Godai (Japanese philosophy)

The five elements (五大, Godai, lit. "five big") of Japanese tradition come largely from Onmyodo and Japanese conceptions of Chinese concepts such as feng shui. Unlike the system of scientific chemical elements, the godai do not represent fundamental parts that all things are composed of; rather, they represent categories and concepts by which all things can be likened, and therefore analysed in a spiritual, philosophical manner. Like in Chinese philosophy, each is associated with a number of attributes, such as color, direction, and physical and emotional attributes of people. Paying attention to the balance of these elements, and manipulating them, plays a central role in certain types of Japanese herbal medicine, and in the magics employed by ninja, ascetic monks, and others in anime and other fictional formats. The Japanese elements are perhaps best known in the West for their use in Miyamoto Musashi's famous text Gorin no sho (The Book of Five Rings), in which he explains different aspects of swordsmanship by assigning each aspect to an element.

The Elements

The five elements are, in ascending order of power, 地 (chi) Earth, 水 (sui) Water, 火 (ka or hi) Fire, 風 (fuu) Wind, and 空 (kuu). This last is usually translated as "Void" when referring to the elements, but refers to Sky in most other contexts, and is therefore sometimes translated as Heaven. Sometimes a sixth element is added, representing Consciousness.

Chi

Chi, meaning "Earth", represents the hard, solid objects of the world. The most basic example of Chi is in a stone. Stones are highly resistant to movement or change, as is anything heavily influenced by Chi. In people, the bones, muscles and tissues are represented by Chi. Emotionally, Chi is predominantly associated with stubbornness, stability, physicality, and gravity. In the mind, it is confidence; and emotionally it is a desire to have things remain as they are; a resistance to change. When under the influence of this chi mode or 'mood,' we are aware of our own physicality and sureness of action.

(Note: This is a separate concept from the energy-force, pronounced in Chinese as qi or ch'i and in Japanese as ki, and written alternatively as 気,氣, or 气.)

Sui

Sui, meaning "Water", represents the fluid, flowing, formless things in the world. Outside of the obvious example of rivers and the like, plants are also categorized under Sui, as they adapt to their environment, growing and changing according to the direction of the sun and the changing seasons. Blood and other bodily fluids are represented by Sui, as are mental or emotional tendencies towards adaptation and change. Sui can be associated with emotion, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness, and magnetism.

Ka

Ka or Hi, meaning "Fire", represents the energetic, forceful, moving things in the world. Animals, particularly predators, capable of movement and full of forceful energy, are primary examples of Ka objects. Bodily, Ka represents our metabolism and body heat, and in the mental and emotional realms, it represents drive and passion. Ka can be associated with motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit.

Fuu

Fuu, meaning "Wind", represents those things that, even moreso than Sui objects, grow, expand, and enjoy freedom of movement. Aside from air, smoke, and the like, Fuu can in some ways be best represented by the human mind. As we grow physically, we learn and expand mentally as well, in terms of our knowledge, our experiences, and our personalities. Fuu represents breathing, and the internal processes associated with respiration. Mentally and emotionally, it represents an 'open-minded' attitude and carefree feeling. It can be associated with will, elusiveness, evasiveness, benevolence, compassion, wisdom, and electricity.

Kuu

Kuu, most often translated as "Void", but also meaning "Sky" or "Heaven", represents those things beyond our everyday experience, particularly those things composed of pure energy. Atoms, their component particles, and atomic forces fall under this category, as do people in a higher state of consciousness. Bodily, Kuu represents spirit, thought, and creative energy. It represents our ability to think and to communicate, as well as our creativity. It can also be associated with power, creativity, spontaneity, inventiveness, nuclear reactions.

Kuu is of particular importance as the highest of the elements. In martial arts, particularly in fictional tales where the fighting discipline is blended with magic or the occult, one often invokes the power of the Void to connect to the quintessential creative energy of the world. A warrior properly attuned to the Void can sense his surrounding and act without thinking, and without using his physical senses.

Representations of the Godai

The gojuu no tou five-tiered pagoda at Horyu-ji, Nara.

The most common representations today of the five elements, outside of martial arts and fictional references (such as in anime), are found in Buddhist architecture. Many pagodas (仏塔 buttou) in Japan are of the Gojuu no Tou (五重塔) style, meaning they have five tiers or levels. Each tier, naturally, represents one of the elements, beginning with Chi (earth) at the bottom, and ending with Kuu (Void or Sky) at the top. Often, the spire at the top is also divided into five sections.

Japanese stone lanterns as seen in Zen gardens and Buddhist temples also represent the five elements. The bottom-most piece, touching the ground, represents Chi; the next section, often shaped to look like a lotus flower, represents Sui; Ka is represented by the section encasing the lantern's light or flame, while Fuu and Kuu are represented by the last two sections, top-most and pointing towards the sky.

See Also

• Five elements (Chinese)
• feng shui
• Onmyodo
• Gorin no Sho

Reference

• Miller, Jeff (June 1996). "5 Element Codes Part 1." Ninjutsu - Ura & Omote.