Tea and Wu Xing

Wu xing – directly translating to “five elements” – is an ancient Chinese philosophy that encompasses five phases of the universe’s ongoing existence and development.

The five components are Wood (mu), Fire (huo), Earth or Soil (tu), Metal (jin), and Water (shui). Seen as transitional material forces that flow successively, these elements are an inherent part of Chinese principles, beliefs, and culture.

Tea is the sum of the Five Elements.
First, tea is picked from tea trees, the tea tree gives tea the first life, so that’s why tea belongs to the wood. After picking and being roasted in the iron pot, tea starts its second life, that’s why tea belongs to the metal. In the presence of water, tea’s buds and leaves are stretched, which gives tea the third life, that’s why tea belongs to the water. Whether it’s boiling tea or steeping tea, all the tea sets are made of ceramics, and it provides tea the fourth life. Ceramics are from soil, so that’s why tea belongs to the earth. Finally, all of processes of making tea require the power of fire, that’s why tea belongs to the fire.

From a leaf into a cup, tea goes through so many steps, so it absorbs the essence of all the five elements. Therefore, tea is treated as treasure in China.