Fire (Wu Xing)
Encyclopedia
Fire is the prosper of the matter, or the matter's prosperity stage. Fire is the second phase of Wu Xing.
Fire is yang
in character. Its motion is upward and its energy is expansive. It is associated with Summer
, the South
, the planet Mars
, the color red
(associated with extreme luck), hot weather, daylight, and the Vermilion Bird (Zhu Que) in the Four Symbols
(which is associated with a red phoenix in Western culture).
thought, Fire attributes are considered to be dynamism, strength and persistence; however, it is also connected to restlessness. The fire element provides warmth, enthusiasm and creativity, however an excess of it can bring aggression, impatience and impulsive behavior. In the same way, fire provides heat and warmth, however an excess can also burn.
In Chinese Medicine, fire is associated with negative emotions of hate and the positive emotion is joy. The organs
associated with this element are the heart (yin
), tongue, and a body's pulse.
and feng shui
. Fire is included in the 10 heavenly stems
(the five elements in their yin and yang
forms), which combine with the 12 earthly branches
(or Chinese signs of the zodiac
), to form the 60 year cycle
. Yang fire years end in 6 (eg 1976), while Yin years end in 7 (eg 1977). Fire governs the Chinese zodiac signs Snake
, Horse
, and Sheep.
Flying Star Feng Shui
uses number 9 to represent Fire. The South corner releases energy of Fire as I Ching and Feng Shui
states. It is generally referred as energy of destroying and rebuilding. It also directly relates to a lucky lovelife.
as "fire reduces everything to ashes, which become a part of the earth again".
In the conquest cycle, water
overcomes Fire as "nothing will put out a fire as quickly as water"; Fire overcomes metal as it "can only be melted and forged" by flame or heat.
Cycle of Wu Xing states that Fire defeats (melts) Metal while Water defeats (extinguishes) Fire. However, it is also stated that strong flaming Fire may exhaust small amount of Water (boiling).
Fire is yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
in character. Its motion is upward and its energy is expansive. It is associated with Summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
, the South
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
, the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, the color red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
(associated with extreme luck), hot weather, daylight, and the Vermilion Bird (Zhu Que) in the Four Symbols
Four Symbols (Chinese constellation)
The Four Symbols are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations. They are:*Azure Dragon of the East *Vermilion Bird of the South *White Tiger of the West *Black Tortoise of the North...
(which is associated with a red phoenix in Western culture).
Attributes
In Chinese TaoistTaoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
thought, Fire attributes are considered to be dynamism, strength and persistence; however, it is also connected to restlessness. The fire element provides warmth, enthusiasm and creativity, however an excess of it can bring aggression, impatience and impulsive behavior. In the same way, fire provides heat and warmth, however an excess can also burn.
In Chinese Medicine, fire is associated with negative emotions of hate and the positive emotion is joy. The organs
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
associated with this element are the heart (yin
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
), tongue, and a body's pulse.
Astrology
The element plays an important role in Chinese AstrologyChinese astrology
Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty ....
and feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
. Fire is included in the 10 heavenly stems
Heavenly Stems
The ten Celestial or Heavenly Stems are a Chinese system of ordinals that first appear during the Shang dynasty, ca. 1250 BC, as the names of the ten days of the week. They were also used in Shang-period ritual as names for dead family members, who were offered sacrifices on the corresponding day...
(the five elements in their yin and yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
forms), which combine with the 12 earthly branches
Earthly Branches
The Earthly Branches provide one Chinese system for reckoning time.This system was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter. Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections to follow the orbit of Suìxīng . Astronomers rounded the orbit of Suixing to 12 years...
(or Chinese signs of the zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
), to form the 60 year cycle
Sexagenary cycle
The Chinese sexagenary cycle , also known as the Stems-and-Branches , is a cycle of sixty terms used for recording days or years. It appears, as a means of recording days, in the first Chinese written texts, the Shang dynasty oracle bones from the late second millennium BC. Its use to record years...
. Yang fire years end in 6 (eg 1976), while Yin years end in 7 (eg 1977). Fire governs the Chinese zodiac signs Snake
Snake (zodiac)
The Snake is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Snake is associated with the earthly branch symbol 巳.-Years and the Five Elements:...
, Horse
Horse (zodiac)
The Horse is the seventh of the 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Horse is associated with the earthly branch symbol 午.- Years and the Five Elements :...
, and Sheep.
Flying Star Feng Shui
Flying Star Feng Shui
Xuan Kong Flying Star feng shui or Xuan Kong Fei Xing is one of disciplines in Feng Shui, and is an integration of the principles of Yin Yang, the interactions between five elements, the eight trigrams, the Lo Shu numbers, and the 24 Mountains, by using time, space and object to create an...
uses number 9 to represent Fire. The South corner releases energy of Fire as I Ching and Feng Shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
states. It is generally referred as energy of destroying and rebuilding. It also directly relates to a lucky lovelife.
Cycles of Wu Xing
In the regenerative cycle of Wu Xing, wood engenders Fire as "fire is generated by rubbing together two pieces of wood" and it must be fueled by burning wood; Fire begets earthEarth (Wu Xing)
Earth , is the changing point of the matter. Earth is the third one of Wu Xing.Earth is a balance of both yin and yang, the feminine and masculine together. Its motion is inward and centering, and its energy is stabilizing and conserving. It is associated with the color yellow and the planet...
as "fire reduces everything to ashes, which become a part of the earth again".
In the conquest cycle, water
Water (Wu Xing)
Water , is the low point of the matter, or the matter's dying or hiding stage. Water is the fifth stage of Wu Xing.Water is the most yin in character of the Five elements. Its motion is downward and inward and its energy is stillness and conserving...
overcomes Fire as "nothing will put out a fire as quickly as water"; Fire overcomes metal as it "can only be melted and forged" by flame or heat.
Cycle of Wu Xing states that Fire defeats (melts) Metal while Water defeats (extinguishes) Fire. However, it is also stated that strong flaming Fire may exhaust small amount of Water (boiling).