CULTURE | THE ELEMENT
FLOWING THROUGH LIFE:
The Water Element
Water is an inherent part of our lives. It covers about 71
percent of Earth’s surface and makes up almost 60 percent of
our bodies. In Chinese philosophy, water represents this vital
element in all its forms: as the elixir of life, in the vast oceans
and its rapid waves, and the rivers that run through the world
– like veins that transmit life into cities, homes, and hearts.
Text Shreya Acharya
Bruce Lee famously said, “You must be
shapeless, formless, like water. When
you pour water in a cup, it becomes the
cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it
becomes the bottle. When you pour water
in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water
can drip and it can crash. Become like
water, my friend.”
Water is one of the five elements in
the Chinese philosophy of wu xing. This
theory first appeared in the studies of
Taoism, during the spring and autumn
period sometime between 770–476 BC.
It rapidly expanded with its use in Chinese
medicine, philosophy, fengshui, fortune-
telling, and martial arts – and is still
prevalent to date.
The five elements – wood, fire, earth,
metal, and water – are generated by the
interaction between yin and yang. Not so
much the actual physical forms of wood,
fire, earth, metal, and water, each element
can be better understood as an expression
of its qualities, and as components of
life and matter. Wood and fire pertain to
yang, while metal and water relate to yin,
and earth represents the perfect harmony
between yin and yang. Conceptually, we
can understand the Five Elements
as energetic forces created by interactions
between yin and yang.
The interactions of the five astrological
elements are circular. In the nurturing
cycle, water breeds wood, wood grows
fire, fire turns into earth (ash), earth yields
metal, metal turns into water, and the
cycle begins again. In the controlling cycle,
water puts out fire, fire controls metal,
metal cuts wood, wood extracts nutrients
from earth, and earth absorbs water, and
the cycle begins again.
According to Taoist belief, the water
element manifests in the evening and at
nighttime, as well as in the north and in
winter. Picture the sea from the shore:
Water is the energy that has boundless
potential, even though it may appear
to be calm on the outside. The water
element also promotes conservation –
literally and metaphorically.
8