foliage at the factory on 5th... photo by Elaine A. Russell

Earth (Wu Xing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Earth (Chinese: 土; pinyin: tǔ), is the changing point of the matter.[1] Earth is the third one of Wu Xing.
Earth is a balance of both yin and yang, the feminine and masculine together. Its motion is inward and centering, and its energy is stabilizing and conserving. It is associated with the color yellow and the planet Saturn, and it lies at the center of the compass in the Chinese cosmos. It is associated with the turn of each of the four seasons and with damp. It is believed to govern the spleen, stomach, mouth and muscles. Its negative emotion is anxiety and its positive emotion is empathy. Its Primal Spirit is represented by the Yellow Dragon.
In Chinese thought Earth is associated with the qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, practicality, hard work and stability. The earth element is also nurturing and seeks to draw all things together with itself, in order to bring harmony, rootedness and stability. Other attributes of the earth element include ambition, stubbornness, responsibility and long-term planning. In pathology, the earth can represent selfishness and self-centeredness. In the controlling cycle, earth controls water and is controlled by wood; while in the conducive cycle, earth is produced by fire, and in turn produces metal.