Earth (土, do) in the five elements
The earth that receives, nurtures and takes back all things.
On this page
1.The nature of Earth
Earth stands for stability, acceptance and nurturing. Sow a seed and it bears fruit; what withers returns to the soil. The classics call it “sowing and reaping” (kashoku). The last 18 days or so of each season are called doyō and belong to Earth, the element that hands one season over to the next.
2.Correspondences of Earth
- Season
- Doyō (the change of seasons)
- Direction
- Center
- Color
- Yellow
- Organs
- Spleen and stomach
- Taste
- Sweet
- Sense organ
- Mouth
- Virtue
- Trust (shin)
- Planet
- Saturn
- Guardian beast
- Yellow Dragon (or Qilin)
- Musical note
- Kyū (C)
- Emotion
- Pensiveness
- Climate
- Damp
- Numbers
- 5 and 10
- Weekday
- Saturday (土曜日)
- Stems
- 戊 Tsuchinoe, 己 Tsuchinoto
- Branches
- 丑 Ox, 辰 Dragon, 未 Goat, 戌 Dog
3.Earth and the other elements
- Fire generates Earth: Fire gives birth to Earth (helps it)
- Earth generates Metal: Earth gives birth to Metal (lends it strength)
- Earth controls Water: Earth restrains Water
- Wood controls Earth: Wood restrains Earth
See the whole picture, with a diagram, in the generating and controlling cycles.
4.Personality of people strong in Earth
People strong in Earth are sincere and caring, and gather trust around them. Persistent, they keep their promises. On the other hand they may overthink until they freeze, or dislike change so much that they become stubborn.
5.How to boost Earth when it is lacking
When Earth is lacking, you feel unsettled and your daily rhythm falls apart. Bring it back by touching soil (gardening, pottery), using yellow and brown, and eating at regular times.
Check the balance of your own five elements with the Four Pillars chart.
6.Stems, branches and stars of Earth
Stems: Tsuchinoe (戊), Tsuchinoto (己)
Branches: Ox (丑), Dragon (辰), Goat (未), Dog (戌)