Although the Gogyo-setsu, or the Theory of Five Phases, evolved
independently in China over a considerable period of history, the
theory eventually merged with the system of yin-yang. Gogyo-setsu
is one of the underlying principles behind feng-shui, and has been
variously rendered into English as the Five Activities, Five
Elements, or Five Evolutive Phases.
Famed Japanese philosopher and martial arts expert Jiro Takei
points out that the term “element” in Gogyo is more
accurately translated as “phases” since the second
kanji emphasizes movement, and therefore “it better
represents the process-oriented nature of the system.”
Each phase has a corresponding direction, season, and color, and
their order depends on their specific function at a given
moment.
The first mention of the “five phases” appears in
the Shujing, an ancient anthology of Chinese writings attributed to
Confucius. The earliest known text of the Shujing dates from around
the first millennium BCE, and Jiro Takei cites the following
passage taken from the “Hong Fan” scroll of the
Shujing:
"The Five Phases are one. The first is water, the second
is fire, the third is wood, the fourth is metal, and the fifth is
earth. It is said that water flows down, fire destroys with its
blaze, wood can be straight or curved, metal is malleable, and
earth nurtures seeds to harvest. Five tastes: water causes a salty
taste, fire makes things bitter, wood makes for an acid taste,
metal yields a spiciness, and earth is sweet."
The fully refined system as codified by the Chinese emperor Zou
Yan dates from around the third century BCE. Zou Yan placed earth
at the top of the hierarchy, and he was also responsible for
linking the elements to seasons and directions. The form of
Gogyo-setsu that entered Japan, however, was based on the model
created by Xiao Ji and dates from the Liang dynasty (502-557). It
was known as the Wuxing-Dayi (The Encyclopedia of Five Phases).
When the Gogyo are represented visually in a circular diagram,
earth (yellow) lies at the center, with water (black) to the north,
wood (green, blue-green) to the east, fire (red) to the south, and
metal (white) to the west. All things under the heavens found their
way into this macrocosmic system, and geomancers and early garden
designers would have made careful reference to this chart before
making important decisions. Indeed, both the city of Heiankyo
itself and the gardens within it were designed to be read as
microcosmic mandala representing the Gogyo-setsu.
Two systems explain the essential relationships between the
phases. The first, the Gogyo-sokoku-setsu (Five Phase Control
Theory), sets down the five phases in their hierarchical cycle of
control from a recognized point of departure. The cycle runs as
follows: Wood controls Earth; Earth controls Water; Water controls
Fire; Fire controls Metal; and Metal controls Wood. When the
relationships are positive, or creative, the theory is called
Gogyo-sosho-setsu (Five Phase Creation Theory), and it runs as
follows: Wood creates Fire; Fire creates Earth; Earth creates
Metal; Metal creates Water; and Water creates Wood. The
Senzui-narabini-yagyo-no-zu (An Illustrated Manual of Forms of
Mountain, Water and Field Landscapes) outlines the
“Relationships of Mutual Destruction” as follows:
“Wood destroys Earth, Earth destroys Water, Water destroys
Fire, Fire destroys Metal and metal destroys Wood.”
Disclaimer:
Do not approach this series lightly. If this were only a 500'
bushwhack, I would call it hellish. The roots will trip you, the
branches will shred you and poke your eyes, and the insects will
consume you. But it's not 500'. It's over 12 bloody miles! I highly
recommend you bring snake boots, lots of water, long pants, long
sleeve shirt, lots of water, good hat, pokey stick, lots of water,
spare everything, bug spray, lots of water, writing utensils, cell
phone, lots of water.
Did I mention bring lots of water?
You may find a laminated clue slip in this cache. If you do, you
might want to solve the riddle. This will help you locate the Gaia
puzzle cache nearby. Please leave clue slips in the caches you find
them in.
