Su Wen Chapter 9

The original name for the philosophy of stems and branches in the Chinese Classics is "the five

movements and six energies", based on the five elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and the

six original energies, being the Growing chi, the Expanding chi, the Full Grown chi, the Changing chi,

the Gathered chi and the Hidden qi. They generate the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches,

which are well known for their use in the Chinese calendar, but less known as a technique in

acupuncture to treat the constitution of people.

This article describes the origin of the five element cycle from Heaven, and their transformation to the

level of Man. The method for treatment according to stems and branches goes beyond this article.

The original concept of five elements derives from Heaven (Qian), containing four virtues:

Yuan, the initial cause; Heng, liberty; Li, goodness; Zhen, perfection.

These four virtues are called the four emanations or the four faces of Heaven, and are, together with

Qian (Heaven) the archetypes of the Five Elements or Five Transformations.

Heng

Yuan Qian Li

Zhen Figure 1: The four emanations

Qian: The Oneness, the central Heavenly force, reveals itself as One, as Qian. The four emanations

flow from this new central consciousness in the four directions, East, South, West and North. The four

emanations are, on a mystical way the same as Qian, but seen from another point of view and

perspective. The consciousness of the Oneness is divided, and will be divided more and more along the

line of revelation. The concept of a higher or lower consciousness, does not mean a concept with

hierarchy, but with more or less awareness of oneness. The more we experience limitations,

discriminations, variety and multiplicity, the more we experience a lower consciousness. The more we

experience oneness, harmony and equality, the more we experience a higher consciousness. Revelation

comes forth from a radiating principle and is centrifugal. Development of consciousness on the other

hand is centripetal, in the direction of the centre of our being. Revelation and consciousness are other

words for radiating out and in.

Qian means substance and form of Heaven, and is equivalent to force of action or activity. It is the

time for doing, being the origin and beginning of all beings and things.

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Yuan: The emanation of the East. The creating force, rooted in Zhen rises in the direction of Heng.

Yuan means original cause, being the beginning of all things and beings, at the level of the four

directions, acting as the guiding principle. "In the beginning…. does not mean a static initial force. It is

a force guiding the processes coming forth from that beginning. In this way it is the origin and guiding

principle of all actions of Man on earth.

Heng: The emanation of the South. Heng means the movement rising up of all things, liberty, giving

rise to intelligence. It also means to penetrate, to have an influence (of Heaven) upon all things and

beings, with the aim to make them prosper. Heng describes the influence of the spiritual world on

Man. It is the ever penetrating force of the South, the ever penetrating consciousness; Life of the

inspired matter. All matter in any form has life.

Li: The emanation of the West, meaning goodness. It is the beneficial force, the force of gathering. Li

gives limitations to the liberty of Heng. This is the time of the harvest, of the capacity to satisfy ones

needs, to profit. Li is the opposite of Yuan, the beginning, symbolizing that death and life belong to the

same cycle. The limiting and gathering quality of Li is needed to nourish the next cycle of life.

Zhen: The emanation of the North, meaning perfection. It is the invariable, determining energy and is

called the primal force of all things and beings. It feeds Yuan and exists through the gathering of Li. It

is unchangeable like hereditary energy. Through the determination of this energy we see

discrimination between things. Zhen means natural and perfect development of all things and beings.

Uprightness, sincerity and purity.

Yuan gives rise to Wood

Heng gives rise to Fire

Li gives rise to Metal

Zhen gives rise to Water

Qian gives rise to Earth

Qian and the four emanations are the archetypes of the five elements, generating three levels of the

five element cycles. The level of Heaven, which cannot be influenced by Man, is symbolized by the

five heavens in the sky.

The Earth level, consisting of the so called Great Movements and the Celestial Stems, transform and

transport the chi of Heaven, to make it applicable for Man. The Great Movements are the dynamic part

of the Celestial Stems.

The Man level is the well known ‘ordinary’ level of five elements.

The archetypes Qian and the four emanations

Heaven The 5 heavens (sky)

Earth The Great Movements and the Celestial Stems

Man The five elements

The five heavens in the sky are symbolized by five symbolic animals.

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The central heaven of the Yellow dragon (Qian, Earth), which can be seen always with clear sky,

containing the big dipper.

The four other heavens contain each seven star constellations, together twenty-eight constellations.

These constellations are originally the only aspect of Chinese horoscopes. They form a twenty-eight

days cycle which move in parallel with the cycle of the stems and branches.

The eastern heaven of the green-azure dragon (Yuan,Wood)

The southern heaven of the red-vermilion bird (Heng, Fire)

The western heaven of the white tiger (Li, Metal)

The northern heaven of the black turtle, the snake or the dark warrior (Zhen,Water).

Every heaven has his own ruler in the form of a planet. The inner planets Mercury and Venus are the

planets between the sun and the earth and are Yin. The outer planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are

orbiting around the sun with a larger orbit than the Earth, and are Yang.

NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST CENTRE

Sun Mercury Venus Earth/Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn

YANG Water Metal YIN Fire Wood Earth

|--------------------------| |--------------------------------------|

Inner planets/ Yin Outer planets/ Yang

Each lunar year is ruled by one of the planets with its related element. At this Earth level, the five

elements are called the Great Movements (Dai Van), meaning that they rule every movement or cycle

on earth in that specific year. The five planets make orbits around the sun, having a Yang and Yin

phase in relation to the equatorial plane. Therefor there are 5 Yang Great Movements and 5 Yin Great

Movements.

Yang Yang

Equatorial plane

Yin Yin

The Great Movements describe the Earth; the cycle of the Great Movements starts with Earth,

describing the cycle of the development of a plant from the seed in the ground (Earth), needing

minerals (Metal) and fluids (Water) for nourishment and growth. These steps in the development of the

plant take place hidden under the surface of the earth. Then, during springtime (Wood) the plant comes

above the surface to reach for the light, where it will flourish and blossom (Fire).

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YANG YIN

1 + 2 - 3 + 4 - 5 + 6 - 7 + 8 - 9 + 10 -

Yang Earth Water Fire Metal Wood

Yin Metal Wood Earth Water Fire

Years

1924

1934

1944

1954

1964

1974

1984

1994

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

1926

1936

1946

1956

1966

1976

1986

1996

1927

1937

1947

1957

1967

1977

1987

1997

1928

1938

1948

1958

1968

1978

1988

1998

1929

1939

1949

1959

1969

1979

1989

1999

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

1931

1941

1951

1961

1971

1981

1991

2001

1932

1942

1952

1962

1972

1982

1992

2002

1933

1943

1953

1963

1973

1983

1993

2003

The first five Great Movements are Yang, the second five Yin; they also alternate from Yang to Yin.

The odd numbers are Yang, the even numbers are Yin.

The Great Movements which are Yang (odd) are active (+), and those which are Yin (even) are passive

(-).

A Great Movement being active or excessive, has an effect on the element next in the Ko (Ke) cycle,

giving it a deficiency. Hence, when the Water Great Movement is active/excessive, it leads to a

deficiency of Fire.

F-

W+

A Great Movement being passive or insufficient, has an effect on the element preceding it in the Kocycle,

giving it excess.

Hence, when the Water Great Movement is passive/insufficient, it leads to an excess in Earth.

E+

W-

This seems a bit odd, but is understandable, when we look at the Mo cycle, or reverse Ko cycle, as the

cycle of friendship, instead of the insulting cycle. This cycle of friendship is based on the need of

every element to express itself, by use of the other element in the Mo cycle. This is a normal and

harmonious relationship

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Earth needs Water, otherwise it becomes too dry and will be blown away as sand.

Water needs Fire or warmth, otherwise it becomes ice.

Fire needs Metal. The consciousness or the spirit needs a form (metal) to cling on, as fire or light needs

matter to express itself. The light of the sun during the darkness of the night is only visible when it hits

a planet or the moon. Light in general needs matter to become visible; without matter, also fire is not

visible.

Metal, which we find deep in the ground, needed plants and wood to become metal.

Wood, the roots of a tree, needs Earth to find stability. If there is not enough Earth, the tree will fall

down.

When the Fire is active, in excess, there is an excess of heat. It will subdue the lungs. This can be felt

on the pulse at Lu-9

When the Earth is active, in excess, there is an excess of dampness. It will subdue the kidneys. This

can be felt on pulse Ki-3

When the Metal is active, in excess, there is an excess of dryness. It will subdue the liver. This can be

felt on pulse at Liv-3 in male, and at Liv-9 or in the groin in female.

When the Water is active, in excess, there is an excess of coldness. It will subdue the heart. This can be

felt on pulse at Ht-7

When the Wood is active, in excess, there is an excess of wind. It will subdue the spleen. This can be

felt on the pulse at St-42 in male, and at Sp-11 in female.

When the Fire is passive, insufficient, it leads to more Water, to more coldness.

When the Earth is passive, insufficient, it leads to more Wood, to more wind.

When the Metal is passive, insufficient, it leads to more Fire, to more heat.

When the Water is passive, insufficient, it leads to more Earth, to more dampness.

When the Wood is passive, insufficient, it leads to more Metal, to more dryness.

These rules of the Great Movements are applied on weather situations, and also on the internal climate,

the internal energies of people. When one is born in a Fire active Great Movement year (excess), one

has a tendency to have insufficient Metal, especially the lungs. And when one is born in a Fire passive

Great Movement year (deficiency), one has the tendency to have more energy in the Water element,

which leads to more coldness in the body.

At this point it is important to understand that constitutional weaknesses are in general challenges in

peoples life’s, giving direction to a certain development on a physical, emotional and spiritual way.

We have to find solutions for the request for energy. Often in clinic, one sees patients who search for a

short term solution, giving a quick boost to their weaknesses, resulting eventually in exhaustion. A

well know example of this pattern is the tendency of people to eat a lot of sweets, to boost their weak

Spleen, after which it falls back to more insufficiency.

Long term solutions for constitutional weaknesses are found in right diet, emotional and spiritual

behaviour. In the example of the weak, insufficient Spleen, patients feel attracted to sympathetic and

empathetic environments. Their choices in profession, for their relationships, for holidays etc. etc. are

often directed by this need for a support of Spleen energy. But there is always the danger of over-doing

and over-asking for getting a quick boost. Constitutional weaknesses receive positive support by long

term, regular solutions, never by a strong, short stimulus of energy. It is the difference between

receiving a pat on the back or a strong push.

Spiritually a weak Spleen (with Great Movement Earth passive or Great Movement Wood active)

benefits from an attitude in which one seeks for awareness, without judgement or ethical standard. One

should experience life as it comes, without frustration, laxity or passivity. It comes close to Wu Wei,

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doing by not doing, which does not mean doing nothing, but excepting the laws of nature and

following them without questioning them.

A weak Lung (Great Movement Metal passive or Great Movement Fire active) benefits from an

attitude in which people are and become receptive for "cosmic" energies. This could be anything of a

heavenly concept, like religion, mysticism, new age, as long as people seek for interpretation and

direction for a spiritual structure in their daily life.

Weak Kidneys (Great Movement Water passive or Great Movement Earth active) benefit from interest

in wisdom and from a creative attitude. This creativity can be expressed in any direction, in profession,

hobby's, thinking, cooking, as long as the creativity is performed with joy and love.

A weak Liver (Great Movement Wood passive or Great Movement Metal active) benefits from a

development of mental capacities and of decision making. Expressing the desire to live life and the

ability to express and control love and hate, are also long term beneficial answers.

A weak Heart (Great Movement Fire passive or Great Movement Water active) benefits from an

attitude of in-sight and under-standing.

The 10 Great Movements together with the 10 celestial stems transform the heavenly energy. The

Great Movements are the dynamic part of the stems, together making the heavenly chi applicable for

Man. The system of the celestial stems is, in contrast with the cycles of the sun, the moon or the

planets, a metaphysical system, invented by man, but based on accurate observation of nature. It is a

very old system by which the sages in the past tried to understand and to explain the natural cycles in

life. The famous Emperor Yü, the River Emperor, who divided his country in 9 divisions, wrote The

Great Plan, also with nine divisions, inspired by well defined signs on the back of the shell of a turtle,

to help him reign the country. The fourth of these nine divisions says:

The 10 celestial stems (with the 12 earthly branches) are the essence of the Chinese calendar, helping

the Emperor reigning his country, by describing processes on earth. The development described by the

sequence of the stems is archetypal for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development. The

stems have a highly spiritual meaning; the explanation of this spiritual meaning is unfortunately

beyond this article.

The old Chinese characters describe the meaning of the stems quite understandable.

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St/Ki

Heng/Fire

Ting/Jen Yuan Qian/Earth Li Yi/Keng

Ht/Bl Wood Chia/Chi Metal Liv/LI

Gb/Sp

Zhen/Water

SI/LU

SI Ht

Heng

Qian

Chia/Yi Yuan Wu/Chi Li Keng/Sin

Gb Liv St Sp LI Lu

Zhen

Bl Ki

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1. Chia (Jia) 1

Qian/Earth Emanation Heaven

Earth Great Mvmt Earth

Chia Stem Earth

Gallbladder Organ Man

The meaning of the character is a root or a bud in its protective husk, at the point where it is breaking

out2, symbolising that Yang moves in the East, to sprout seeds from the winter. The root of Chia is in

the preceding stems 9, Jen and 10, Kuei related to the winter. Chia belongs to the East and Spring.

The Great Movements describe the earth, so this cycle starts with Earth. Combined with the stem Chia

it forms the pathway for the heavenly chi to create the Yang of Wood/ Gallbladder.

2. Yi (Yi)

Li/Metal Emanation Heaven

Metal Great Mvmt Earth

Yi Stem Earth

Liver Organ Man

The meaning of the character is a shoot leaving the bud, a symbol of strong growth and a general

notion of movement, of effort.

Another meaning is a twisted plant, symbolising strong growth, but also indicating creative vibration

of spring.

Here we find the Great Movement Metal combined with the growing energy of Liver, standing for

minerals and physical nourishment necessary for growth.

3. Ping (Bing)

Heng/Fire Emanation Heaven

Water Great Mvmt Earth

Ping Stem Earth

Small Intestine Organ Man

The meaning of the character is the housing of the power of fire. The meaning is a flower or

blossoming in the Summer. During the time of Ping (and Ting) the energies of Heaven make things

blossom and ripen. The power of Fire is concentrated in Ping. Where Man is concerned, this means

that Man houses the consciousness (Heng) with the aim to develop and blossom.

Heng/Fire Emanation Heaven

Wood Great Mvmt Earth

Ting Stem Earth

Heart Organ Man

1 The names in brackets are Pin Yin

2 underlined letters show the development in the sequence

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The meaning of the character is the sting of a bee, burning like fire in the Summer. Another

commentary states that it is a like the nail, which is the result of fire and the material where the nail is

made from. Without fire, nothing can burn or exist. Here we see how Fire (the Shen) and Wood (the

Hun) create Man as a tool.

5. Wu (Wu)

Qian/Earth Emanation Heaven

Fire Great Mvmt Earth

Wu Stem Earth

Stomach Organ Man

The meaning of the character is a hand holding a cutting instrument, cutting something. It gives the

idea of reaping. The meaning is abundance, just before the first harvest in Late Summer. The first five

stems are Yang in relation to the later five. This stem is the last and the peak of Yang and the end of

prosperity. Ceasing of energy will start.

6. Chi (Ji)

Qian/Earth Emanation Heaven

Earth Great Mvmt Earth

Chi Stem Earth

Spleen Organ Man

The meaning of the character symbolises originally the thread of the weft, on the weaving loom.

According to the commentaries this signifies full bloom in Late Summer. The thread symbolises the

connection of Chi with the Winter, with hibernation. It also means a person, one's self, I, myself. It is

the first of the five Yin stems

The change from Yang into Yin stems will be guided by the element Earth (Great Movement and

Organ are Earth).

7. Cheng (Geng)

Li/Metal Emanation Heaven

Metal Great Mvmt Earth

Cheng Stem Earth

Colon Organ Man

The character is a clear representation of two hands, one on the left and one on the right, holding and

waving with something. This indicates threshing rice in a mortar, harvesting and gathering.

The Yang organ of Metal, Colon, works in Autumn together with the Great Movement Metal

producing a strong inward movement to collect things, to be prepared for the Winter.

8. Sin (Xin)

Li/Metal Emanation Heaven

Water Great Mvmt Earth

Sin Stem Earth

Lungs Organ Man

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The origin of this character is an image of attack or punishment after offending ones superior. The

consequence for it is pain and bitterness. It is the time for death penalties.

The Yin organ of Metal relates to the Great Movement Water, to receive stillness and peace, necessary

for protection of the harvest in the Autumn.

9. Jen (Ren)

Zhen/ Water Emanation Heaven

Wood Great Mvmt Earth

Jen Stem Earth

Bladder Organ Man

The origin of this character is the image of a man carrying a yoke with his own troubles, hanging at

each end. The meaning of this is the Yin at its peak, Yang is born. The Yang of Water, Bladder, is

combined with the Great Movement Wood giving a stimulus for creation or conception. This stem in

the Winter is the power behind the growth of the first stem Chia.

10. Kuei (Gui)

Zhen/ Water Emanation Heaven

Fire Great Mvmt Earth

Kuei Stem Earth

Kidney Organ Man

The meaning of the character is mats or decorations made of grass on which offerings are placed, to

give thanks to the ancestors for their deeds. One looks back and gives thanks for what is gathered for

the Winter. Everything which will be created lives still protected and in the seclusion of the earth. The

Yin organ of Water, Kidney, needs the warmth of the Great Movement Fire, symbolising the enormous

storage of qi and fertility in the seed, to become visible during the time of Chia, the Spring.

The heavenly stems are inextricable connected to the earthly branches, which describe the human

psyche in relationship with society. To describe the cycle of the 12 branches and their relationships, I

would like to use an esoteric presentation, appealing you on another level of understanding, by sharing

my Chinese Allegory with you. The first branch relates to the Gallbladder, the second to the Liver etc.

This allegory describes, in a mystical way, the character of the organs and their influences on the

human psyche. It can help to understand the underlying energetic problems behind behavior anomalies

and to sharpen our diagnosis. However, one should read it with a flexible mind, because nothing in

Chinese medicine is pure black and white. It is likely possible that patients show only a few aspects of

the presented organ. Further more, when someone for instance has a hypochondriac attitude, you can’t

say, just from this allegory, that he has a Gallbladder problem. One should always check it in tandem

with all the possible methods of diagnosis that Chinese medicine provides, such as body- pulse- and

tongue diagnosis. Then it will be a good guide in finding causes behind psychological problems and

their possible treatments.

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One Chinese New Year a long time ago Buddha invited all the animals to meet him. Nearly all of them

ignored his invitation, being preoccupied with important things like eating, drinking, sleeping and

mating, but twelve animals did come to see him. In order of arrival came the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit,

Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Buddha offered each animal a year, which would be named after him till the end of time and would

express the symbolic character of the related animal. Such is the legend.

You are the governor of the Gallbladder.

Your life means action, providing people with good judgement, assertiveness, decisiveness and

determination. For your good work, I give you the virtue of Self-Assertion.

But beware. It is not your task to feed and develop or to doubt the Idea or to use your qualities for

other reasons; Then you will be the cause of unreasonable anger. Furthermore you will show signs

of poor judgement, indecisiveness and a lack of self-assertion even becoming hypochondriac, or

you may overcompensate, becoming a self-satisfied person complaining about all the mistakes other

people make. You have a sensitive sense of justice; the world seems wrong to you.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means growth, knowing how to plan effectively and being flexible to adjust to different

circumstances. You are characterised by your personal drive and good understanding of the moral

standard.

For your good work I give you the virtue of Flexible Power.

But beware. This power is flammable. When you use your flexibility for other reasons than

reaching for the light, it will harm you. It will cause irritability, expressing anger. Your flexibility

will cease, becoming stubborn, with a poor ability to cope with your world. You may experience

signs of depression with the tendency to hyperventilate.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means freedom based on a firm structure. You provide people with a good opportunity to

have an easy social interaction, with a social self-confidence.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Peace

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But beware. If you influence the process between heaven and earth to benefit yourself, it will harm

you. Life will become constricted and condensed, to bring you guilt, grief, sadness and despair. You

suffer from an inadequate social life, which can develop into emotional and physical claustrophobia

or into overconfidence.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means growing fast into the future. You give people the great strength necessary to let go

of the experiences of the past, and the fulfilment within by that which you experience from without.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Courage.

But beware, if you become greedy, addicted to the fulfilment, your life will become full of anguish,

desperation, grief and guilt. You will lose the insight that everything relates to everything else, and

will think only of your future gain.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means concentration and meditation through centralisation. You show compassion and

sympathy, knowing how to nurture yourself and others well. You receive what is yours and take a

resolute stand, resisting what does not belong to you.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Stability.

But beware, your good work easily makes you boastful. Then life will become controlled by

obsessions or greed and addiction. Furthermore, it brings you excessive pensiveness and insecurity.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means creation through transformation of the heavenly energy based on ordination. You

show discipline and order; by these you will know how to organise your internal reality. Your

strength comes from concentration and meditation through self contemplation.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Positiveness.

But beware, if you forget the love through which you work, your discipline and order will change

into fixation and blockage, showing as excessive pensiveness and obsessions, intractable habits and

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dogmatism. Then you are especially focused on negative experiences, which can develop into

melancholy.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means attunement with your world, characterised by joy and happiness based on high selfesteem,

-awareness and -confidence.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Love

But beware, if you become selfish, you will experience a joyless life. You will try to overcome your

low sense of self-esteem with an hysteric or euphoric attitude based on a hidden loneliness.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means understanding of the process of renewal providing people with a sense of freedom

and creativity. They can express joy thanks to your care and endless support. Your sharp sense of

discrimination is expressed by a disciplined use of your mental facilities together with a fluent

powerful use of language. For your good work, I give you the virtue of Perseverance.

But beware, if you become too dominant or arrogant, your joy will change into worries, you will

live a life lacking in spontaneity. You will try to overcome this by showing the tendency to

intellectualise your emotions and experiences and by compulsive talking. You will lose your sharp

sense of discrimination: Your care will become suffocating.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means survival, especially in times of misfortune. You are successful because of your

intuition and your good sense of humor. You show freedom of emotional and creative expression

and you have the power of letting go of the inappropriate feelings. Furthermore you show no sexual

repression. This is the way to overcome times of misfortune.

For your good work, I give the virtue of Humour

But beware, if you become dogmatic and unreceptive, forgetting your sense of humour, your

actions will end in failure. You become conservative, hanging on outmoded feelings and being

15

unreceptive to new ones. You become repressed in your emotions, creativity and sexual expressions

and unaware of your blocked situation.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means contemplation. You hold natural reverence for life’s forces and show a natural

self-preserving fear. You provide people with a positive sexual identity and the capacity for

affection with the ability to engage in emotional exchange.

For you good work, I give you the virtue of Responsibility

But beware, if you think that people hold reverence for you instead of the life forces, your pride

causes excessive and inappropriate fear. You could even become paranoia, being fearful of losing

your position.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means serving, with minor, personal involvement. You show the capacity for

commitment.

You listen to the rhythm of life, giving love where needed. Sometimes you destroy, giving the

freedom to follow a new direction.

For your good work ,I give you the virtue of Freedom.

But beware, if you involve yourself too personally, trying to personify yourself with the Love, you

will fail to hear anymore the rhythm of life. Then you will show self-preoccupation with excessive

self-containment You will lose your freedom, fearing over-exposure.

So use your qualities well.

Your life means involvement. You give people an emotional and physical harmony with their

environment. By good regulation you show the capacity to generate and accept change.

For your good work, I give you the virtue of Humility.

But beware, if your humility is misplaced, it will show as excessive caution and an over regulated

lifestyle. Your efforts to evangelise my Idea will fail every time, without understanding why. This

will frustrate you and make you lonely.

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So use your qualities well.

Then the Buddha said: Every one of you carries part of my Idea. Every one of you is perfect, but

that you will only know, when all of you become One. Only then the Plan will be revealed.

Joan Duveen M.Ac.

The Chinese calendar is structured on the cycles of heavenly stems and earthly branches, and based on

the law of five elements and six original energies. Both cycles are opportunities and tools for

acupuncture according to the constitutional energies. This article describes the heaven-earth-man

concept of the five elements and the paradigm of the cycles of the stems and branches. The branches in

particular are described in relationship to the influence on the human psyche.

Chinese philosophy, stems, branches, Chinese astrology, horoscopes, consciousness, five elements,

great movements, emanations, heaven, earth, man, psyche

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Thanks to my teacher J.D. van Buren Dr.(China) for his inspiration and the opportunity he offered me, to be his student.

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