Five element theory

Chinese ancients believe that all things are composed of yin and yang moving eternally and converting into each other, which is the basic law of the whole universe. The simple dialectical thought of coexistence of yin and yang is one of the bases of traditional Chinese philosophic thought.
Five elements are the five substances of wood, fire, soil, gold and water. Chinese ancients think the things in the world are generated from the movement and variation of the five basic substances. Meanwhile, they also interpret the interrelations among things with the mutual generation and restriction relation among the five elements.
Five element theory is a far-reaching thought in Chinese traditional culture. People combine yin and yang, five elements, eight diagrams and other elements together and generate the theoretical system with powerful vitality, so as to explain various nature and social phenomena. For example, the theory of traditional Chinese medicine is based on five element theory.