Wood (木, moku) in the five elements
The life force of plants, reaching up and out.
On this page
1.The nature of Wood
Wood stands for growth, expansion and flexibility. Like plants that bud in spring and spread their branches, it is the urge to start new things and keep growing. The classics describe it as “bending and straightening” (kyokuchoku), because a tree grows straight even as it bends.
2.Correspondences of Wood
- Season
- Spring
- Direction
- East
- Color
- Blue-green (ao)
- Organs
- Liver and gallbladder
- Taste
- Sour
- Sense organ
- Eyes
- Virtue
- Benevolence (jin)
- Planet
- Jupiter
- Guardian beast
- Azure Dragon
- Musical note
- Kaku (E)
- Emotion
- Anger
- Climate
- Wind
- Numbers
- 3 and 8
- Weekday
- Thursday (木曜日)
- Stems
- 甲 Kinoe, 乙 Kinoto
- Branches
- 寅 Tiger, 卯 Rabbit
3.Wood and the other elements
- Water generates Wood: Water gives birth to Wood (helps it)
- Wood generates Fire: Wood gives birth to Fire (lends it strength)
- Wood controls Earth: Wood restrains Earth
- Metal controls Wood: Metal restrains Wood
See the whole picture, with a diagram, in the generating and controlling cycles.
4.Personality of people strong in Wood
People strong in Wood are ambitious and kind, and good at helping others grow. When their growth is blocked they can become irritable, and their plans can spread so wide that they lose control of them.
5.How to boost Wood when it is lacking
When Wood is lacking, motivation fades and you hesitate to take new steps. Bring it back with houseplants, morning walks and blue or green clothes.
Check the balance of your own five elements with the Four Pillars chart.
6.Stems, branches and stars of Wood
Stems: Kinoe (甲), Kinoto (乙)
Branches: Tiger (寅), Rabbit (卯)