五材 Wu Cai - Five Elements

What is Wu Cai (五材)?

五材 Wǔ-Cái literally means five materials or elements. The difference between (五行 Wǔ-Xìng) five phases/agents and (五材 Wǔ-Cái) is that the latter refers to the materialization of the five phases/agents.

The five phases (五行 WǔXīng) are often mixed with the five planets, which have different sizes, masses, speeds, and electromagnetic fields. They resonate and vibrate at different frequencies. Depending on their position and distance, their gravity and frequencies interact with each other in a producing, weakening, and controlling cycle.

Yet the effects of the interactions are the same for the five phases. The materialization of the five phases effects are the five elements (五材 Wǔ-Cái) or subtle forces perceived as five forces (五德 Wu-De).

The Five Phases Interactions

The different effects (materialization of the forces) of the five phases (cycles) are:
(生 Shēng) generating: one cycle generates or amplifies another cycle’s energy.
(勝 Shèng) weakening: one cycle drains another cycle’s energy.
(克 Kè) overcoming: one cycle absorbs another cycle’s energy.
(制 Zhì) restricting the overcoming cycle impact by the weakening cycle’s energy.
(化 Huà) dissolving the impact of the overcoming cycle by the generating cycle’s energy.

 

The Five Elements Interactions
The generating cycle	The weakening cycle	The overcoming cycle
Wood generates fire	Wood weakens water	Wood overcomes earth
Fire generates earth	Fire weakens wood	Fire overcomes metal
Earth generates metal	Earth weakens fire	Earth overcomes water
Metal generates water	Metal weakens earth	Metal overcomes wood
Water generates wood	Water weakens metal	Water overcomes fire

Impacts on Overcoming Elements
The overcoming cycle	Overcoming is restricted	Overcoming is dissolved
Wood overcomes earth	Metal restricts wood	Fire dissolves wood
Fire overcomes metal	Water restricts fire	Earth dissolves fire
Earth overcomes water	Wood restricts earth	Metal dissolves earth
Metal overcomes wood	Fire restricts metal	Water dissolves metal
Water overcomes fire	Earth restricts water	Wood dissolves water

The above-mentioned rules reflect only the generic concept of the five-phases/element interactions. Quite often overlooked when solely one element meets another, this does not mean that the producing, weakening, or controlling cycle will be triggered. The when and where defines the element strength, which is the key factor to control or trigger a new cycle; therefore, it is of utmost importance that one must master the unit before the absolute.

Relationship of the elements based on the 日主 Day Master

The characteristics and state of the elements are based on the 日主 Day Master. The Day Master is the upper character of day pillars which are based on the day's 10 Heavenly Stems. 

The element that is overcome by the Day Master is the wealth element.
The element that overcomes the Day Master is the influence element.
The element that the Day Master generates is the output element.
The element that generates the Day Master is the resource element.
The element that is equal to the Day Master is the companion element.