I Ching · Five Phases · Chakras
The Five Elements and Seven Chakras: An I Ching Perspective
The Five Elements in Hong Fan · The Eight Trigrams · Chakra Elements · Reiki and Self-Awareness
The Chinese Five Elements — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth — and India’s seven chakras are two “energy maps” from different cultures. Comparing them can offer more perspectives on imbalance in body, mind and spirit. To make a careful comparison, however, we first need to distinguish their origins: where do the Five Elements come from, how are they related to the I Ching, and which elements were originally associated with the chakras?
This article traces the origins of three systems, then uses three tables to compare chakra traditions, the Five Elements in Chinese medicine, and Soul Love Center’s approach to integrating their qualities. It concludes with a daily self-awareness exercise incorporating Usui Reiki.
⚠️ Important notice: this article explores energy philosophies and cultural interpretations solely as a reference for self-awareness. Its “signs of imbalance” refer only to emotional and psychological experiences and cannot be used to diagnose illness. Consult a registered medical practitioner if you feel physically unwell.
At a glance
The Five Elements appear in the Hong Fan chapter of the Book of Documents and began to be linked with the I Ching’s Eight Trigrams during the Han dynasty. Chakra texts instead refer to Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. There is no universally accepted correspondence between the systems: these are modern interpretations best used as frameworks for self-awareness.
In this article
- Where do the Five Elements come from? From Hong Fan to the I Ching
- How the Eight Trigrams correspond to the Five Elements
- The generating and controlling cycles
- The origins of the seven chakras and their five elements
- Chakras and Usui Reiki
- Comparing three systems of correspondence
- Integrating qualities: the Five Elements and seven chakras
- What the generating and controlling cycles suggest about chakra balance
- A daily 15-minute Five Elements and chakra-awareness exercise
- Related courses
- Frequently asked questions
Origin of Wuxing
1. Where Do the Five Elements Come From? From Hong Fan to the I Ching
The earliest explicit account: Hong Fan in the Book of Documents
The Five Elements are explicitly recorded in Hong Fan, a chapter of the Book of Documents. Jizi presents King Wu of Zhou with the “Nine Categories of the Great Plan”; the first is the Five Elements:
“The Five Elements: first Water, second Fire, third Wood, fourth Metal and fifth Earth. Water moistens and descends; Fire burns and rises; Wood bends and straightens; Metal yields to transformation; Earth supports sowing and harvesting. Moistening and descending produce saltiness; burning and rising produce bitterness; bending and straightening produce sourness; transformation produces pungency; sowing and harvesting produce sweetness.”
— Hong Fan, Book of Documents
In everyday terms, Water moistens and flows downwards; Fire gives heat and rises; Wood can bend or grow straight; Metal changes shape through working; and Earth supports cultivation and harvest. These five qualities became the basis for later comparisons between the elements and different kinds of energy.
How the I Ching relates to the Five Elements
An important distinction is that the hexagram and line statements of the Zhouyi do not themselves mention the Five Elements. Its core consists of yin and yang, the Eight Trigrams and the 64 Hexagrams. During the Han dynasty, scholars of image-and-number approaches, including Jing Fang, linked the Five Elements with the Eight Trigrams. Thus, “looking at the Five Elements through the I Ching tradition” is more precise than implying that the correspondence appears in the original text.
The Five Elements began as principles of governance
In Hong Fan, the Five Elements were first presented as guiding principles for government. Their use later extended to astronomy, calendars, medicine and personal cultivation. Linking them with the five internal organs and five emotions in Chinese medicine was an important development.
Bagua & Five Phases
2. How the Eight Trigrams Correspond to the Five Elements
The I Ching combines three solid yang or broken yin lines to form eight trigrams. Pairing them produces 64 hexagrams, each with six lines, making 384 lines in total. The later, commonly used Later Heaven correspondences are shown below:
| Eight Trigrams | Natural image | Five Elements | Selected images from the Shuo Gua commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qian ☰ | Heaven | Metal | “Qian is Heaven… jade and metal.” |
| Dui ☱ | Lake | Metal | “Dui is the lake… the mouth and tongue.” |
| Li ☲ | Fire | Fire | “Li is fire and the sun.” |
| Zhen ☳ | Thunder | Wood | “Zhen is thunder… green bamboo.” |
| Xun ☴ | Wind | Wood | “Xun is wood and wind.” |
| Kan ☵ | Water | Water | “Kan is water.” |
| Gen ☶ | Mountain | Earth | “Gen is the mountain.” |
| Kun ☷ | Earth | Earth | “Kun is the earth.” |
The Five Elements and Eight Trigrams do not correspond one to one: Metal, Wood and Earth each relate to two trigrams, while Water and Fire each relate to one. For how yin–yang balance is discussed in Reiki practice, read I Ching and Reiki: Applying Yin–Yang Balance to Energy Practice 。
Cycles
3. The Generating and Controlling Cycles
The key insight of the Five Elements lies in their dynamic relationships, rather than the isolated strength or weakness of one element.
| Relationship | Sequence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Generating cycle | Wood generates Fire → Fire generates Earth → Earth generates Metal → Metal generates Water → Water generates Wood | Mutual nourishment in a continuing cycle |
| Controlling cycle | Wood controls Earth → Earth controls Water → Water controls Fire → Fire controls Metal → Metal controls Wood | Mutual restraint to prevent excess |
The generating cycle nourishes the system; the controlling cycle keeps it from becoming unrestrained. Balance requires both. This reflects the I Ching statement, “The alternation of yin and yang is called the Way” in the first part of the Xi Ci commentary: balance is dynamic harmony, rather than stillness.
Origin of Chakras
4. The Origins of the Seven Chakras and Their Five Elements
The Description of the Six Centres and The Serpent Power
The seven-chakra system widely taught today draws primarily on Indian Tantra. Around 1577, the Bengali practitioner Purnananda wrote the Ṣaṭ-cakra-nirūpaṇa, or Description of the Six Centres, describing six energy centres along the body’s central axis and the thousand-petalled lotus above the head, associated with the crown chakra. In 1919, British judge John Woodroffe, writing as Arthur Avalon, published an English translation in The Serpent Power, introducing these ideas to Western readers.
The chakras were associated with five elements
In the Description of the Six Centres, each chakra is associated with a number of lotus petals and an element. These are the Indian five elements — Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether — rather than the Chinese Five Elements:
| Chakra and Sanskrit name | Location | Lotus petals | Traditional element | Common themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root chakra (Mūlādhāra) | Base of the spine | 4 | Earth | Security and grounding |
| Sacral chakra (Svādhiṣṭhāna) | Lower abdomen | 6 | Water | Emotions and creativity |
| Solar plexus chakra (Maṇipūra) | Upper abdomen | 10 | Fire | Confidence and will |
| Heart chakra (Anāhata) | Chest | 12 | Wind | Love and compassion |
| Throat chakra (Viśuddha) | Throat | 16 | Ether or space | Expression and communication |
| Third-eye chakra (Ājñā) | Between the eyebrows | 2 | No element; associated with mind | Intuition and insight |
| Crown chakra (Sahasrāra) | Above the head | 1000 | Beyond the elements | Spiritual connection |
The “common themes” column reflects interpretations widely used in modern chakra teaching, rather than material drawn entirely from the original text.
Reiki & Chakras
5. Chakras and Usui Reiki
The memorial inscription at Saihoji Temple in Tokyo records Mikao Usui’s life and Reiki healing practice, but does not mention chakras. Chakras are widely used in modern Usui Reiki teaching to help students understand relationships between hand positions and energy centres. For the original inscription, see Mikao Usui 。
Soul Love Center’s Usui Reiki Level 1 Certificate Workshop includes the body’s chakra energy system, with students learning to place their hands over chakras and areas needing attention. The advanced course also includes the twelve meridians and meridian clock, subtle energy touchpoints on 14 meridians, and Reiki family constellations through I Ching philosophy. These bring Eastern meridian traditions and I Ching ideas into Reiki practice. For the origins of Usui Reiki, read What Is Usui Reiki? A Complete Introduction to Mikao Usui and Reiki 。
Three Maps Compared
6. Comparing Three Systems of Correspondence
Discussions of “the Five Elements and the chakras” often mix different systems together. The three systems below are presented side by side to help you distinguish them:
System 1: The Five Elements in Chinese Medicine (Huangdi Neijing)
| Five Elements | five internal organs | Five emotions | Qualities described in the Hong Fan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Liver | Anger | Bending and straightening |
| Fire | Mind | Joy | Flaming upwards |
| Earth | Spleen | Pensiveness | Sowing and harvesting |
| Metal | Lungs | Grief (sorrow) | Yielding to transformation |
| Water | Kidneys | Fear | Moistening and flowing downwards |
The associations between the five organs and five emotions appear in the Suwen chapter “The Great Treatise on the Correspondences of Yin and Yang”. They belong to the theoretical framework of Chinese medicine and are included here only as cultural reference. Consult a registered doctor or registered Chinese medicine practitioner about any physical health concern.
System 2: The Five Traditional Elements of the Chakras
These are the “earth, water, fire, air and space” described in the previous section. They differ conceptually from the Chinese Five Elements: neither air nor space, for example, belongs to the Chinese system.
System 3: An Integrated View Based on Qualities (Used in This Article)
This approach compares the qualities of the Five Elements described in the Hong Fan with themes in modern chakra teaching, drawing connections where their qualities are similar. It is an awareness framework used in Soul Love Center teaching, rather than a set of correspondences found in the original ancient texts.
The Main Differences Between the Three Systems
| Item | Five Elements in Chinese medicine | Five elements of the chakras | Integrated view based on qualities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultural origin | China (Hong Fan and Neijing) | Indian tantric tradition | Modern integration of Eastern and Western ideas |
| Correspondence for fire | Mind | Solar plexus chakra | Solar plexus chakra |
| Correspondence for water | Kidneys | sacral chakra | throat chakra |
| Correspondence for earth | Spleen | Root chakra (earth) | Root and sacral chakras |
| Purpose | Chinese medical theory | Tantric practice | Self-awareness |
As this shows, the same element, water, corresponds to different locations in different systems. There is therefore no single standard answer for how the Five Elements correspond to the chakras. The key is to be clear about which framework you are using.
Integrated View
7. An Integrated View: The Five Elements × the Seven Chakras
The following is the integrated comparison used in this article. Each pairing starts with the qualities of the Five Elements in the Hong Fan, then relates them to themes in modern chakra teaching. “Signs of imbalance” are offered solely as prompts for emotional and psychological awareness.
Earth (Sowing and Harvesting) × Root and Sacral Chakras
Earth is described as supporting “sowing and harvesting”: it carries, nourishes and enables all things to grow. It corresponds here to the root chakra, associated with security and foundations, and the sacral chakra, associated with nourishment and emotions.
- Signs of imbalance: feeling insecure or easily unsettled; feeling adrift and ungrounded; an excessive attachment to control.
- Awareness practice: during self-Reiki, focus on the lower abdomen and lower back, and practise feeling grounded.
Fire (Flaming Upwards) × Solar Plexus Chakra
Fire is described as “flaming upwards”, with qualities of movement, ascent and transformation. It corresponds here to the solar plexus chakra, whose themes are confidence and willpower. This also agrees with the traditional chakra association of the solar plexus with fire.
- Signs of imbalance: excessive fire may appear as impatience, irritability or a strong desire for control; insufficient fire as low confidence or lack of motivation.
- Awareness practice: when fire feels excessive, combine Reiki with slow breathing to settle the mind. When it feels insufficient, focus on the upper abdomen and recall things you are capable of doing.
Metal (Yielding to Transformation) × Heart Chakra
Metal is described as “yielding to transformation”: it adapts to change and is shaped through refinement, symbolising acceptance of change and letting go. In this integrated view, it corresponds to the heart chakra, with its themes of love, forgiveness and release. Chinese medicine also associates metal with grief or sorrow, echoing the heart chakra theme of letting go of hurt.
- Signs of imbalance: difficulty letting go of the past; emotional closure; giving too much or building high emotional walls.
- Awareness practice: place both hands over your chest during self-Reiki, and practise forgiveness and release.
Water (Moistening and Flowing Downwards) × Throat Chakra
Water is described as “moistening and flowing downwards”: it flows gently and adapts to the shape around it. In this integrated view, it corresponds to the throat chakra, associated with expression and communication, symbolising the natural flow of your authentic voice.
- Signs of imbalance: suppressing your true thoughts; difficulty communicating; talking excessively or withdrawing into silence.
- Awareness practice: attend to the neck during self-Reiki, and practise expressing one honest feeling each day.
Wood (Bending and Straightening) × Third Eye and Crown Chakras
Wood is described as “bending and straightening”: it is flexible and grows upwards. In this integrated view, it corresponds to the third eye chakra, associated with intuition and insight, and the crown chakra, associated with spiritual connection.
- Signs of imbalance: lack of direction; excessive reliance on rational thought or excessive daydreaming; confused thoughts.
- Awareness practice: attend to the forehead and crown of the head during self-Reiki, alongside meditation.
Summary of the Integrated Correspondences
| Five Elements | Qualities described in the Hong Fan | Chakras in the integrated comparison | Theme | Emotional/psychological signs of imbalance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth | Sowing and harvesting (supporting and nourishing) | Root and sacral chakras | Security and nourishment | Unease, feeling ungrounded, excessive control |
| Fire | Flaming upwards (rising and transforming) | Solar plexus chakra | Confidence and will | Impatience and irritability, or self-doubt |
| Metal | Yielding to transformation (accepting change) | heart chakra | Love, forgiveness and letting go | Difficulty letting go, emotional closure |
| Water | Moistening and flowing downwards (gentle flow) | throat chakra | Expression and communication | Suppression, difficulty communicating |
| Wood | Bending and straightening (growth and expansion) | Third eye and crown chakras | Intuition and spirituality | Lack of direction, confused thoughts |
Balance
8. What the Generating and Controlling Cycles Suggest About Chakra Balance
The Generating Cycle: Nourishment from the Ground Up
In this integrated view, stable earth (the lower chakras) supports the unfolding of the upper chakras. Pursuing only an “open third eye” while neglecting your foundations is like tending only to the top of a tree and ignoring its roots.
The Controlling Cycle: Bringing Excess Back into Balance
In the controlling cycle, water controls fire. When fire (the solar plexus chakra) feels excessive, with impatience and irritability, the gentle flow of water—for example, speaking or writing about your emotions—can serve as a way to restore balance.
Harmony as a Whole
The most important reminder is that balance in body, mind and spirit means harmony as a whole, rather than strengthening a single chakra in isolation. This is also why Soul Love Center designs its Usui Reiki courses progressively around “body → mind → spirit”. See What Is Mind–Body–Spirit Integration? Self-Care for Hong Kong City Life 。
Daily Practice
9. A Daily 15-Minute Five Elements and Chakra Awareness Practice
- Sit quietly for 2 minutes: bring your palms together and recite the Five Reiki Principles (do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently and be kind to others).
- Ask yourself for 2 minutes: what is troubling you most today—security, confidence, letting go, expression or direction?
- Consult the summary table for 1 minute: identify the corresponding element and chakra.
- Practise self-Reiki for 8 minutes: if you have received Level 1 attunement, spend more time at the corresponding chakra and use the rest of the time to attend to the whole body. If you have not learnt Reiki, you can rest your hands gently on that area while breathing slowly.
- Write for 2 minutes: record what you noticed today and the “generating” or “controlling” element you would like to include tomorrow, such as a little more rest (earth) or expressing one more honest thought (water).
For the full hand positions, see 12 Reiki Self-Healing Hand Positions: Ten Minutes a Day to Balance Body and Mind ; for the difference between stillness practice and meditation, see Meditation, Seated Practice and Reiki: A Beginner’s Guide 。
Courses
10. Related Courses
| Courses | Related content | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Usui Reiki Level 1 | The body's chakra energy system, aura scanning and full-body self-treatment hand positions | HK$900 |
| Usui Reiki Level 2 | The microcosmic orbit and transforming old patterns | HK$1,380 |
| Advanced Usui Reiki | The twelve meridians and their time cycle, subtle energy contact points along the 14 meridians, and Reiki Family Constellations: The I Ching Philosophy | HK$1,880 |
| Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master Level | The superconscious chakra and activation of the microcosmic orbit | HK$8,888 |
For a comparison of all courses, see Our services . To read about the integration of the I Ching and family constellations, see I Ching, Family Constellations and Reiki: Three Approaches to Deeper Healing ; for the teacher's background, see Cathy Wong's Healing Journey . If you would prefer an initial experience, you can book a Reiki session. See Reiki Session Fees and What Happens During a Session 。
FAQ
Five Elements and Chakras: Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Five Elements Originate in the I Ching?
No. The earliest explicit account of the Five Elements is in the Hong Fan chapter of the Book of Documents: “The first is water, the second fire, the third wood, the fourth metal and the fifth earth.” The core text of the Zhouyi does not mention the Five Elements. It was only in the Han dynasty that scholars of the image-and-number tradition, including Jing Fang, combined the Five Elements with the Eight Trigrams, producing the familiar correspondences used in later periods.
How Do the Eight Trigrams Correspond to the Five Elements?
The commonly used later correspondences are: Qian and Dui belong to metal; Zhen and Xun to wood; Kan to water; Li to fire; and Kun and Gen to earth. The Shuogua commentary also includes images such as “Qian is metal”, “Xun is wood”, “Kan is water” and “Li is fire”.
Do the Chakras Have Their Own Elemental Correspondences?
Yes. The Sanskrit text Shat-chakra-nirupana (Ṣaṭ-cakra-nirūpaṇa), dating to around 1577, associates the root chakra with earth, the sacral chakra with water, the solar plexus chakra with fire, the heart chakra with air and the throat chakra with space (ether). The third eye chakra has no element. These five great elements differ from the Chinese Five Elements.
Is There a Standard Correspondence Between the Five Elements and the Chakras?
No. The Five Elements and the chakras come from different cultures. Their correspondences are modern integrative interpretations, with several versions. The integrated view in this article focuses on energetic qualities and is offered solely as a reference for self-awareness.
Were Chakras Part of Original Usui Reiki?
The memorial inscription for Mikao Usui at Saihoji Temple in Tokyo does not mention chakras. Chakras are, however, widely used in contemporary Usui Reiki teaching. Soul Love Center's Level 1 course includes “the body's chakra energy system”.
Can These Signs of Imbalance Be Used to Identify Physical Illness?
No. The signs described in this article are solely prompts for emotional and psychological self-awareness and cannot be used for diagnosis. If you have any physical symptoms, please consult a registered doctor.
For more questions, see Frequently asked questions ; for all articles, see Article library . For a discussion from a scientific perspective, read Does Reiki Work? 。
Important notice: this article explores an integration of cultural and energy philosophies. It does not constitute medical advice and cannot replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered doctor or registered Chinese medicine practitioner.
Create Your Own Map of Energy Awareness
From the Five Elements of the Hong Fan to the chakras and the hands-on practice of Usui Reiki, these three traditions can offer tools for daily self-awareness. To explore how the I Ching and meridians are integrated into Reiki, discover the advanced course taught personally by Cathy.
