LESSON F02 / 02 OF 20
Stems, branches, and the Five Phases
The Five Phases aren't substances. They're five ways of getting things done. Spot them, and you'll see which one a person reaches for.
Original app lesson · freely available here
Look at which one you usually reach for, not which one you lack.
The Five Phases in everyday terms
Wood grows outward: starting, expanding, trying new things. Fire rises: expressing, warmth, being seen. Earth draws to the center: steadying, supporting, taking care.
Metal cuts inward: choosing, discipline, finishing cleanly. Water flows down: adapting, thinking, finding paths no one else takes.
Every chart holds a different mix of the five. That's why some people love starting things but struggle to finish, while others hold steady but hesitate to begin.
Stems and branches are the phases in disguise
There are ten stems: Jia and Yi are Wood, Bing and Ding are Fire, Wu and Ji are Earth, Geng and Xin are Metal, Ren and Gui are Water. In each pair, the first is yang and the second is yin.
Yang is outward, direct, and big. Yin is inward, subtle, and lasting. Jia Wood is a tall tree and Yi Wood is a vine. Both are Wood, but they grow in different ways.
The twelve branches add another layer: each one has stems hidden inside. You can skip that for now. Just remember that branches have phases too.
What you're missing isn't the point
Many people start by counting which phase they're missing, then try to make up for it. But a missing phase doesn't mean something is missing from your life. It just means you use that approach less often.
A more useful question is: which approach do I reach for by default? People heavy in Wood can practice finishing. People heavy in Metal can practice not ruling things out too soon.
That shift is the takeaway here. Stop asking what you're missing, and ask what you default to and which habit could balance it.
The Five Phases are five ways of getting things done. Knowing which one you default to is far more useful than counting what's missing.
CHECK YOURSELF
Try the lesson questions
No score. An incorrect first answer enters your review book.
Which way of working is closest to Metal?
Metal cuts inward: it narrows things down and makes decisions. Wood likes to start, Fire likes to express, and Earth likes to support.
What's the difference between Jia Wood and Yi Wood?
Jia is yang Wood and Yi is yin Wood. They grow the same way, but one grows straight like a tree and the other winds like a vine. Neither yang nor yin is better.
Sources and further reading
- Hong Kong Observatory · Stems and branchesNames, time periods, and stem correspondence tables.
- San Ming Tong Hui · Volume 2Chapters on polarity, combinations and clashes. Facsimile collation remains an editorial task.
YOUR STUDY / F02
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