Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 30: The Five Elements

Apart from Yin and Yang, Anji learned about the Five Elements from the Doctrine of the Mean. However, she had no idea they were also used in fengshui, martial arts and medicine until she saw Doctor He’s notes.

The five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—were not mere creations, but the very fabric of the world’s inception. Each element possessed a distinct set of properties, and their relationships were a complex dance of support and opposition, a spectacle that boggled Anji’s mind.

Each represented by a colour, Anji noticed how they were also represented by seasons, even if there were only four seasons to match five elements. Interestingly enough, a small footnote mentioned that a patient’s personality could also be subjected to the five elements. Palmistry was more of a fortune-telling trick used by street scammers to make a living. However, the concept was created by the I-ching book the Eight Trigram Palms were created from.

"This is amazing," Anji breathed. "How did the creator of the Eight Trigram Palms manage to think of it?"

Though there were five main elements, with Metal added later and Air removed, the I-Ching introduced eight elements, both tangible and intangible. Its principles are derived from cultivation practices and locations where qi could be harnessed. Unlike the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams emphasised a balance of Yin and Yang, resulting in sixty-four possible combinations of Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, and Lake.

Not wanting to confuse herself, Anji focused on mastering the Five Elemental Circle first, a complex system in itself. Doctor He’s notes described the intricate relationships of nurturing and restricting among the elements, a delicate balance that prevented rapid growth or decay while ensuring stability.

Grabbing her charcoal pencil and a fresh sheet of paper, Anji began to write. Starting with the element of Wood that symbolised growth and adaptability, Anji likened it to a young tree, bending with the wind but never breaking.

Doctor He explained how the liver and gallbladder were considered to have a ’woody’ nature. Anji found it fascinating how the organs responsible for detoxifying the body and processing alcohol could be influenced by the element of Wood. It made sense, in a way. Just as a tree filters the air, the liver cleanses the body. However, these organs could be harmed by anger, much like a tree could be damaged by a storm.

Pausing for a moment to reflect on this connection, Anji flipped to a different page of the messy notes to better understand how emotions could have such a profound impact on the body. Anger, like a fierce wind, could disturb the balance of Wood within. Anji had seen this firsthand, noticing how people who were often angry seemed to suffer more from ailments. There is a reason why old people should not get angry often. They were more prone to having heart attacks.

Retrieving a new sheet of paper, Anji moved on to the next element: fire. Fire was fascinating. It could be strengthened by using Wood as fuel to grow. It was fierce and active, capable of both destruction and comfort.

Wise men said that fire was a good servant but a horrible master. On a cold winter’s night, fire was a gift to help warm the room, cook food and provide light in the darkness. Yet, uncontrolled flames could burn down houses.

In her notes, Anji drew parallels to the human body. The heart was represented by the element of Fire. It controlled the blood flow, pumping life through the veins. Joy, the emotion most connected to Fire, could be both a blessing and a curse. Too much excitement or happiness could strain the heart, just as an overactive fire could blaze out of control. Anji noted how people with an overly active mind often suffer from insomnia.

With a fresh sheet of paper, Anji turned her attention to the Earth element next as she contemplated its significance. The Earth element was a steady powerhouse, represented by the spleen — an organ essential for processing nutrients. Anji knew from personal experience how lack of sleep could make someone irritable. She smiled wryly, remembering mornings when she had felt particularly cranky after a restless night.

Worry, she noted, was closely tied to the Earth element. It could gnaw away at one’s happiness, leading to sleepless nights. Anji paused, thinking about how often she had seen the worry lines etched on her mother’s face. Her mother would stay up all night, tending to Anji during her bouts of illness. Often, she would look gaunt, and Anji wondered if there was a correlation.

Without the stability and nourishment symbolised by Earth, the spleen falters. A body deprived of proper nutrients becomes weak and susceptible to illness. Anji didn’t know if worry directly caused ageing, but she hated seeing her mother’s face creased with concern. Those frowns were a silent testament to a mother’s sacrifices.

Worry and grief, like burdensome shadows, accompany each other closely. The lungs and large intestines best represent metal, a symbol of resilience. When the rhythm of breath falters, so does the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to illness.

The last element was Water. It represented the ability to adapt flexibly. Governed by the kidneys, which regulate water throughout the body, it is a sustaining existence. Like a vital stream, it nurtures the growth of Wood, which fuels the warmth of Fire. Without Fire’s radiance, Earth lacks vitality, and Metal remains impure. Thus, each element relies on the others, bound together in an intricate tapestry of existence.

Despite the demanding balance, the five elements supported each should one part fail. In a scenario where Earth was deprived of Fire’s warmth, it finds solace in Wood’s sacrifice, as fallen leaves return to the soil, enriching it over time.

Likewise, when Fire rages unchecked, Water dampens its spirits and keeps it in check, preventing disasters. The removal of Wood could also quell Fire’s fury. Alternatively, Fire’s efforts could be redirected to reshape stubborn Metal into something useful. Each element is both a provider and a supporter, always ensuring harmony.

The afternoon passed peacefully, with Anji’s head buried in books. She created a list of examples under each element that she thought would suit the properties of these elements in different categories of life. Following the example of directions, taste, emotions and seasons in Doctor He’s notes, Anji decided to classify the people she knew.

Her mother was a nurturing lady who supported the operations of the Celestial Dragon Sect behind the scenes. She was like the element of Wood in Anji’s eyes. On the other hand, someone like Bai Dajin, who was always passionate and intense, reminded her of Fire. On the other hand, someone who works hard earnestly with a steady mindset and attitude with unwavering loyalty, like the Black Tortoise Sect Leader Chen Zhong, was a textbook example of the Earth element. Unlike the initial impression that Liu Yanxia gave, Anji thought the young Heavenly Phoenix sect leader was like the element of Metal. Despite her young age, there was an edge to her with her no-nonsense execution of duties. In contrast, the carefree Hong Nian Niang was like Water — mysterious and adaptable in any company according to the situation.

Putting down her charcoal pencil, Anji grinned. After including the list of names of everyone she knew into the categories she thought they best suited in the five elements, there was one problem left.

Of the five elements, which element best suited Anji?

Like the flourishing spring full of potential, Anji thought she would be Wood. After all, her father always said she took after her mother. However, her burning passion to live and learn new things was like Fire. Yet, her sense of duty defined her as Earth. However, Anji liked to do things independently with clear efficiency and no waste, like Liu Yanxia, who was Metal. Sometimes, she found her thoughts so deep that she could not understand them, like the bottom of an ocean of Water elements.

"Young miss," Lizi knocked on the door, bringing her out of her thoughts. "It’s time for dinner."

Tidying her notes, Anji hopped off the bed. Leaving her name at the bottom of a page with an undecided circle, Anji called it a day. Maybe she should ask around to see what others thought about her.