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Five Stars ... Continued |
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 According to mutual creation the five elements
create each other: Wood creates fire, fire creates earth, earth creates metal, metal
creates water, and water creates wood. According to the principles of mutual closeness
each element is considered attracted to its source. Thus wood is close to water, water to
metal, metal to earth, earth to fire, and fire to wood. An element becomes close to its
creator in much the same way that a child is close to its mother. According to the
principle of mutual destruction there is a series of conflicts between pairs of elements:
Wood weakens earth by removing nutrients from the soil. Earth limits water as exemplified
by man made dams. According to the well-known Chinese proverb, "When water comes it
must be stopped by earth". Water extinguishes fire. Fire conquers metal by melting
it. Metal, in the form of axes and knives, can cut down trees and carve wood. Finally and
conversely, by the principle of mutual fear, an element respects and fears the element
which could destroy it. Wood fears metal, metal fears fire, fire fears water, water fears
earth, and earth fears wood. The similarities ana differences among the principles can be
analyzed in terms of Um and Yang, which supports why the stars are housed within the
Um/Yang symbol. Creation and closeness, both constructive principles, are considered |
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