WuXing

Maya Journey                                                                            Español

Qì Gōng - Vital energy; relationship between matter, energy and spirit

Wu Xing or Five Phases or Elements – consists of two cycles, the generating or creation shēng cycle, “mother-son”, and the destruction cycle, kè, “grandfather-nephew.”
Five thousand years ago, the Chinese physicians developed a system to understand the way the human body heals. By observing the way the world is renewed, they saw that the human body does it in the same way.
The WuXing system is based on the belief that the five elements govern the emotional, spiritual and physical body in the same way that they regulate the natural world. In simpler terms, the human body has 12 major “highways” called meridians. Each meridian is a channel in which Qi (Chi), the vital energy, travels. Each meridian or channel affect certain organs. The disease is caused by blockage, stagnant or irregular energy flow in our meridians. We can maintain our health by harmonizing our energy through movement, diet, massages, exercises and vibration. We can increase our vital energy, working on our Shen, Jing and Qì. Shen-Spirit, Jing-Root, Qi-Vital Energy
There are 365 points in our body. If the Qi flow is slow or if there is blockage, we will have pain or sickness. Exercise, massage and acupuncture are used to unblock those passageways, together with visualization and meditation.

The Wu Xing, known as the five phases or movements is sometimes translated as the five elements. It is an ancient device of forms to move the vital energy. 
In the Canon of Internal Medicine compiled in China during the 3rd C BC, each element is associated with a set of organs along with specific tastes, emotions, seasons, colors, sounds, etc. from each person. 
In the 6th C BC, Lao Tzi mentioned these characteristics based on the concept of the five elements.
The interaction of Yin-Yang and the five elements are used in Qì Gōng and T’ai Chi in their practice for disease prevention, the opening of meridians and to help the flow of Qì and obtain a general well-being. Such a system has been developed through thousands of years of clinical experiences in China and is used in the treatment and diagnosis to date. 
This is one of the many exercises that are easy to follow even when you don't have access to a trainer or when you don't like to exercise in a group:




The meridians are the "highways" that our body uses to replenish the Qì or vital energy.
Wu Zhong Liu Xing Zhi Chi or Wu Xing is an exercise that contains a series of ways in which 5 types of Qi (Chi, Ji) move. These types dominate movements at different times depending on the form. They are called five elements, qualities, properties, etc. depending on the school and are water, wood, fire, metal and earth and resemble Qi, but should not be taken literally, it is only used to describe properties. The five elemental energies maintain harmony through a system of cycles known as creative cycles and control in order to maintain balance, movement and energy transformation.
The Five Elemental Energies of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water cover all the phenomena of nature. It is a paradigm that applies equally to human beings. Classic Yellow Emperor of Internal Medicine
Each Element interacts and has a direct relationship with each other. Used in traditional Chinese Medicine, music and martial arts, it also is used in the Chinese Astrology and in the art of Kānyú (Feng Shui).

Each element is creative or destructive and reflect the relationship and influence that nature, vibration and the effect that everything in this universe has on our health through our organ meridians.
Our Organ Meridians are the “highways” that our body use to replenish the Qì or Vital Energy. Illness is caused by blocked, stagnant or erratic energy flow in our Meridians. We can learn to visualize in order to move our Qi. We can learn the 7 Principles to have harmony in our lives and to obtain a positive outlook.
Creative Cycle:
Water nurtures wood; Wood nurtures fire; Fire creates earth; Earth creates metal; Metal condenses water.
Destructive Cycle:
Wood penetrates and destroys earth; Earth absorbs and destroys water; Water puts out fire; Fire melts metal; Metal chops wood.

Five Elements
Creative Cycle
Tree or Wood – pinyin: mù
Fire – pinyin: huǒ - create the earth - heart, blood, love, compassion, joy
Earth – pinyin: tǔ - creates metal - stomach, spleen, pancreas
Metal (gold) – pinyin: jīn - condenses water - lungs

Water – pinyin: shuǐ - feeds the wood - lymphatic system, bone marrow, hormones and enzymes
Wood - feed the fire - muscles
Destructive Cycle:
Wood - penetrates and destroys the earth - feelings of anger, jealousy, frustration, stagnation and suffering
Earth - absorbs and destroys water - digestion, imbalance, health and vitality diminish
Water - turn off the heat - excess heat, exhaustion, excess stress or emotions
Fire - melts the metal - hypertension, heart and nerve problems
Metal - chopping wood - colds and other respiratory diseases that are common indicators of the energy of blocked metal, which is associated with the lungs
“Tu Na” is the breath method in which the main focus is in expelling the stale energy while rejuvenating the fresh energy.
The idea that there are five basic energies that make up the universe was used many centuries ago and is still used by physicians, martial arts, Feng Shui, masters, acupuncture, and in different disciplines of Tao followers.
Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth relate to specific organs and, through the practice of the movements, breathing, visualization and mental awareness, we work with those elements to balance our Qi.
As we open the blocked meridians, energy starts flowing again and we obtain balance, vitality and improve our health.
“The Five Elemental Energies of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water encompass all the myriad phenomena of nature. It is a paradigm that applies equally to humans.”
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine
Water – elemental energy dominates in winter, when the energy is conserved and stored. Water has great power waiting to be released. Associated with lymph, marrow, hormones and enzymes, it is dissipated by excess heat and depleted when we have stress or excess emotions. Represented in the color black because it contains all colors. –Water generates wood….
Wood – dominates in spring and arises from the energy of “water.” Wood needs space for expansion, blocking it brings feelings of anger, jealousy, frustration, stagnation and suffering. It is associated with movement of muscles.Represented in green. – Wood generates fire…
“Fire” – dominates in summer; the most energetic phase, stable and warm. Fire energy relates to the heart and it is represented in red. Associated with fire, blood, love, compassion and joy. If the fire is blocked it results in hypertension, heart and nervous problems. – Fire burns down and generates earth…. “Earth” – end of summer; perfect balance, neither yin nor yang predominate. The Five Elemental Energies are in harmony at this time. There is a sense of well being and ease. Color yellow, it is associated with the stomach, spleen, and pancreas, which lie at the center of the body and nourish the entire system. If Earth energy is deficient,digestion is impaired and the entire organism is thrown off balance owing to insufficient nourishment and vitality.- As summer passes into autumn, the energy of Earth transforms into Metal. “Metal” – fall, energy begins to condense for accumulation and storage, just as the crops of summer are harvested and stored in autumn for use in winter. Wastes are eliminated, Metal energy controls the lungs. Colds, and other respiratory ailments are common indicators of blocked Metal energy. Represented in white (purity), it is the season of retrospection and meditation; letting go. Imbalance Metal element: feelings of melancholy, anxiety, manifesting in breathing difficulties, skin problems, and low resistance. Metal becomes liquid like Water when it is melted…
For the triple burner, the sound is Heeeeeeee, without actually making the vocal chords vibrate and by bringing the sound from the lower Dan T’ien.
Each of the sounds and movements should be repeated 3, 6 or 9 times.  Do not overdo it at first. Heart or lung disorders patients should use low mid-level volumes when practicing.
Spleen, liver, kidney, stomach and intestinal disorders, moderate to loud volumes can be used.

Also used are the pinyin dà shū  or "Great Numbers."

The number of acupuncture points 365 and 12 main meridians regulate our Vital Energy. 

There are variations of the sounds, depending on the school.

Five Movements and the relationship to the Five Elements and Five Sounds:

Chopping - Pī – Metal like an axe chopping up and over

Drilling - Zuān - Water drilling like a geyser

Crushing - Bēng - Wood - Arrows constantly exploding forward

Exploding - Pào - Fire like a cannon while blocking

Crossing - Héng - Earth Crossing across the line of attack while turning over

The production and storage of Qì and blood regulate digestion, breathing, water metabolism, musculus-skeletal system, skin, organs, aging, emotional processes, mental activity etc. Disease is perceived as an imbalance of the functions of Yin, Yang, Qì, xuĕ, zàng-fǔ, meridians and/or the interaction between the human body and the environment. The fǔ organs main purpose is merely to transmit and digest waste, food, etc. and are paired with one of the Five Elements: 
Fire - Heart - Small Intestine - Triple Burner" and Pericardium 
Earth – Spleen and Stomach

Metal - Lung and Large Intestine 

Water – Kidney and Bladder 

Wood - Liver and Gallbladder

In order to determine which pattern has to be corrected, practitioners will examine color and shape of the tongue, pulse, smell, breathing or sound of the voice.

The Wu Xing, known as the Five Phases, Elements or Movements, is an ancient learning device of movements. In the Cannon of Internal Medicine compiled in China during the 3rd.C.B.C., each element is associated with a set of organs together with specific tastes, emotions, seasons, colors, sounds, etc..

In the 6th.C.B.C. Lao Tzi mentioned these characteristics based on the Five Element Concept. 
The interactions of the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements are used in QìGong and T’ai Chi in 
their practice as prevention of diseases, opening of the meridians to help the flow of Chi or 
Qìand for a general well being. Such system has been developed through thousands of years 
of clinical experiences in China and are used in treating and diagnosis to this day. 
The Classic Internal Medicine Classic describes the control cycle: 
Wood brought into contact with Metal is felled; Fire brought into contact with Water is extinguished; 
Earth brought into contact with Wood is penetrated; Metal brought into contact with Fire is dissolved; 
Water brought into contact with Earth is halted. 
There is a great explanation in these sites: Master JosephYu explains Chinese Five Elements

Tao of Heaven and Earth: Kānyú or Feng Shui 

Kānyú, a Chinese system of Geomancy, uses the laws of Chinese Astronomy & Earth to improve life by
 re-directing the Qì. It also uses the Wu Xing or 5

Elements.We know this system as “wind/water” or feng shui, taken from the  Zangshu Book of Burial by 
Guo Pu (265 and 420 CE.).

"Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.”

Deficiency of the Qì in any organ means that it is out of balance.

Each element has a specific meridian that ensures the flow of the vital force throughout the body.

Imbalance between the Yin and Yang will affect the organs adversely.

Exercise, massage and acupuncture help move the Qì.

Humans are a miniature version of the universe; everything that we do, think or
say, and that surrounds us, affects us.

Where the mind goes, the Qi flows. Use your mind accordingly. (positive thinking).

Associations:

Wood - eye,

Fire - tongue,

Earth - mouth,

Metal - nose

Water - ears

Five Emotions, Directions, Color, Climate

Wood - anger, east, green/blue, wind

Fire - joy, south, red, heat

Earth - compassion, center, yellow, damp

Metal - grief, west, white, dryness 

Water – fear, north, black, cold

Organ, Facial Part, Eye Part

Wood - Liver, Gallbladder, eye, above the bridge of the nose, iris.
Fire - Heart, Small Intestine, tongue, between eyes in the lower part, inner/outer corner of the eye.

Earth - Spleen, Stomach, mouth, bridge of nose, upper and lower lid.

Metal - Lung, large intestine, nose, between eyes in the middle part, sclera.
Water – Kidney, bladder, ears, cheeks below the cheekbone, pupil.

Taste enters through the gastrointestinal tract and seeks its corresponding organ, sound is used to gently
massage the organ. Depending on the school, the sounds will vary.

Wood – Liver – Sour - Shuu

Fire – Heart - Bitter - Haaa

Earth – Spleen – Sweet - Whoo

Metal – Lung – Spice - Tss

Water – Kidney – Salt – Fuu