CULTURE | THE NATURAL ELEMENTS
In Chinese Medicine and Astrology
Beyond the success and ruling of dynasties and civilisations , wu xing became especially important in medicine and non-philosophical arenas such as astrology . In Chinese medicine theory , it is believed that we all have our own qi that courses through our body and is divided according to the theory of wu xing to five different organs : The heart is the fire element ; the lungs , metal ; the liver , wood ; the spleen , earth ; and the kidneys , water .
The body , according to the Chinese , is a microcosm of the universe , recapitulating the patterns of the macrocosm ( i . e ., Heaven and Earth ). By using wu xing to explain the physiological phenomena in the body , physicians were able to internalise natural laws and master the operating mechanisms of the human body . The elements guided them in understanding , analysing and studying the interrelations of the functions of the body , to allow them to learn how to better prevent and treat diseases .
Similarly , in Chinese astrology , each zodiac sign is ruled by one or more of the five elements and its yin or yang energy . According to the lore of Chinese astrology , these signs and elements that individuals are born under impacts their entire lives and personalities . If , for example , an individual is born under the wood sign , this means that they are ruled by the yang energy and are thought to be someone who is strong and
Heart Fire
Liver Wood
Spleen Earth
Kidneys Water
Lungs Metal