Sheng Cycle in Acupuncture

The five basic elements are:
Wood (Chinese: 木, pinyin: mù) --> Green
Fire (Chinese: 火, pinyin: huǒ) --> Red
Earth (Chinese: 土, pinyin: tǔ) --> Yellow
Metal (Chinese: 金, pinyin: jīn) --> White
Water (Chinese: 水, pinyin: shuǐ) --> Black or Blue




The doctrine of five phases describes two cycles, a generating or creation (生, shēng) cycle, also known as "mother-son", and an overcoming or destruction (克/剋, kè) cycle, also known as "grandfather-nephew", of interactions between the phases.


Sheng Cycle in Acupuncture (see figure black arrow)

This cycle means: the birth or helping growth.
Between five basic elements, there are the mutual relationships, the one growth the other one element.

Example:
• Wood feeds Fire;
• Fire creates/produces Earth (ash);
• Earth bears Metal;
• Metal carries Water (as in a bucket or tap, or water condenses on metal);
• Water nourishes Wood.

Other common words for this cycle include "begets", "engenders" and "mothers."
This cycle also known the relationships "Mother" - "Son"

Example:
Wood (Mother) --> Fire (Son)
Fire (Mother --> Earth (Son)
Earth (Mother) --> Metal (Son)
Metal (Mother --> Water (Son)
Water (Mother) --> Wood (Son)

Related Posts