5 Elements, the Zodiac, and Astrology

The Chinese Zodiac is thought to embody an energy that affects the earth and humans in a certain way. these energies are the basic components of everything in the universe: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth, the 5 Elements or Phases, 五行, wu xíng. The relationship between these elements explains how the universe is unfolding at a certain time. All of Astrology is based on how the Five Elements relate to each other. Each Element has a Yin polarity阴 or a Yang 阳 polarity. There is a creative pattern, a destructive pattern, a controlling pattern, an insulting pattern, and a supportive pattern. In the Ba Zi 八 字 system of astrology, each Element relates to relationships, places, and other matters in the human realm. Knowing the Element of your Day Pillar in Chinese astrology and how it relates to other elements can help you discern how to choose beneficial activities, places, and even people in your life. It also helps greatly when you have a conflict with someone because you better understand the nature of that challenge and can overcome it.

For example, if you are a Wood element, Water creates you, you create Fire, you control Earth, and Metal controls you. You are supported by other Wood elements. This is the basis for Four Pillars of Destiny astrology. (see diagram top left)

In a classical representation of a  chart, there will be 4 pillars relating to the hour, day, month, and year a person is born. They will be graphically represented with 4 columns and 4 rows. The columns are called pillars. Each pillar has an earthly as well as heavenly influence called the Earthly Branch and Heavenly Stem. The Chart left is a representation of a natal chart. Inside the Earthly Branch are hidden from 1 to 3 more Heavenly Stems. These Hidden Stems are the Human influence on a BaZi chart. These stems give clues as to the hidden potential of the subject. They are the reserved or hidden traits of the individual. These traits are not usually ones we readily show other people, but are reserved for certain times when we need them.

The Earthly influence was described by the ancient Masters in terms the average person could understand. Thus, animal names were chosen that related to these qualities. These animals/energies relate to individual years, months of the year, days of the week, and hours of the Day. They relate to the Seasons and the 5 Elements:

Wood – Spring- Rabbit 卯, Tiger 寅

Fire – Summer – Snake 巳, Horse 午

Earth – (the end of each season) Ox 丑,  Dragon 辰, Goat 未 , Dog 戌 ,

Metal – Fall- Rooster 酉, Monkey 申

Water – Winter -Pig 亥, Rat 子

The Legend of the Race of the 12 Animals

The evidence of this way of looking at the zodiac dates back 2000 years in China. Myth describes that the Jade Emperor, (Ruler of Heaven and Earth) set up a race to decide the order in which the animals would rule the months and the element they would represent. The race was to cross a river. The first 12 animals to cross were chosen and represented the 12 lunar months.

The strong Ox led during most of the race, but at the last minute, the Rat jumped out of Ox’s ear and in front to win and to be the first animal of the Chinese Zodiac. The Ox was second.

Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth because both were fast and competitive, but Tiger was faster. (Rabbit got across the river by hopping on stepping stones and  floating on a log.)

Good-looking Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who said Dragon’s son could be sixth. But Dragon’s son didn’t come with him that day. Just then, Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth.

Monkey had fallen well behind, but he jumped between trees and stones to catch up to be the ninth animal to finish. Last were Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Non-Chinese speaking people need to understand that these names mean much more than simply an animal. There are different characters for the animal you would find in real life and the name of the Earthly Branch. E.G. an ox that would pull a plow is niu2 牛, but the Ox representing the second lunar month, the NorthEast, the graveyard of the winter months is Chou3, 丑。

Cycles of Time

The cycle of 12 is repeated everywhere in the movement of time on earth. 24 hours of the day (12 x 2） 12 months of the year, and 360° of the compass (12 x 30), 12 ordinary meridians in the body, 12 primary organs, 12 total stars of the Big Dipper. Other important cycles derived from 12 are the 60-month cycle (return of the Grand Duke Jupiter), and the 180-month cycle (3 x 60 months). Ancients thought that these points of time meant a significant change in the condition of humanity and the earth.

In the system of Flying Star (Xuan Kong) Feng Shui, the 180-month cycle is used to understand yet another energy flow. As previously noted, the 12 Animals of the zodiac represent each year, paired with a Heavenly Stem. Each pairing reigns once every 60 years. The 180-month cycle is broken into 3 sections of 60 years each, – Upper, Middle, and Lower. Each period in the cycle lasts 20 years and they are numbered from 1 to 9. The shift from one period is significant and critically important in Flying Star Feng Shui. 2024 is such an important year. We moved from Period 8 to Period 9, the Lower period or final section of the current 180-year cycle. In 2044 we will be in an even greater shift as we move into Period 1 of the next 60-year cycle. 

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