The Productive Cycle

The productive cycle, or the cycle of birth, of the five phases is one of creation and harmony. Fire burns to produce ash (earth). Earth in turns produces metal (metal is found by digging up earth). According to Chinese thought, water springs forth in the form of underground streams from veins where metal is found deep in the ground. Water then nourishes trees from which wood is produced. And finally, wood is used as a fuel to produce fire and the cycle repeats.

As can be seen, the change in phase following the productive cycle represents the natural progression of all things and hence, there is harmony and balance.