depths we extract the metal on the surface of which the dew condensation (water ) that will grow the wood to complete the cycle.
Of course, what is created is also destroyed, so in the theory of the 5 elements Taoist, there is also a destructive cycle, which serves both to bring under control an element that is in excess in the body of a patient, both to know how to act to destroy a person, striking points connected to the energy meridians, so as to cause damage that can go from the disease, up to the death of a subject.
In essence, as we first described briefly as an element creates another and feeds him, now subtract each element to its antagonist would need the nutrition to stay healthy, so as to bring the body to disease status , as in the description that follows: the fire destroys the metal, the metal destroys the wood, wood destroys earth, earth destroys water, water destroys the fire.
Of course each element uses archetypal symbols to describe the psychological and physical functioning is within the body and nature, are not in practice be taken to correct dates, but the words that describe the principles, but we do an example: If I pour of 'Heat the water to go off, if I use a strong fire can melt the metal, the metal I cut the wood (see the saw, but all the tools of the carpenters), the wood to live and grow must break down the earth and scinderne the elements that make it up to being able to feed, water is destroyed by land as the swallows to "eat them", and here the water returns to destroy the fire, ending the destructive cycle.
Things are not so simple, of course, but to describe to those not accustomed to these terms, it is necessary to understand the examples of culture-derived, because we Westerners find it hard to follow the symbolism used by the people of Eastern Europe.