Chinese culture, dating back several millennia, is rich and fascinating.
According to the wise Confucius, it is important to follow tradition, while Lao Tseu advises us to “flow through life like the water of a river”.
The basic principles of Chinese cosmology are the Yin Yang and the 5 element theory (Wuxing). They were conceptualized by Zou Yan in the 3rd century BC.
This leads to many disciplines, such as feng shui, an art to learn how to optimize the flow of Chi, vital energy.
Regarding health, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) includes acupuncture, dietetics, medicinal herbs, Tui-Na massage and energy exercises (Qi Gong, Tai Chi).
Also discover Budai, the Chinese laughing Buddha (not to be confused with the historical Buddha, who is Indian), and the gingko biloba or giant apricot tree, the oldest tree in the world!
Confucius or Kongfuzi (known as “Master Kong”) is a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC and the founder of Confucianism.
This legendary historical figure from ancient China lived under the declining dynasty of the Zhous, whose legitimacy would have come from the gods through the “heavenly mandate”.
Concerned about moral values as well as law and order in society, Confucius traveled throughout China and taught much of his life. After his death, his ideas were collected by his followers (also called “the 12 philosophers”), and profoundly influenced all Chinese civilization, but also Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet-Nam.
His reflections were compiled by his disciples in the Analects (“Conversations”) in the form of philosophical anecdotes forming a “manual of good leaders.”
Confucianism (or “scholarly school”) was established as a state doctrine by the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BC and remained so until the founding of the Republic of China in 1911.
The key values of his doctrine are: respect for the old and the traditions, loyalty, benevolence, modesty and humility.
Yin Yang is one of the fundamental symbols of China philosophy
Yin and Yang are the most well-known and fundamental symbol of Chinese philosophy: it expresses the duality through which the universe manifests itself.
Designates the two relative, opposite and complementary poles that characterize each facet of life, for example: shadow and light, the visible and the invisible, the material and the spiritual, self and others…
Perpetual Motion
Yin contains Yang and Yang contains Yin, they are inseparable and one does not exist without the other.
Yin becomes Yang and Yang becomes Yin, nothing is fixed and everything is transformed.
These two relative and mobile principles guarantee the balance of the world, harmony and the universe.
Yin and Yang
Yin Yang is a practical tool for describing and observing the world.
Yin is the black part of the symbol and represents the feminine, the night, the moon, the cold, rest, stillness and the unconscious.
These concepts are qualified as yin in relation to their opposite concepts:
Yang, the white part represents energy, day, sun, masculine, summer, heat, mobility, consciousness.
Yin is calm and Yang is agitation; Yin is the seed and Yang is the fruit.
Arasia-Shop offers a selection of yin yang products: hangings, rings, incense doors, necklaces … Take a look here
The wuxing are in China, the five (wu) elements (xing) : an extensive classification system which determines all the elements and phenomena both at a cosmic level than at a human level.
The Five elements (or phases or movements) – along with the fundamental concept of yin and yang and the active principle Qi –make up the core of the traditional Chinese philosophy.
To each of those elements is associated a color, a music note, an organ, a cardinal point, a season, an emotion, etc.
The conceptual scheme of the five elements attempts to give a deep spiritual meaning of the world’s mechanisms and the cycles of life and of the universe. Every existing thing is subjected to the cycles of life and the universe’s and cycles of life and destruction.
THE YANG CYCLE (Generating / Creation):
Wood feeds Fire, Fire feeds Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal creates Water, Water creates Wood.
THE YIN CYCLE (domination / destruction) :
The Wood chokes the Earth, The Earth dries the Water, The Water extinguishes the Fire, The Fire melts the Metal, The Metal slices the Wood.
The Five elements have a certain order. First come the Metal (jin), then the Wood (mu), then the Water (shui), then the Fire (huo) then the Earth (tu).
Those 5 elements interact, complete each other and exist simultaneously together within the cycles of destruction and creation.
The wuxing are defined as raw natural material, each with their own intrinsic dynamic playing a part in the grand scheme of things.
Thus, it is in the Water’s intrinsic nature to flow (downwards) and to wet. It the Fire’s intrinsic nature to rise (upwards) and to burn, the Wood can lie flat or stand tall, the Metal is docile and takes any form its given, the Earth’s primary essence is to be suitable for cultivation and harvesting.
The Chinese theory of the five elements thus succeeded to unify a multitude of different phenomena, to establish inter-relations between them and give them a deep and meaningful meaning within the universe. The constants flows between the elements are to be equilibrated and their energies balanced to prevent any disruption.
If one element is in excess, its energy will weaken or increase excessively its opposite element. For instance, the excess of energy of the Metal will exhaustthe Wood’s energy and disproportionately raise the Water’s energy.
The right proportion of each elements is primordial to the balance of the universe and the nature’s harmony.
In the ancient art of feng shui, we optimize the wuxing to enhance the flow of chi in living spaces.
Historical facts:
It appears that the Chinese dynasties have succeeded one another following the succession of the 5 elements or phases. And, each time a new emperor acceded to the throne, heaven sends a good omen to the men.
Therefore, during the Yellow emperor ascension giant earthworms and ants appeared in the sky so the Han dynasty was associated whit the element Earth. Afterwards, the Xia dynasty was associated with the Wood, the Zhou dynasty with the Fire and so on and so forth.
The Buddha of prosperity or the Happy Buddha is not to be confused with Siddhartha Gautama, who is also called the Thai Buddha or the historical Buddha!
Its origin dates back to the tenth century in China , during the Liang dynasty where a Buddhist monk named Budai (pronounced boudaye ) was appointed as an incarnation of Maitreya , the Buddha of the future.
Budai was paunchy, jovial, kind and generous. He is often depicted with a bag of valuables or with a jar full of wine!
Nowadays it is found in almost all Oriental homes, and it is considered a lucky charm, both material and spiritual prosperity. It is said that rubbing his belly brings richness and fulfillment.
His blessed nature, pudgy physique and his eternal smile has made him the quintessential god of abundance and happiness!
