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Wu Xing — Five Elements

Wood — 木

East · Spring · Green / Cyan

Wood — 木

Key Facts

Element
Wood (木, Mù)
Direction
East
Season
Spring
Colour
Green / Cyan
Yin Organ
Liver (肝)
Generates
Fire
Zodiac Animals
Tiger, Rabbit

Wood represents growth, vitality, and upward expansion. In the Huangdi Neijing, Wood governs the liver and sinews, associated with the wind of spring. Classical cosmology positions Wood as the generative force that initiates the creative cycle — it feeds Fire and is nourished by Water.

Classical Correspondences

🧭
East
Direction
🌿
Spring
Season
🎨
Green / Cyan
Colour
🪐
Jupiter (歲星)
Planet
Attribute Correspondence
Yin OrganLiver (肝)
Yang OrganGallbladder (膽)
TasteSour
EmotionAnger (怒)
PlanetJupiter (歲星)

Generating & Overcoming Cycles

Fire
Wood Generates
💧
Water
Generated By
⚔️
Earth
Wood Overcomes
🛡️
Metal
Overcome By

Associated Zodiac Animals

The following zodiac animals have Wood as their fixed element:

Frequently Asked Questions

In classical five-element cosmology, Wood (木) is associated with the East direction and the Spring season.

The zodiac animals with Wood as their fixed element are: Tiger, Rabbit. These animals share Wood's core qualities in their fundamental nature.

Wood generates Fire in the sheng (生) or generating cycle. Wood is itself generated by Water.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wood governs the Liver (肝) (yin organ) and the Gallbladder (膽) (yang organ). The associated emotion is Anger (怒) and the taste is Sour.

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