An Introduction to the Fire Element

Holistic, Acupuncture | 0 comments

Written by Rosalynn Hamilton

February 8, 2021

An Introduction to the  Fire Element

in Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

 

Fire.

A word strong enough to bring action and set things in motion. When you think of fire you think of heat and power. It can give life and it can cause destruction. It is one of the five elements in the Five Element theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

The element of Fire shown as a fireside
Balance with stones at sunset

Five Element theory is a concept that shows harmony in five elements in the world and in ourselves. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Each element has multiple characteristics that contribute to its nature. This article will bring an introduction to the concepts of the element of Fire.

 

The Fire Element

 

The concept of the fire element is easily seen. Fire is hot. Fire is bright. The flames of fire move upward. The heat from fire consumes. All the properties that you think of when you think of a flame are of the fire element. While this concept is ancient, it is rooted in basic thought. When you see fire, or even a simple flame, you see light and heat that consumes and flares upwards. Properties in the environment and in our lives that have similar function were thought of as having an element of fire in them.

 

flames

The Properties of Fire

Fire corresponds in multiple features in our world and in our lives. The fire element in our seasons is Summer. This is because it is the hottest time of year. South is the direction of fire. My thought behind this is because in China and upper hemisphere the equator is south. The closer you get to the equator the hotter it becomes. Fire is a time of growth and is the utmost Yang. The utmost yang means that it is at its highest bright energy. The red planet, mars is seen as a fire element.

The heart is the yin organ of fire while the small intestine is the yang organ. Tissues of the fire element are the blood vessels. The color is red, as most flames appear naturally red. Laughing is the sound of Fire, the smell is scorched. The emotion of Fire is joy. Taste of fire is bitter. Grains of the fire element are beans, animals are birds, domestic animals include fowl. Traditional Chinese medicine saw how the element of fire corresponded in our environment, but also how it corresponds in us.

 

A free range Chicken
Beans
Mars, the red planet

The Fire Type Person

Most people are mixtures of the five elements, but the traits of each element were described to allow us to characterize people. The fire type person has a red complexion and wide teeth. They may have a pointed, small head. Their chin may be pointed. The hair is curly or scanty. They are often tall and thin. Muscles are well developed on the shoulders, back, thighs, and hips. They have small hands and feet and walk quickly.

The fire type is energetic, active, and quick. They are short-tempered. They tend to think too much and often worry. The Fire person is good at observation and can analyze things deeply. They act boldly and usually wastes money. A fire type may not be trustworthy. They have attractive bright complexion. The fire type person likes spring and summer, and dislikes autumn and winter.

Curly Haired Woman Laughing
Man laughing

It is said that the fire type person will usually be healthy in the spring and summer but sick in autumn and winter due to outside illnesses. Their life is often short, and their death also appears to be sudden compared to the other elemental types.

woman sitting outside
Cartoon of Fire type woman
A woman laughing at a festival in the Summer time

The Fire Element is a Flame

I view the fire element as a flame. When you light a candle it is bright, red, and gives heat. The flame moves upward and expands. It changes constantly. A flame can become dangerous if it is not watched. There is a lot of energy in the flame. The flame ends abruptly without constant fuel. It pushes us forward in civilization, but it can also cause our destruction.

Fire as an element is key all around us and is seen in all aspects of life. It allows us to see how our bodies show the same attributes as the element in its purest form.

An oil lamp flame

An Introduction to the  Fire Element

 

Fire.

A word strong enough to bring action and set things in motion. When you think of fire you think of heat and power. It can give life and it can cause destruction. It is one of the five elements in the Five Element theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

The element of Fire shown as a fireside

Five Element theory is a concept that shows harmony in five elements in the world and in ourselves. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Each element has multiple characteristics that contribute to its nature. This article will bring an introduction to the concepts of the element of Fire.

 

The Fire Element

 

The concept of the fire element is easily seen. Fire is hot. Fire is bright. The flames of fire move upward. The heat from fire consumes. All the properties that you think of when you think of a flame are of the fire element. While this concept is ancient, it is rooted in basic thought. When you see fire, or even a simple flame, you see light and heat that consumes and flares upwards. Properties in the environment and in our lives that have similar function were thought of as having an element of fire in them.

 

flames

The Properties of Fire

Fire corresponds in multiple features in our world and in our lives. The fire element in our seasons is Summer. This is because it is the hottest time of year. South is the direction of fire. My thought behind this is because in China and upper hemisphere the equator is south. The closer you get to the equator the hotter it becomes. Fire is a time of growth and is the utmost Yang. The utmost yang means that it is at its highest bright energy. The red planet, mars is seen as a fire element.

The heart is the yin organ of fire while the small intestine is the yang organ. Tissues of the fire element are the blood vessels. The color is red, as most flames appear naturally red. Laughing is the sound of Fire, the smell is scorched. The emotion of Fire is joy. Taste of fire is bitter. Grains of the fire element are beans, animals are birds, domestic animals include fowl. Traditional Chinese medicine saw how the element of fire corresponded in our environment, but also how it corresponds in us.

 

A free range Chicken
Beans
Mars, the red planet

The Fire Type Person

Most people are mixtures of the five elements, but the traits of each element were described to allow us to characterize people. The fire type person has a red complexion and wide teeth. They may have a pointed, small head. Their chin may be pointed. The hair is curly or scanty. They are often tall and thin. Muscles are well developed on the shoulders, back, thighs, and hips. They have small hands and feet and walk quickly.

The fire type is energetic, active, and quick. They are short-tempered. They tend to think too much and often worry. The Fire person is good at observation and can analyze things deeply. They act boldly and can waste money. A fire type may not be trustworthy. They have attractive bright complexion. The fire type person likes spring and summer, and dislikes autumn and winter.

Curly Haired Woman Laughing
Man laughing

It is said that the fire type person will usually be healthy in the spring and summer but sick in autumn and winter due to outside illnesses. Their life is often short, and their death also appears to be sudden compared to the other elemental types.

woman sitting outside
Cartoon of Fire type woman

The Fire Element is a Flame

I view the fire element as a flame. When you light a candle it is bright, red, and gives heat. The flame moves upward and expands. It changes constantly. A flame can become dangerous if it is not watched. There is a lot of energy in the flame. The flame ends abruptly without constant fuel. It pushes us forward in civilization, but it can also cause our destruction.

Fire as an element is key all around us and is seen in all aspects of life. It allows us to see how our bodies show the same attributes as the element in its purest form.

An oil lamp flame

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