Traditional culture in plain words
Earth
Earth stands for support and patience, like the soil that nourishes everything; its directions are northeast and southwest, its colours beige and ochre.
At a glance
Feeding and restraining
Earth feeds Metal and restrains Water.
- Wood · East · Southeast · Green, teal · Spring
- Fire · South · Red, purple · Summer
- Earth · Northeast · Southwest · Beige, ochre · The turn of the seasons · Now
- Metal · West · Northwest · Gold, white · Autumn
- Water · North · Blue, black · Winter
Show as a table
| Item | Value | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | East · Southeast | Green, teal · Spring |
| Fire | South | Red, purple · Summer |
| Earth | Northeast · Southwest | Beige, ochre · The turn of the seasons · Now |
| Metal | West · Northwest | Gold, white · Autumn |
| Water | North | Blue, black · Winter |
Solid arrows show the feeding cycle; dashed arrows show the restraining cycle.
Nature and season
The nature of Earth is to carry: the soil receives the seed, the rain and the nutrients, and quietly nourishes all growing things. Tradition also places transitions and change in the Earth family.
Earth pairs with the turn of the seasons. The days just before each season begins — before Lichun (立春), Lixia (立夏), Liqiu (立秋) and Lidong (立冬) — are traditionally seen as times when Earth is strongest, as one season hands over to the next.
Traditional associations
Traditional culture links Earth with the stomach and the mouth, and holds that regular meals and a steady life nourish the Earth within. This is a cultural association, not medical advice.
Beige and ochre tones and pottery traditionally carry Earth's calm; a solid, well-made piece of furniture in the northeast or southwest is placed there for a sense of stability.
Connect elements and four pillars with daily cultural tips. Open My Day
See also Glossary: the five elements, feeding and restraining
The five elements belong to traditional culture and are shared here for cultural interest; the links with the body are traditional sayings, not medical advice.