The Five Elements
五行详解 · 金木水火土
The Five Elements — Metal (金), Wood (木), Water (水), Fire (火), and Earth (土) — are the fundamental forces in Chinese metaphysics. They interact through generating (生) and controlling (克) cycles, shaping your BaZi chart and everything in the natural world.
The Generating Cycle (相生)
Wood feeds Fire → Fire creates Earth (ash) → Earth bears Metal → Metal collects Water (condensation) → Water nourishes Wood.
木生火 → 火生土 → 土生金 → 金生水 → 水生木
The Controlling Cycle (相克)
Wood breaks Earth (roots) → Earth absorbs Water (dams) → Water extinguishes Fire → Fire melts Metal → Metal chops Wood.
木克土 → 土克水 → 水克火 → 火克金 → 金克木
Each Element in Detail
Metal 金
Structure, discipline, righteousness. Metal people are principled, organized, and value precision. They thrive on clarity and can be formidable when focused.
刚毅、纪律、义气。金性之人有原则、有条理、重视精确。他们在清晰中成长，专注时势不可挡。
- Generates: Water (金生水)
- Controls: Wood (金克木)
- Generated by: Earth (土生金)
- Controlled by: Fire (火克金)
Wood 木
Growth, expansion, flexibility. Wood people are idealistic, creative, and driven to grow. They adapt well but can become rigid when their vision is blocked.
生长、扩展、柔韧。木性之人有理想、有创造力、渴望成长。他们适应力强，但愿景受阻时会变得固执。
- Generates: Fire (木生火)
- Controls: Earth (木克土)
- Generated by: Water (水生木)
- Controlled by: Metal (金克木)
Water 水
Wisdom, adaptability, depth. Water people are intuitive, reflective, and resourceful. They flow around obstacles but can become withdrawn when overwhelmed.
智慧、变通、深沉。水性之人直觉敏锐、善于反思、足智多谋。他们绕开障碍而行，但压力过大时会退缩。
- Generates: Wood (水生木)
- Controls: Fire (水克火)
- Generated by: Metal (金生水)
- Controlled by: Earth (土克水)
Fire 火
Passion, warmth, transformation. Fire people are charismatic, energetic, and inspiring. They light up a room but can burn out without steady fuel.
热情、温暖、变革。火性之人有魅力、精力充沛、鼓舞人心。他们点亮全场，但没有持续燃料会燃尽。
- Generates: Earth (火生土)
- Controls: Metal (火克金)
- Generated by: Wood (木生火)
- Controlled by: Water (水克火)
Earth 土
Stability, nourishment, patience. Earth people are grounded, reliable, and nurturing. They provide a foundation for others but can become stuck in inertia.
稳定、滋养、耐心。土性之人踏实、可靠、善于滋养他人。他们为他人提供根基，但可能陷入惯性。
- Generates: Metal (土生金)
- Controls: Water (土克水)
- Generated by: Fire (火生土)
- Controlled by: Wood (木克土)
Your Element in BaZi
In your BaZi chart, your Day Master (日主) is your core element. The balance of all five elements in your chart — and how they shift across your luck cycles — reveals your strengths, challenges, and the rhythm of your life. Cast your chart on Auspice to discover yours.