Feng Shui

A fundamental precept of Feng Shui is the different interactions between the five elements - earth, fire, metal, water and wood. Two of these interactions, the creative and control cycles, are as follows:

CREATIVE CYCLE

The creative cycle begins with earth or soil, which over time hardens and solidifies to form metal.

Similarly, after many years, metal corrodes and melts into liquid form, i.e. water.

Water creates (or feeds) the roots of plant life, i.e. wood.

The combustible nature of wood is ideal for creating fire.

The cycle is completed when the fire ashes eventually become earth.

The CREATIVE CYCLE sequence therefore is EARTH, METAL, WATER, WOOD, FIRE

CONTROL CYCLE

The first creative element (earth) controls water by the formation of dams, river banks etc.

Water controls fire by extinguishing it.

Fire is used to smelt metals.

Metal (axes, saws etc.) are used to control or cut wood.

The roots of plants and trees 'break up' or control the earth (soil).

The cycle is completed by the earth (dams, river banks etc.) controlling the flow of water.

The CONTROL CYCLE sequence therefore is WATER, FIRE, METAL, WOOD, EARTH

The metal discs must be hung on the wooden post in the same sequences as these two cycles:

CREATIVE CYCLE - EARTH, METAL, WATER, WOOD, FIRE

CONTROL CYCLE - WATER, FIRE, METAL, WOOD, EARTH

The symbol on each metal disc identifies which of the five elements it represents. This can be worked out from the actual symbol and the cryptic clues given by the characters.

THE FIGURINES' CRYPTIC CLUES

WATER BEARER - metal is born of it, wood later destroys it (Earth)

COOK - creates water, but is later consumed by fire (Metal)

OLD LADY - water drowns it (Fire)

IRON MONGER - engenders fire and is later eaten by metal (Wood)

WOODCUTTER - it fashions wood (Water)

The metal discs must be hung on the wooden post in the same sequences as the cycles explained above.

CREATIVE CYCLE - EARTH, METAL, WATER, WOOD, FIRE

CONTROL CYCLE - WATER, FIRE, METAL, WOOD, EARTH