Wu Xing is sometimes translated as Five Elements, but the Wu Xing are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device, hence the preferred translation of“movements”, “phases” or “steps” over “elements”. By the same token, Mu is thought of as “Tree” rather than “Wood”.
The five elements are:
Wood (木, mù)
Fire (火, huǒ)
Earth (土, tǔ)
Metal (金, jīn)
Water (水, shuǐ)
The elements are infinitely linked, consuming and influencing each other. The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. It was employed as a device in many fields of early Chinese thought, including seemingly disparate fields such as cosmology, geomancy or astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, military strategy and martial arts.
Cycles
The Interactions of Wu Xing: The creation cycle (black, circle shaped arrows) and the overcoming cycle (white, star shaped arrows).
The doctrine of five phases describes two cycles,
a generating or creation (生, shēng) cycle, also known as “mother-son”, and an overcoming or destruction(克, kè) cycle, also known as “grandfather-nephew”, of interactions between the phases.
Generating (相生 xiāng shēng)
The common memory jogs, which help to remind in what order the phases are:
The Wu Xing (五行, w? xíng), also known as the Five Phases, the Five Agents, the Five Movements, and the Five Steps/Stages, are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device, in many traditional Chinese fields.
Wood feeds Fire;
Fire creates Earth (ash);
Earth bears Metal;
Metal carries Water (as in a bucket or tap, or water condenses on metal);
Water nourishes Wood.
Other common words for this cycle include “begets”, “engenders” and“mothers”.
Overcoming (相克 xiāng kè)
Wood parts Earth (such as roots; or, Trees can prevent soil erosion);
Earth absorbs (or muddies) Water (or an Earth dam can control water);
Water quenches Fire;
Fire melts Metal;
Metal chops Wood.
This cycle might also be called “controls”, “restrains” or “fathers”.
Extension
Each element corresponds to different states in the movement. Here is the chart for what each element represents.