Featured Article 7th of 9 Articles Series for Dajiyuan in Korea

Excerpts from the Article Translated to English:

The Correspondence Between Humans and the Larger Universe

In ancient Chinese Yin-Yang Five Elements Thought system, the Five Elements which mean the energy of trees, the energy of fire, the energy of soil, the energy of metal and the energy of water, and the Sixth energy are the connections that make up both the inside (microcosm) and the outside (the Three Realms) of the human body and connect them to each other. The Five Elements and the Sixth energy also have Yin and Yang energy in them. Due to this connection between Humans and the Larger universe, the characteristics of the Yin-Yang Five Elements and Sixth energy have a certain direction of the Five Elements cycle in nature as shown in the table, which is expressed as a cycle of night-day, season, and life, and are reflected in human thinking and behavior.

On the other hand, it is possible to predict the manifestation of the Yin-Yang Five Elements and Sixth energy in the Larger universe level through watching the development of the Five Elements cycle in human life. The ancient Chinese Taoist regarded this correspondence as wisdom from heaven and prepared for the upcoming turmoil by examining the lack of morality.

The life cycle of humans, the life of the solar system composed of the Five Elements, follows this cycle of the Five Elements. Tree energy corresponds to the period from birth to childhood, when both body and mind grow like trees during life. Fire energy corresponds to adolescence, which emits passion. Earth energy corresponds to adulthood and marriageable age, when they are independent from their parents and find their own land to cultivate. Metal energy corresponds to middle age being hardened, when their children are born and raised. Water energy corresponds to old age, when you have to embrace the surrounding situation smoothly and wisely with experience and years. Sixth energy corresponds to the transition period between each period.

If you take a good look at the energy of the Five Elements that correspond to each stage of your life cycle and have what energy you need to have more at that time, you will be at peace. For example, infants and children belong to the period of Tree energy, so they grow up in various directions like trees, so it is necessary to provide various opportunities. In addition, it is an important and relatively easy time to shape your body and mind so that they can grow properly, just as ‘the three-year-old habits last all the way to eighty’. This period is difficult for people who lack the Tree energy. Adolescents are sensitive to small changes as they belong to a period of fire in their life cycle. Just as air must communicate well to maintain fire, communication with their surroundings is very important during this period. It is time to open the way of fire by leading to bright and open spaces, contacting a wide society, and rapidly developing academic and physical abilities. This period is difficult for people who lack the Fire energy. Adulthood and marriageable age corresponds to Earth energy. This period of time, when financial independence and marriage to cultivate one’s land, require sincerity and reality as the soil has. This period is difficult for those who lack Earth Energy. Middle-aged people are in a period of Metal energy in the life cycle. They are under tension and pressure, must have clear values and standards, and are required to firmly fulfill their responsibilities. This period is difficult for those who lack Metal energy. People in old age are in the Water stage, the end of the life cycle of the Five Elements, so they should consider and prepare for the next generation and the next life. They need patience to give and embrace virtue and wisdom to untangle the knots and leave in life. This period is difficult for those who lack Water energy.

In the life cycle, adolescence turning from Tree to Fire energy , the age of marriage turning from Fire to Earth energy period, the age of childbirth turning from Earth to Metal energy period , and menopause turning from Metal and Water energy period, are turning points that correspond to Sixth energy having harmony and balance through moderation. This period is a difficult time for everyone because humans always lack Sixth energy from a higher level of space. It is a time of great help if you act with a “Five kinds of virtue; benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and sincerity” that starts from altruism rather than an emotional response and promotes spiritual maturity such as love and mercy, calmness of mind through meditation, and awe of divine beings.

Now, let’s look at the aspect of the larger universe. The age of the solar system we live in, a universe composed of the Five Elements, is believed to be turning to the elderly being compared in the human life cycle. This belongs to the period of Metal to Water energy in the Five Elements cycle. In other words, all living things in the solar system are under tension and pressure and must become tense to meet the required standards. Only living beings that meet that standard will be able to enjoy the abundance of the next cycle, the Water energy period. What are the principles and standards given to us as humans?

The ancestors, who understood the communication between the larger universe and the microcosm through the Chinese ancient Yin and Yang Five Elements thought system, looked back on their shortcomings when there was a disaster around them. The kindness of Tree energy when a big wind blows, the courtesy of Fire energy when a big fire breaks down, the trust and honesty of Earth energy when the mountain collapses and the ground break out, the righteousness of Metal energy in severe drought, the embrace and wisdom of Water energy when floods occur, and sometimes begged forgiveness of larger universe’s unseen creator. Hence, it was a reasonable tradition and wisdom arising from understanding the correspondence between the larger universe and the microcosm, and makes people prepare for a bigger crisis and look inside when they also see the shortcomings of others around themselves.