01/03/2025
五行 5 phases.
Similar to how the concept of yin and yang classifies a myriad of dualities, the concept of the 5 phases classifies an interconnected and interdependent web of systems. Systems in the external world such as 5 seasons (including late summer), and within the organism on the tangible level of tissues (skin, sinews, muscles, vessels, bones), the intangible conscious level (joy, anger, worry, grief, fear), and the sensory level of sense orifices/organs, and flavors. Within channel theory too, channels are of specific phases, and each channel has categorical points corresponding to each phase.
The 5 phases share 2 relationships: engendering, and controlling/destroying. For example, the wood phase engenders fire, and is engendered by water. Wood controls earth, and is controlled by metal. In the human, this is relevant to disease patterns. The liver is of wood, and the spleen/stomach is earth. Liver imbalance can be destructive to the spleen and look like stress disrupting the liver, over-controlling the spleen/stomach causing stress-induced digestive/abdominal disturbance, unhealthy cravings, and depression.
Furthermore, emotional states can be indicative of underlying imbalances. Going back to the wood/liver example, a propensity to anger and frustration indicates its imbalance. This could lend insight into the root cause of a seemingly unrelated coinciding condition.
