Metal金 Water水 Wood木 Fire火 Earth土

The "Five Elements" are Wood (木 mù), Fire (火 huǒ), Earth (土 tǔ), Metal (金 jīn), and Water (水 shuǐ). This order is "mutual generation" (相生 xiāngshēng)

In the order of "mutual overcoming" (相克 xiāngkè), they are Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, and Metal


The common memory jogs, which help to remind in what order the phases are (Generating):

• Wood feeds Fire
• Fire creates Earth (ash)
• Earth bears Metal
• Metal enriches Water (as in water with minerals is more beneficial to the body than pure water)
• Water nourishes Wood

   Overcoming

• Wood parts Earth (such as roots; or, Trees can prevent soil erosion)
• Earth dams (or muddles or absorbs) Water
• Water extinguishes Fire
• Fire melts Metal
• Metal chops Wood