Figure 5.

Basic principle of the five elements theory. Each element is generated by another (generation cycle), but also controlled by another one (destruction cycle). Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water and water generates wood, as depicted by the colored curved arrows. Meanwhile, wood controls earth, earth controls water, water controls fire, fire controls metal and metal controls wood, as depicted by the colored T arrows. The interaction between the elements in this network is governed by Yin and Yang, symbolized by the Tai Ji symbol.