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.