Chairman
LIM Geok Khoon
No . 145 • Issue 6 / 2020 CONTENTS
Elements of Life Issue
E DI TOR I A L Publisher / Editorial Director John THET • thet @ asiangeo . com Editor Shreya ACHARYA • editor @ asiangeo . com Assistant Editor Elizabeth LIM • editor @ asiangeo . com contributing Editor Ian BONGSO-SELDRUP • ian @ uw360 . asia
DE S IG N Assistant Art Director Tinhtwe JUSTIN • tintin @ asiangeo . com contributing Designer WONG Shee Leng • leng @ asiangeo . com
ADVERTISING & MARKETING regional Business ManagerS Elysee TAN • elysee @ asiangeo . com Desmond HO • desmond @ asiangeo . com Karter LEE • karter @ uw360 . asia
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Marketing Manager Nora ISMAIL • nora @ uw360 . asia
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CIRCULATION Senior traffic / production Manager Victor OW • victor @ asiangeo . com
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CULTURE
06 Wu Xing : The Five Elements Philosophy
CULTURE
10 The Symbolism of the Natural Elements in Different Cultures
CULTURE
18 Who Are You ?
CULTURE
24 The Water Element
CULTURE
44 The Wood Element
nature
46 Charcoal : A Healing Wonder from the Ashes
CULTURE
64 The Fire Element
CULTURE
82 The Earth Element
CULTURE
96 The Metal Element
119
TIMELESS
A Wuxing Poem
FEATURE : the water
28 Oceans , Seas , Rivers Asia is caught between two huge oceans , the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific to the east . In between these water bodies is a complex geography of land and water that has given rise to some of the most fascinating and species-rich seas – and subsequently rivers – in and around the continent
FEATURE : money
50 Money Through the Ages
No one really takes a good hard look at money these days . It is , however , the pride of every nation . Here we take a look at the faces of money across Asia , noting each prominent element
FEATURE : The Fire Within 66 Burning with Desire
Fire has a symbolic function in a multitude of Asia ’ s – and the world ’ s – religious beliefs , and it is used in celebration as well as mourning . The symbolism of fire has inspired other areas as well , including the occult , literature , and art . And the results are nothing short of enchanting
FEATURE : from the very BEGINNING
84 From the Very Beginning : A World of
Inventions
Our human ancestors started innovating nearly 2.5 million years ago
100
106
120
124
FEATURE : the metal
The Future of Metals
Today , metals are found in our most sophisticated technological innovations and have become essential elements in maintaining our high-tech way of life
FEATURE : Metal Revolution
Metal Revolution : The Eight Metals that Shaped Society
The discovery of metals revolutionised civilisations
highlights
Philippines
highlights
Rolex and Yachting
ON THE COVER
The five elements and their corresponding human organs , arranged in a circle to
show the Creation Cycle as a pentagram
Copyright © 2020 by Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd . No material may be reproduced without written permission . This publication is purchased with the understanding that information is presented from many sources for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to accuracy , originality , or completeness . It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering product endorsements or providing instruction as a substitute for appropriate training by qualified sources . All content provided is accurate at the time of publishing . Unmarked Images are purchased from Shutterstock . Please recycle .
MCI ( P ) 097 / 06 / 2019 ; PPS 1367 / 04 / 2013 ( 022956 ) ISSN 0219-3310
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