Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven: The Wuxing Intergenerate — the Cycle First Forms

Volume Four: The Dao Gives Rise to Myriad Things — Life First Sprouts

After the five elemental qi forms had established their independence, the relationships among them also began to reveal themselves. Pangu observed that a wondrous relationship of mutual generation and mutual overcoming existed among the Wuxing: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood. The five elemental qi forms were linked like the links of a chain, forming a complete cycle.

The mutual generation relationship drove the flow of energy through Heaven and Earth. Wood drew nourishment from Earth to feed Fire; Fire, after burning, became ash that enriched Earth; Earth held within it the ores of Metal; Metal, melted, became liquid as Water; Water in turn nourished Wood. All five cycles of generation operated simultaneously, maintaining the inner balance of Heaven and Earth.

The mutual overcoming relationship prevented any single qi form from developing to excess. If Wood grew too rampant, it would drain Earth's nourishment — but Metal could overcome Wood. If Fire blazed too fiercely, it would burn up Wood — but Water could overcome Fire. The generating and overcoming cycles of the Wuxing were like a hidden balance, keeping Heaven and Earth in living harmony.

The Wuxing cycle embodied the perfection of the innate celestial number. Five corresponded to the rhythm of the cycle, to the harmony of mutual generation and mutual overcoming. The interactions of the Wuxing formed the basic framework for the world's operation.

The Wuxing intergenerating, the cycle first forming. The mutual generation and overcoming relationships laid the natural order's most fundamental architecture. In the ages to come, every life would be born into this cycle, grow within it, and ultimately return to it. The Wuxing were the world's heartbeat — five pulses interwoven into one eternal rhythm.