5 Elements

These are the five elements of Chinese Wu Xing as well as the interactions between the elements.

5 Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space.

There are 5 elements in many philosophies and traditions around the world. Here is a look at the 5 elements in Chinese, Japanese, Buddhist, Greek, Babylonian and alchemy.

Babylonian 5 Elements

1. wind
2. fire
3. earth
4. sea
5. sky

Medieval Alchemy

The number of traditional elements in medieval alchemy varies from 4, 5 or 8. The first four are always found. The fifth, aether, is important in some traditions. Sulfur, mercury and salt are classical elements.

1. air
2. fire
3. water
4. earth
5. aether
6. sulfur
7. mercury
8. salt

Greek 5 Elements

1. air
2. water
3. fire
4. earth
5. aether

Chinese 5 Elements - Wu Xing

1. wood
2. water
3. earth
4. fire
5. metal

Japanese 5 Elements - Godai

1. air
2. water
3. earth
4. fire
5. void

Hindu and Buddhist 5 Elements

Akasha is the equivalent to Aristotle's aether, in the Greek tradition. While Hinduism traditionally recognizes 5 elements, Buddhism typically only the first four "great" or "gross" elements. Although the names are different, the first four elements roughly translate as being air, fire, water and earth.

1. Vayu (wind or air)
2. Ap (water)
3. Agni fire)
4. Prithvi (earth)
5. Akasha

Tibetan 5 Elements (Bon)

1. air
2. water
3. earth
4. fire
5. aether

Source

chemistry.about.com