Wu Xing
Glossary · Last updated: 2026-07-26
Wu Xing (五行) describes five phases. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and their generating and controlling relationships.
In Sheng Xiao, the ten-year stem cycle paints each animal year with an element (e.g. Fire Horse, Earth Ox). Tibetan lore uses a related but not identical element set.
Not Western elements
Western fire-earth-air-water signs are a separate system. Wu Xing applies to stems, branches, and Ba Zi balance rather than tropical zodiac triplicities.
Related
Main reading and tools
These are the main reading and calculator pages. Use them for a daily note, a birth-sign tool, or a pair check.
- Today's Horoscope hubAll twelve Western sun-sign daily pages, plus links into the seven-tradition reader.
- Horoscope & Zodiac CompatibilityTwo birth dates for Western, Chinese, and Vedic folk pairing, plus every sun-sign hub.
- Zodiac Sign CalculatorWestern sun sign from birth date, with element, modality, and ruler.
- Vedic Rising Sign CalculatorLagna estimate when you have birth date, time, and place.
- Vedic Moon Sign CalculatorJanma Rashi and nakshatra when birth time and city are available.