On the Generation and Restraint of the Five Elements
Original Text
五行相生相克，其理昭然。十干十二支、五运六气、岁月日时皆自此立，更相为用，在天则为气：寒、暑、燥、湿、风；在地则成形：金、木、水、火、土。形气相感而化生万物，此造化生成之大纪也。原其妙用，可谓无穷矣。
木主于东；应春。木之为言触也，阳气触动，冒地而生也。水流趋东以生木也；木上发而覆下，乃自然之质也。 火主于南，应夏。火之为言化也，毁也，阳在上，阴在下；毁然盛而变化万物也。
钻木取火，木所生也。然火无正体，体本木焉。出以应物，尽而复入，乃自然之气也。 金主于西，应秋。金之为言禁也，阴气始禁止万物而收敛，披沙拣金，土所生也。生于土而别于土，乃自然之形也。
水主于北，应冬。水之为言润也。阴气濡润，任养万物也。水西而东，金所生也。水流曲折，顺下而达，乃自然之性也。 土主于中央，兼位西南，应于长夏。土之为言吐也，含吐万物，将生者出，将死者归，为万物家。故长于夏末，火所生也。
土或胜水，水乃反土，自然之义也。 五行相克，子皆能为母，复雠也。木克土，土之子金反克木；金克木，木之子火反克金；火克金，金之子水反克火；水克火，火之子土反克水；土克水，水之子木反克土。
互能相生，乃其始也；互能相克，乃其终也。皆出乎天之性也。《素问》所谓水生木，木复生火，是木受窃气，故水怒而克火。即子逢窃气，母乃力争，与母被鬼伤，子来力救，其义一也。强可攻弱，土得木而达；实可胜虚，水得土而绝；阴可消阳，火得水而灭；烈可敌刚，金得火而缺；坚可制柔，木得金而伐。故五者流行而更转，顺则相生，逆则相克，如是则各各为用，以成其道而已。
Interpretation
The five elements generate and counteract each other, and the principle is obvious. The ten Heavenly Stems, the twelve Earthly Branches, the five - element cycles and the six qi, as well as the years, months, days, and hours are all established based on this. They interact with each other. In the sky, they manifest as qi: cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and wind; on the earth, they take form as: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The interaction between form and qi gives rise to all things in the world. This is the grand principle of creation and generation. When exploring its wonderful functions, one can say they are infinite.
Wood is associated with the east and corresponds to spring. The word "wood" means "to touch." The yang energy touches and stimulates, causing it to sprout out of the ground. Water flows towards the east to nourish the growth of wood. Wood grows upwards while covering downwards, which is its natural quality.
Fire is associated with the south and corresponds to summer. The meaning of "fire" is transformation and destruction. Yang is above, and Yin is below. It burns vigorously and transforms all things. Fire is obtained by drilling wood, and it is generated from wood. However, fire has no fixed form, and its origin is wood. It emerges to interact with things, and when its function is exhausted, it returns. It is a natural qi.
The Metal element is associated with the west and corresponds to autumn. The term "Metal" implies restraint. At this time, the yin qi begins to restrain all things and cause them to contract. Panning for gold from the sand, gold is produced by the earth. It is born from the earth but distinct from it, which is a natural form.
Water is associated with the north and corresponds to winter. The word "water" implies moistening. The yin qi moistens and nurtures all things. Water flows from the west to the east, as it is generated by metal. Water flows in a winding way, following the downward direction to reach its destination, which is its natural nature.
Earth rules over the center and also occupies the southwest position, corresponding to the late summer. The character "earth" means "to emit". It contains and emits all things. It brings forth the living and takes back the dying, being the home of all things. Therefore, it is prominent at the end of summer, as it is generated by fire. Sometimes earth can overcome water, but water can also counteract earth. This is the natural principle.
The five elements counteract each other, and the offspring can all avenge their mothers. Wood overcomes earth, but the offspring of earth, metal, counteracts wood; metal overcomes wood, but the offspring of wood, fire, counteracts metal; fire overcomes metal, but the offspring of metal, water, counteracts fire; water overcomes fire, but the offspring of fire, earth, counteracts water; earth overcomes water, but the offspring of water, wood, counteracts earth. They can generate each other at the beginning; they can counteract each other in the end. All these are in accordance with the nature of heaven. As stated in "Suwen", water generates wood, and wood then generates fire. In this case, wood has its qi stolen, so water is angry and overcomes fire. That is to say, when the offspring's qi is stolen, the mother will strive to protect it, which is the same as when the mother is injured by an evil force and the offspring comes to rescue her. The strong can attack the weak. Earth can be made to be more useful with the influence of wood; the substantial can overcome the insubstantial. Water can be blocked by earth; the yin can dispel the yang. Fire can be extinguished by water; the fierce can oppose the hard. Metal can be damaged by fire; the hard can control the soft. Wood can be cut by metal. Therefore, the five elements circulate and transform. When they follow the proper order, they generate each other; when they go against the order, they counteract each other. In this way, they each play their own roles to complete the natural law.