Editing Classical element (section)

==Post-classical history==

===Alchemy===
[[File:Vitriol.png|thumb|Seventeenth century alchemical emblem showing the four Classical elements in the corners of the image, alongside the tria prima on the central triangle]]
{{anchor|Elements in Medieval alchemy}}

The elemental system used in medieval [[alchemy]] was developed primarily by the anonymous authors of the Arabic works attributed to Pseudo [[Apollonius of Tyana]].{{sfnp|Norris|2006|pp=43–65}} This system consisted of the four classical elements of air, earth, fire, and water, in addition to a new theory called the [[sulphur-mercury theory of metals]], which was based on two elements: [[Sulfur|sulphur]], characterizing the principle of combustibility, "the stone which burns"; and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], characterizing the principle of metallic properties. They were seen by early alchemists as idealized expressions of irreducible components of the [[universe]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clulee |first=Nicholas H. |title=John Dee's Natural Philosophy |publisher=Routledge |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-415-00625-5 |pages=97}}</ref> and are of larger consideration within philosophical alchemy.

The three metallic principles—sulphur to flammability or combustion, mercury to volatility and stability, and [[Salt (chemistry)|salt]] to solidity—became the ''tria prima'' of the Swiss alchemist [[Paracelsus]]. He reasoned that Aristotle's four element theory appeared in bodies as three principles. Paracelsus saw these principles as fundamental and justified them by recourse to the description of how wood burns in fire. Mercury included the cohesive principle, so that when it left in smoke the wood fell apart. Smoke described the volatility (the mercurial principle), the heat-giving flames described flammability (sulphur), and the remnant ash described solidity (salt).{{sfnp|Strathern|2001|p=79}}

===Chinese===
{{Main|Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)}}

Chinese traditional concepts adopt a set of elements called the {{lang|zh|五行}} (''[[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|wuxing]]'', literally "five phases"). These five are [[Metal (wuxing)|Metal]] or Gold, [[Wood (wuxing)|Wood]], [[Water (wuxing)|Water]], [[Fire (wuxing)|Fire]], and [[Earth (wuxing)|Earth]] or Soil.<ref>Theobald, Ulrich (2011) [http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Diverse/yinyangwuxing.html "Yin-Yang and Five Agents Theory, Correlative Thinking"] in ''ChinaKnowledge.de - An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art''</ref> These can be linked to [[Taiji (philosophy)|Taiji]], [[Yin and yang|Yinyang]], [[Four Symbols]], [[Bagua]], [[Hexagram (I Ching)|Hexagram]] and [[I Ching]]. 

*'''Gold''' (West) represents the lesser yin symbol, [[autumn]], the [[white]] color, and [[White Tiger (mythology)|White Tiger]] mascot, [[Taotie]] creature (Earth). 
*'''Wood''' (East) represents the lesser yang symbol, [[Spring (season)|spring]], the [[green]] color, and [[Azure Dragon]] mascot, [[Feilian]] creature (Wind). 
*'''Water''' (North) represents the great yin symbol, [[winter]], the [[black]] color, and [[Black Turtle-Snake]] mascot. 
*'''Fire''' (South) represents the great yang symbol, [[summer]], the [[red]] color, and [[Vermilion Bird]] mascot. 
*'''Soil''' (Center) represents the Qi symbol, intermediate season, the [[yellow]] color, and [[Yellow Dragon]] mascot, [[Hundun]] creature (Void). 

===Japanese===
{{anchor|Japanese elements}}

{{Main|Godai (Japanese philosophy)}}

[[Japan]]ese traditions use a set of elements called the {{lang|ja|五大}} (''godai'', literally "five great"). These five are [[earth (classical element)|earth]], [[water (classical element)|water]], [[fire (classical element)|fire]], [[air (classical element)|wind]]/air, and [[Aether (classical element)|void]]. These came from Indian [[Vastu shastra]] philosophy and Buddhist beliefs; in addition, the [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|classical Chinese elements]] ({{lang|ja|五行}}, ''wu xing'') are also prominent in Japanese culture, especially to the influential Neo-Confucianists during the medieval [[Edo period]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=Encountering the '5 elements' in Japan's national parks |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-encountering-the-five-elements-in-japans-national-parks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223012427/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-encountering-the-five-elements-in-japans-national-parks |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2022 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Travel |language=en}}</ref>

* '''Earth''' represented rocks and stability.
* '''Water''' represented fluidity and adaptability.
* '''Fire''' represented life and energy.
* '''Wind''' represented movement and expansion.
* '''Void''' or '''Sky/Heaven''' represented spirit and creative energy.

===Medieval Aristotelian philosophy===
The [[Islamic philosophy|Islamic philosophers]] [[al-Kindi]], [[Avicenna]] and [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]] followed [[Aristotle]] in connecting the four elements with the four natures heat and cold (the active force), and dryness and moisture (the recipients).<ref name="rafati">{{Cite journal |last=Rafati |first=Vahid |title=Lawh-i-Hikmat: The Two Agents and the Two Patients |url=http://bahai-library.com/rafati_hikmat_agents_patients |journal='Andalib |volume=5 |pages=29–38 |number=19}}</ref>

=== Medicine Wheel ===
The medicine wheel symbol is a modern invention attributed to [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] peoples dating to approximately 1972, with the following descriptions and associations being a later addition. The associations with the classical elements are not grounded in traditional Indigenous teachings and the symbol has not been adopted by all Indigenous American nations.<ref name="Shaw">{{cite magazine |last=Shaw |first=Christopher |date=August 1995 |title=A Theft of Spirit? |url=https://thetrackingproject.org/a-theft-of-spirit/ |magazine=New Age Journal |location= |publisher= |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="Jung">{{cite web |last1=Thomason |first1=Timothy C |title=The Medicine Wheel as a Symbol of Native American Psychology |url=https://www.jungpage.org/learn/articles/culture-and-psyche/908-the-medicine-wheel-as-a-symbol-of-native-american-psychology |website=The Jung Page |publisher=The Jung Center of Houston |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=27 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chavers |first1=Dean |title=5 Fake Indians: Checking a Box Doesn't Make You Native |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/5-fake-indians-checking-a-box-doesnt-make-you-native |website=Indian Country Today |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=15 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Beyer">{{cite web |last1=Beyer |first1=Steve |title=Selling Spirituality |url=https://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/02/selling-spirituality/ |website=Singing to the Plants |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=3 February 2008}}</ref><ref name="Bear">{{cite book |last1=Bear Nicholas |first1=Andrea |editor1-last=Hulan |editor1-first=Renée |editor2-last=Eigenbrod |editor2-first=Renate |title=Aboriginal Oral Traditions: Theory, Practice, Ethics |date=April 2008 |publisher=Fernwood Pub Co Ltd |location=Halifax, NS |isbn=9781552662670 |pages=7–43 |chapter=The Assault on Aboriginal Oral Traditions: Past and Present}}</ref>

*'''Earth''' (South) represents the youth cycle, [[summer]], the Indigenous race, and [[Juniperus virginiana|cedar]] medicine.
*'''Fire''' (East) represents the birth cycle, [[Spring (season)|spring]], the Asian race, and [[tobacco]] medicine.
*'''Wind/Air''' (North) represents the elder cycle, [[winter]], the European race, and [[Hierochloe odorata|sweetgrass]] medicine.
*'''Water''' (West) represents the adulthood cycle, [[autumn]], the African race, and [[Salvia apiana|sage]] medicine.