Five Element Theory: Organ Correspondences (五行臟腑對應)
The Five Element framework (五行, Wu Xing) is the theoretical backbone connecting Chinese Medicine, BaZi, and all Five Arts systems. Each element governs a specific organ pair (Zang/Fu), season, emotion, sense organ, tissue, body fluid, color, taste, and sound.
Wood (木) — Spring — Liver/Gallbladder
Liver (肝): stores Blood, ensures smooth Qi flow, controls tendons/sinews, houses Ethereal Soul (Hun 魂), opens into eyes. Gallbladder (膽): stores and excretes bile, controls decisiveness. Emotion: Anger/Frustration. Color: Green. Taste: Sour. Tissue: Tendons. Season: Spring. Climate: Wind.
Fire (火) — Summer — Heart/Small Intestine
Heart (心): governs Blood and vessels, houses Mind (Shen 神), opens into tongue, manifests in complexion. Small Intestine (小腸): separates pure from impure. Emotion: Joy (excess causes mania). Color: Red. Taste: Bitter. Tissue: Blood vessels. Season: Summer. Climate: Heat.
Earth (土) — Late Summer — Spleen/Stomach
Spleen (脾): transforms and transports food essence, controls Blood, raises Qi, houses Intellect (Yi 意). Stomach (胃): receives and ripens food, origin of Post-Heaven Qi. Emotion: Worry/Pensiveness. Color: Yellow. Taste: Sweet. Tissue: Muscles. Season: Late Summer. Climate: Dampness.
Metal (金) — Autumn — Lung/Large Intestine
Lung (肺): governs Qi and respiration, controls dispersing/descending, houses Corporeal Soul (Po 魄), governs skin. Large Intestine (大腸): transports and excretes waste. Emotion: Grief/Sadness. Color: White. Taste: Pungent. Tissue: Skin/Body Hair. Season: Autumn. Climate: Dryness.
Water (水) — Winter — Kidney/Bladder
Kidney (腎): stores Pre-Heaven Jing, produces Marrow, fills Brain, governs water metabolism, houses Will (Zhi 志), opens into ears. Bladder (膀胱): stores and excretes urine. Emotion: Fear/Anxiety. Color: Black. Taste: Salty. Tissue: Bones. Season: Winter. Climate: Cold.