Identifying the Five Elements in Everything

The Five Elements Theory is an essential component of ancient Chinese philosophy, widely applied in various fields such as philosophy, medicine, astrology, and feng shui. It posits that the world is composed of five fundamental elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—which interact through relationships of generation and control, thereby maintaining the balance and harmony of nature and society. Before applying the Five Elements Theory, this article will teach you how to identify the elemental attributes of most objects.

Personal Five Elements Energy 

You can learn how to calculate your Bazi, your Day Master's Five Elements, and the strength of your Day Master on the Qi Codes blog. Then, you can supplement and enhance specific Five Elements energies based on your specific situation.

Five Elements Energy of Objects 

The Five Elements energy of objects is determined by their material, color, and shape. However, when we assess the Five Elements attributes of an object, it is based on the comprehensive impact of the object on a person's visual, psychological, and sensory perceptions.

For example, an empty rectangular fish tank would be classified as Wood due to its shape. However, once the tank is filled with water and fish, the focus shifts to the moving fish, and the information received is of the Water element. Therefore, the Five Elements attributes of an object are not fixed but are determined by the most dominant characteristic that affects a person.

For instance, ceramic items are essentially Earth, but if decorated with bright red, the Fire element becomes prominent, overshadowing the Earth element. Amethyst follows the same principle.

Although crystal is inherently of the Water element, the purple color dominates, overshadowing the Water element. The same applies to mobile phones; although they have many metal components, the electrical power and glowing screen make the Fire element dominant.

However, in feng shui arrangements, color, material, and shape are all important elements when selecting objects. For example, to enhance Metal in the living room, a circular autumn landscape painting cleverly combines all three: the circle and autumn both belong to Metal, and the golden autumn colors add to the Metal energy, making it both aesthetically pleasing and in line with the principles of the Five Elements.

Appendix: Gemstones and the Five Elements