Zodi Animal· The Elements· Fire 火· Fire's two cycles

A room of Fire · 火

Fire's two cycles

shēng and kè

Fire is fed by Wood (木生火), it feeds Earth (火生土), it controls Metal (火克金), and it is controlled by Water (水克火). Those four relationships are how you feed a weak Fire or temper a blazing one.

Feeding and draining

To strengthen a weak Fire, add its mother, Wood, which fuels it. To drain an overfull Fire, let it pour into its child, Earth, which it makes from ash. This is the generating cycle, 相生 (xiāng shēng).

Holding in check

To calm an excessive Fire, add its controller, Water, which quenches it. Fire in turn keeps Metal from running to excess by melting and reshaping it. When a phase grows too strong the balance can distort into over-control (相乘) or rebellion (相侮), which is why the aim is always proportion, not dominance.

Where Fire sits

Leave Fire in any direction