Nb. Symbology used to express complex characteristics and interactions.

Five general types of energy were identified.

EARTH METAL WATER WOOD FIRE

These Elements are used to describe the quality of five general types of energy(Qi). The 5 Element Cycles were developed to explain their interactions with each other.

Everything (physical and immaterial) can be described as having the general quality of one element. Although made up of all the other elements, to a lesser extent, it is the main characteristic.
Nb. A more refined description of quality is obtained by calculating the amount of other elements present. (see advanced section).

Their qualities and interactions is the key to understanding all Feng Shui and all Taoist practices.

Taoists identified a supreme original force/energy they called Wu Qi from which everything is created.

Nb. Taoist writings (I am aware of) shed no light on explaining Wu Qi in a scientific way. I have include my own flawed take on the subject. It is probably sound to assume that "something from nothing" implies that "nothing" must be "something", and that the "nothing" must be a very powerful and creative force.

Wu Qi

Wu Qi is singularity rather than a duality. It is the source, creative energy, of everything "known".

All things in the Spiritual realm are unified, all things in the physical world are dualities.

There have been various "cross-over" theories to explain this Original force in Scientific speak. One theory is that the "nothingness" is what Physicists describe as "Dark Matter" or subtle sub atomic entities. Dark Matter, is currently believed, to make up approximately 90% of everything. The remaining 10% being the physical universe, or what we generally think of as real ( planets, atmosphere, people,stuff).

Please see the "advanced" section for more deliberation.

The diagram opposite shows the transformation of energy from subtle to physical. It explains everything. From unity (Wu Qi), perfect harmony (Tai Qi), splitting into (Yin and Yang(duality)) and then (dependent on the quality and proportions) forming the variety of our world (5 Elements to 64 hexagrams and beyond).

The transition of Wu Qi into the physical can be thought of as Tai Qi or a state of perfect (imperfect) balance. ( rather like, the kernel of creation spaws an instance of perfect duality to enable the formation of unlimited possible variations ).

The instantaneous (spark of life) formation of yin and yang from a Tai Qi state is the point of physical manifestation.

The proportion of Yin and Yang present in anything characterizes it.

The Chinese used a binary system to describe the quality of energy.
Yang (+'ve, male) is a solid line and Yin (-'ve, female) is a broken line. (please refer to the Yin & Yang section for an explanation).

Think of Man as a model of the integration of Yin and Yang.
Physical energy is manifested as the body and Subtle energy manifested as the mind and spirit.

Modern Science is aware of the 4 main forces, strong nuclear, weak nuclear, gravity and electromagnetism. The Taoists included a 5th harmonizing force (Earth). The natural way is for the 4 forces (Fire, Metal, Water and Wood) to be in conflict and the Earth element as harmonizer.

Yang


Yin


Tai Qi
(balanced mixture of yin & yang)

Fire=spirit / mental energy.

Earth= the uniting, harmonising and neutral force.

Metal=characterised by gravity.

Water=aggregation, contraction, collection, condensation.

Wood=explosion, disaggregate, dispersion, dissipation.

Normal and regular (generative) cycle of energy flow.

Fire feeds earth ( ash / nutrients ).
Earth feeds metal ( minerals ).
Metal feeds water ( metal sweats ).
Water feeds wood.
Wood feeds fire.
Earth is at the centre, with it's harmonising influence.

Abnormal (control) cycle of energy flow.

Fire controls metal ( melts ).
Metal controls wood ( chops ).
Wood controls earth ( extracts ).
Earth controls water ( contains ).
Water controls fire ( extinguishes
Nb. There are further levels to these exchanges. e.g.. Big fire combined with small water creates steam which is very auspicious.