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Godai (五大, lit. "five – great, large, physical, form") are the five elements in Japanese Buddhist thought of earth (chi), water (sui), fire (ka), wind (fu), and void (ku). Its origins are from the Indian Buddhist concept of Mahābhūta, disseminated and influenced by Chinese traditions^[1] before being absorbed, influenced, and refined into and by Japanese tradition, culture, and indigenous folk religions.^[2]^[3]

The Japanese Buddhist concept of gogyo, which stems from Chinese wuxing, is distinguishable from godai by the fact that the functional phases of wood and metal within gogyo are replaced by the formative elements of void and the wind (air) in godai.^[2] similar to the classical Greek philosophical elements. Godai attributed to esoteric Japanese Buddhism during the eleventh century CE in relation to the idea of gorin (the "five wheels" or the "five rings").^[4] Godai and gorin are also seen within the practice of ninjutsu, where these principles became an essential aspect of the esoteric ninja teachings (the ninpo-mikkyo);^[5]^[6] whereas the theory of gogyo moved into the functional theory of traditional Japanese medicine and exoteric Buddhism.

The elements

The godai is a static or inert philosophical understanding of the traditional Japanese elements and study. The four main elements or building blocks are Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, while Void is non substantial.^[7]^[3]

[ mikkyo ] teaches that all physical aspects of existence originate from a common source and can be classified in one of the godai five elemental manifestations of physical matter. Chi, or the earth, symbolizes solid matter. Sui, the water, symbolizes liquids. Ka, the fire, is the symbol of combustion, or the elements in an energy-releasing state. Fu, the wind, symbolizes gases. Ku, the void, is representative of the formless subatomic energy that is the basis for the structure of all things. This godai symbolism is also used to describe the emotional nature of human beings, and to provide a symbolic structure for the teaching of effective physical combat principles in ninjutsu.
— Stephen K. Hayes^[8]

As such, these may describe an individual's response to direct confrontation, such as in martial arts associations with physical center, footwork.^[5]

Chi: stability/stubbornness; holding ground and using strength and presence (source: strength)
Sui: flexibility/emotionalism; defensive angling and footwork to overextend the attacker before counterattacking (source: power)
Ka: Using high energy attacks defensively (source: energy)
Fu: Evasive, elusive methods that redirect attacks away from their targets (source: resiliency)
Ku: Spontaneous and inventive fighting

Earth

地 Chi (sometimes ji) or tsuchi, meaning "Earth", represents the hard, solid objects of Earth. 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 collectiveness, stability, physicality, and gravity. It is a desire to have things remain as they are; a resistance to change. In the mind, it is confidence when under the influence of this chi mode or "mood", we are aware of our own physicality and sureness of action. This is a separate concept from the energy-force, pronounced in Chinese as qì (also written ch'i) and in Japanese as ki, and written alternatively as 気, 氣, or 气.

Water

水 Sui or mizu, meaning "Water", represents the fluid, flowing, and the formless things in the world. Outside of the obvious example of rivers and the lake, 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 thought, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness, and magnetism.

Fire

火 Ka or hi, meaning "Fire", represents the energetic, forceful, moving things in the world. Animals, 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 security, motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit.

Wind

風 Fū or kaze, meaning "Wind", represents things that grow, expand, and enjoy freedom of movement. Aside from air, smoke and the like, fū 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. Fū 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.

Void (Aether)

空 Kū or sora, most often translated as "Void", but also meaning "sky", "heaven" or environment, it represents those things beyond and within our everyday comprehension, particularly those things composed of pure energy before they manifest; the emptiness that the energy is made up of. Bodily, kū represents spirit, thought and creative energy. It represents the creation of phenomena. It can also be associated with the potential of power, creativity, spontaneity and inventiveness.

Kū 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 their surroundings and act without using the mind, and without using their "physical senses".

Representations of the godai

The most common representations today of the five elements, outside of martial arts and fictional references, are found in Buddhist architecture.

Many temples in Japan have beautiful goju-no-to, or five storied towers [pagodas]. Five roofs of graceful curves make the towers architectural beauties...of wooden construction built without any nails or bolts. ...Though they are beautiful, they are not erected merely as architectural ornaments for temples. The five stories stand for...godai, or Five Greats in Buddhism. They are the elements in the Universe from which are produced all things. ...Thus the towers symbolize the Universe and everything existing in it.^[9]

A diagram of a *gorintō*, colored and labeled with the kanji for the *godai* elements corresponding to each ring

Japanese gorintō (五輪塔) (from 五 'five', 輪 'ring shape', and 塔 'tower') can be seen in Zen gardens and Buddhist temples, represented as stupas. They have five divisions to represent the five elements, although the five segments can be hard to discern. Touching the ground, the bottom-most piece represents chi; the next section represents sui; ka is represented by the middle section, while fū and kū are represented by the top-most two sections, pointing towards the sky. A gorintō is composed, from bottom to top, of a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, a crescent, and a shape resembling a lotus flower. These shapes also relate to the meanings described above.^[3]^[10]

The stone lanterns or tōrō (灯籠), which are similar in form to the gorintō, are stone towers of modest size put on a center line for the approach mainly to the Buddhist temples and cemeteries. The function of the toro is different from the gorintō: they are intended to illuminate the approach to the temple like lighthouses, with a flame encased in the section representing ka, for Buddhist ceremonies taking place at night.

Sources

^ Ferguson, Andrew (2011). Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-617-3.
^ ^a ^b Sairam, T. V. (2008-01-16). The Penguin Dictionary of Alternative Medicine. Penguin UK. p. 273. ISBN 978-93-5118-127-9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Barton, David Watts (2021-04-27). Japan from Anime to Zen: Quick Takes on Culture, Art, History, Food . . . and More. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 273. ISBN 978-1-61172-945-0.
^ Veere, Henny van der (2021-07-26). A Study into the Thought of Kōgyō Daishi Kakuban: With a translation of his 'Gorin kuji myo himitsushaku'. BRILL. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-90-04-48759-8.
^ ^a ^b Hayes, Stephen K. (1981). Warrior Ways of Enlightenment. Black Belt Communications. pp. 26–37. ISBN 978-0-89750-077-7.
^ Masazumi, Master Natori (2010-08-13). Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment. Simon and Schuster. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-59477-667-0.
^ Moore, Meido (2020-10-13). Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realization. Shambhala Publications. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-8348-4313-4.
^ Hayes, Stephen K. (1981/2003). Warrior Ways of Enlightenment, Vol. 2, p.26. Ohara Publications, Santa Clarita, California. 22nd edition. ISBN 0-89750-077-6
^ Joya (2017). Japan And Things Japanese, unpaginated. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781136221866.
^ Joya (2017-07-12). "Section: Goju no To". Japan And Things Japanese. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-22186-6.

External links

Miller, Jeff (June 1996). "5 Element Codes Part 1." Ninjutsu – Ura & Omote.
Deon de Jongh (2003). Touhkondo: The Way of the Fighting Spirit, p. 27. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595279784.
Yin Yang Five Element Medicine Inyo Gogyo setsu Archived 2020-11-25 at the Wayback Machine

[1] Ferguson, Andrew (2011). Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-617-3.

[:0-2] Sairam, T. V. (2008-01-16). The Penguin Dictionary of Alternative Medicine. Penguin UK. p. 273. ISBN 978-93-5118-127-9.

[:1-3] Barton, David Watts (2021-04-27). Japan from Anime to Zen: Quick Takes on Culture, Art, History, Food . . . and More. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 273. ISBN 978-1-61172-945-0.

[4] Veere, Henny van der (2021-07-26). A Study into the Thought of Kōgyō Daishi Kakuban: With a translation of his 'Gorin kuji myo himitsushaku'. BRILL. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-90-04-48759-8.

[:2-5] Hayes, Stephen K. (1981). Warrior Ways of Enlightenment. Black Belt Communications. pp. 26–37. ISBN 978-0-89750-077-7.

[6] Masazumi, Master Natori (2010-08-13). Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment. Simon and Schuster. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-59477-667-0.

[7] Moore, Meido (2020-10-13). Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realization. Shambhala Publications. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-8348-4313-4.

[Hayes-8] Hayes, Stephen K. (1981/2003). Warrior Ways of Enlightenment, Vol. 2, p.26. Ohara Publications, Santa Clarita, California. 22nd edition. ISBN 0-89750-077-6

[9] Joya (2017). Japan And Things Japanese, unpaginated. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781136221866.

[10] Joya (2017-07-12). "Section: Goju no To". Japan And Things Japanese. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-22186-6.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Five elements in Japanese philosophy: earth (地), water (水), fire (火), wind (風), void (空)}}
+{{Short description|Five elements in Japanese philosophy}}
-{{See also|Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)}}
 {{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
 {{Italictitle}}
 {{Classic element}}
+'''Godai''' {{nihongo||五大||lit. "five – great, large, physical, form"}} are the five elements in Japanese Buddhist thought of earth (''chi''), water (''sui''), fire (''ka''), wind (''fu''), and void (''ku''). Its origins are from the Indian Buddhist concept of [[Mahābhūta]], disseminated and influenced by [[Chan Buddhism|Chinese traditions]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Andrew |title=Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings |publisher=Wisdom Publications |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-86171-617-3 |edition= |location=Somerville, MA |language=English}}</ref> before being absorbed, influenced, and refined into and by Japanese tradition, culture, and [[Shinto sects and schools|indigenous folk religions]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Sairam|first=T. V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZNtAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT274|title=The Penguin Dictionary of Alternative Medicine|date=2008-01-16|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5118-127-9|pages=273|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Barton|first=David Watts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5RHUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT273|title=Japan from Anime to Zen: Quick Takes on Culture, Art, History, Food . . . and More|date=2021-04-27|publisher=Stone Bridge Press, Inc.|isbn=978-1-61172-945-0|pages=273|language=en}}</ref>
-'''Godai''', {{nihongo||五大||lit. "five – great, large, physical, form"}} five elements philosophy in Japan is derived from Buddhist ''[[dharma]]'' and [[traditional Chinese medicine|traditional Chinese medical]] doctrine that traveled from China throughout east Asia to Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kampo Medicine: The Practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Japan|url=http://www.itmonline.org/arts/kampo.htm|access-date=2020-11-24|website=www.itmonline.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=East Asian Buddhist Studies: A Reference Guide|url=https://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist/article/187139|access-date=2020-11-24|website=www.international.ucla.edu}}</ref>
-The Japanese Buddhist ''[[gogyo]]'' and ''godai'' are distinguishable from each other by the fact that the functional elements of wood or metal within ''gogyo'' are replaced by the formative elements of void or the wind (air) in ''godai'' depending on the variant version. ''Godai'' is attributed to [[Vajrayana#Japanese Esotericism|esoteric Japanese Buddhism]] during the tenth century CE under the name of ''gorin'' (the "five wheels" or the "five rings"). ''Godai'' and ''gorin'' is also seen within the practice of ''[[ninjutsu]]'', where these principles became an essential aspect of the esoteric ninja teachings (the ''[[Mikkyō|ninpo-mikkyo]]'') whereas the theory of ''gogyo'' moved into the functional theory of traditional Japanese medicine and exoteric Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Baracco|first=Luciano|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3x5T23r6nUUC&pg=PA154|title=National Integration and Contested Autonomy: The Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua|date=2011|publisher=Algora Publishing|isbn=978-0-87586-823-3|language=en}}</ref>
+The Japanese Buddhist concept of ''[[gogyo]],'' which stems from Chinese ''[[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|wuxing]],'' is distinguishable from ''godai'' by the fact that the functional phases of wood and metal within ''gogyo'' are replaced by the formative elements of void and the wind (air) in ''godai''.<ref name=":0" />  similar to the classical [[Classical element|Greek philosophical elements]]''. Godai'' attributed to [[Vajrayana#Japanese Esotericism|esoteric Japanese Buddhism]] during the eleventh century CE in relation to the idea of ''gorin'' (the "five wheels" or the "five rings").<ref>{{Cite book|last=Veere|first=Henny van der|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qyk7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA133|title=A Study into the Thought of Kōgyō Daishi Kakuban: With a translation of his 'Gorin kuji myo himitsushaku'|date=2021-07-26|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-48759-8|pages=133–134|language=en}}</ref> ''Godai'' and ''gorin'' are also seen within the practice of ''[[ninjutsu]]'', where these principles became an essential aspect of the esoteric ninja teachings (the ''[[Mikkyō|ninpo-mikkyo]]'');<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Hayes|first=Stephen K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmLbM3R3p_cC&dq=godai+elements&pg=PA26|title=Warrior Ways of Enlightenment|date=1981|publisher=Black Belt Communications|isbn=978-0-89750-077-7|pages=26–37|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Masazumi|first=Master Natori|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KlwoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21|title=Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment|date=2010-08-13|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-59477-667-0|pages=21|language=en}}</ref> whereas the theory of ''gogyo'' moved into the functional theory of traditional Japanese medicine and exoteric Buddhism.
 ==The elements==
-The ''godai'' is a static or inert philosophical understanding of the traditional Japanese elements and study, similar to the Greek [[classical element]]s. The four main elements or building blocks are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void is non substantial.<ref>{{Cite web|title=East Asian Buddhist Studies: A Reference Guide|url=https://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist/article/187139|access-date=2020-11-27|website=www.international.ucla.edu}}</ref>
+The ''godai'' is a static or inert philosophical understanding of the traditional Japanese elements and study. The four main elements or building blocks are Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, while Void is non substantial.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Moore|first=Meido|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iML0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA277|title=Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realization|date=2020-10-13|publisher=Shambhala Publications|isbn=978-0-8348-4313-4|pages=277|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
-{{Quote|[In [[Mikkyō|mikkyo]] it is taught that] All physical aspects of existence originate from a common source and can be classified in of the ''godai'' five elemental manifestations of physical. ''Chi'', or the earth, symbolizes solid matter. ''Sui'', the water, symbolizes liquids. ''Ka'', the fire, is the symbol of combustion, or the elements in an energy-releasing state. ''Fu'', the wind, symbolizes gases. ''Ku'', the void, is representative of the formless subatomic energy that is the basis for the structure of all things. This godai symbolism is used to provide a symbolic structure for the teaching of effective physical combat principles in [[ninjutsu]].|[[Stephen K. Hayes]]<ref name="Hayes">Hayes, Stephen K. (1981/2003). ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Warrior_Ways_of_Enlightenment/HmLbM3R3p_cC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=godai+elements&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover Warrior Ways of Enlightenment, Vol. 2]'', p.26. Ohara Publications, Santa Clarita, California. 22nd edition. {{ISBN|0-89750-077-6}}</ref>}}
+{{Quote|[ [[Mikkyō|mikkyo]] ] teaches that all physical aspects of existence originate from a common source and can be classified in one of the ''godai'' five elemental manifestations of physical matter. ''Chi'', or the earth, symbolizes solid matter. ''Sui'', the water, symbolizes liquids. ''Ka'', the fire, is the symbol of combustion, or the elements in an energy-releasing state. ''Fu'', the wind, symbolizes gases. ''Ku'', the void, is representative of the formless subatomic energy that is the basis for the structure of all things. This godai symbolism is also used to describe the emotional nature of human beings, and to provide a symbolic structure for the teaching of effective physical combat principles in [[ninjutsu]].|[[Stephen K. Hayes]]<ref name="Hayes">Hayes, Stephen K. (1981/2003). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=HmLbM3R3p_cC&dq=godai+elements&pg=PA26 Warrior Ways of Enlightenment, Vol. 2]'', p.26. Ohara Publications, Santa Clarita, California. 22nd edition. {{ISBN|0-89750-077-6}}</ref>}}
-As such, these may describe an individual's response to direct confrontation, such as in martial arts associations with physical center, footwork.<ref name="Hayes"/>
+As such, these may describe an individual's response to direct confrontation, such as in martial arts associations with physical center, footwork.<ref name=":2" />
 # Chi: stability/stubbornness; holding ground and using strength and presence (source: strength)
 # Sui: flexibility/emotionalism; defensive angling and footwork to overextend the attacker before counterattacking (source: power)
-# Ka: aggression/fear; using high energy attacks defensively (source: energy)
+# Ka: Using high energy attacks defensively (source: energy)
-# Fu: wisdom/love; evasive, elusive methods that redirect attacks away from their targets (source: resiliency)
+# Fu: Evasive, elusive methods that redirect attacks away from their targets (source: resiliency)
-# Ku: creative/communicative; spontaneous and inventive fighting
+# Ku: Spontaneous and inventive fighting
 ===Earth===
-[[File:Ideograma-tierra.svg|thumb|upright=0.5]]
+[[File:Ideograma-tierra.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|Earth]]
 [[wiktionary: 地|地]] ''Chi'' (sometimes ''ji'') or ''tsuchi'', meaning "[[Earth (classical element)|Earth]]", represents the hard, solid objects of Earth. 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 collectiveness, stability, physicality, and gravity. It is a desire to have things remain as they are; a resistance to change. In the mind, it is confidence when under the influence of this ''chi'' mode or "mood", we are aware of our own physicality and sureness of action. This is a separate concept from the [[Qi|energy-force]], pronounced in Chinese as ''qì'' (also written ''ch'i'') and in Japanese as ''ki'', and written alternatively as 気, 氣, or 气.
 ===Water===
-[[File:Ideograma-agua.svg|thumb|upright=0.5]]
+[[File:Ideograma-agua-black.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|Water]]
 [[wiktionary: 水|水]] ''Sui'' or ''mizu'', meaning "[[Water (classical element)|Water]]", represents the fluid, flowing, and the formless things in the world. Outside of the obvious example of rivers and the lake, 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 thought, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness, and magnetism.
 ===Fire===
-[[File:Ideograma-fuego.svg|thumb|upright=0.5]]
+[[File:Ideograma-fuego.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|Fire]]
 [[wiktionary: 火|火]] ''Ka'' or ''hi'', meaning "[[Fire (classical element)|Fire]]", represents the energetic, forceful, moving things in the world. Animals, 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 security, motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit.
 ===Wind===
-[[File:Ideograma-viento.svg|thumb|upright=0.5]]
+[[File:Ideograma-viento.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|Wind]]
 [[wiktionary: 風|風]] ''Fū'' or ''kaze'', meaning "[[Air (classical element)|Wind]]", represents things that grow, expand, and enjoy freedom of movement. Aside from air, smoke and the like, ''fū'' 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. ''Fū'' 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.
 ===Void (Aether)===
 {{See also|Akasha}}
-[[File:It-空.png|thumb|upright=0.5]]
+[[File:It-空.png|thumb|upright=0.5|Void (Aether)]]
-[[wiktionary: 空|空]] ''Kū'' or ''sora'', most often translated as "[[Aether (classical element)|Void]]", but also meaning "[[sky]]" or "[[heaven]]", environment, it represents those things beyond and within our everyday comprehension, particularly those things composed of pure energy before they manifest; the emptiness that the energy is made up of. Bodily, ''kū'' represents spirit, thought, and creative energy. It represents the creation of phenomena. It can also be associated with the potential of power, creativity, spontaneity, and inventiveness.
+[[wiktionary: 空|空]] ''Kū'' or ''sora'', most often translated as "[[Aether (classical element)|Void]]", but also meaning "[[sky]]",  "[[heaven]]" or environment, it represents those things beyond and within our everyday comprehension, particularly those things composed of pure energy before they manifest; the emptiness that the energy is made up of. Bodily, ''kū'' represents spirit, thought and creative energy. It represents the creation of phenomena. It can also be associated with the potential of power, creativity, spontaneity and inventiveness.
 ''Kū'' 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 [[Aether (classical element)|quintessential]] creative energy of the world. A warrior properly attuned to the Void can sense their surroundings and act without using the mind, and without using their "physical senses".
 ==Representations of the ''godai''==
-[[File:Tōkyō jūnikagetsu, Yanaka no yūbae by Kawase Hasui.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Kawase Hasui]]'s "Evening Glow at Yanaka" (1921)<!--bottom level partially obscured-->]]
+[[File:Tōkyō jūnikagetsu, Yanaka no yūbae by Kawase Hasui.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Kawase Hasui]]'s "Evening Glow at Yanaka" (1921) showing the five roofs of a [[pagoda]]]]The most common representations today of the five elements, outside of martial arts and fictional references, are found in [[Japanese Buddhist architecture|Buddhist architecture]].
 {{Quote|Many temples in Japan have beautiful ''goju-no-to'', or five storied towers [pagodas]. Five roofs of graceful curves make the towers architectural beauties...of wooden construction built without any nails or bolts. ...Though they are beautiful, they are not erected merely as architectural ornaments for temples.
-The five stories stand for...''godai'', or Five Greats in Buddhism. They are the elements in the Universe from which are produced all things. ...Thus the towers symbolize the Universe and everything existing in it.
+The five stories stand for...''godai'', or Five Greats in Buddhism. They are the elements in the Universe from which are produced all things. ...Thus the towers symbolize the Universe and everything existing in it.<ref>Joya (2017). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=tIUECwAAQBAJ&dq=godai+elements&pg=PT111 Japan And Things Japanese]'', unpaginated. Taylor & Francis. {{ISBN|9781136221866}}.</ref>}}
-The five elements are also expressed in stone towers [[gorintō]].<ref>Joya (2017). ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Japan_And_Things_Japanese/tIUECwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=godai+elements&pg=PT111&printsec=frontcover Japan And Things Japanese]'', unpaginated. Taylor & Francis. {{ISBN|9781136221866}}.</ref>}}
+[[File:Gorinto-zh.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|A diagram of a ''gorintō'', colored and labeled with the kanji for the ''godai'' elements corresponding to each ring]]
-The most common representations today of the five elements, outside of martial arts and fictional references, are found in [[Japanese Buddhist architecture|Buddhist architecture]]. Japanese ''[[gorintō]]''es (go-rin-to, the Japanese word ''go'' means 'five', ''rin'' means 'ring shape', and ''to'' means the 'tower') as seen in [[Zen garden]]s and [[Buddhist temples in Japan|Buddhist temples]], represent as a ''[[stupa]]''. These have five divisions which represent the five elements, although the five segments can be hard to discern. The bottom-most piece, touching the ground, represents ''chi''; the next section represents ''sui''; ''ka'' is represented by the section encasing the lantern's light or flame, while ''fū'' and ''kū'' are represented by the last two sections, top-most and pointing towards the sky. It is composed from bottom to top of a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, a crescent and something resembling a lotus flower, shapes that also have the meaning described above.
+Japanese {{Nihongo||五輪塔|[[gorintō]]}}  (from {{Nihongo2|五}} 'five', {{Nihongo2|輪}} 'ring shape', and {{Nihongo2|塔}} 'tower') can be seen in [[Zen garden]]s and [[Buddhist temples in Japan|Buddhist temples]], represented as ''[[stupa]]s''. They have five divisions to represent the five elements, although the five segments can be hard to discern. Touching the ground, the bottom-most piece represents ''chi''; the next section represents ''sui''; ''ka'' is represented by the middle section, while ''fū'' and ''kū'' are represented by the top-most two sections, pointing towards the sky. A ''gorintō'' is composed, from bottom to top, of a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, a crescent, and a shape resembling a lotus flower. These shapes also relate to the meanings described above.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Joya|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIUECwAAQBAJ&dq=godai+elements&pg=PT111|title=Japan And Things Japanese|date=2017-07-12|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-22186-6|language=en|chapter=Section: Goju no To}}</ref>
-The ''[[Tōrō|stone lanterns]]'', that is very similar to the ''[[Gorintō|gorinto]]'',  is a stone tower of modest size put on a center line for the approach mainly to the Buddhist temples and cemeteries, but the functional meaning of toro is different from the gorinto, to illuminate the approach to the temple as like [[lighthouses]], for the strict Buddhist ceremony at night.
+The [[stone lantern]]s or {{Nihongo||灯籠|tōrō}}, which are similar in form to the ''gorintō'', are stone towers of modest size put on a center line for the approach mainly to the Buddhist temples and cemeteries. The function of the toro is different from the ''gorintō'': they are intended to illuminate the approach to the temple like [[lighthouses]], with a flame encased in the section representing ''ka'', for Buddhist ceremonies taking place at night.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 61: / Line 60: @@
 *[[Feng shui]]
 *[[Gogyo]]
-*
 *[[Pancha Bhoota]]
 *[[Onmyōdō]]
@@ Line 71: / Line 69: @@
 ==External links==
 * Miller, Jeff (June 1996). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706140311/http://www.ninjutsu.co.uk/uraomote/96/june.html#elem 5 Element Codes Part 1]." Ninjutsu – Ura & Omote.
-* Deon de Jongh (2003). ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Touhkondo/zOLVgPGDagEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=godai+elements&pg=PA27&printsec=frontcover Touhkondo: The Way of the Fighting Spirit]'', p.&nbsp;27. iUniverse. {{ISBN|9780595279784}}.
+* Deon de Jongh (2003). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=zOLVgPGDagEC&dq=godai+elements&pg=PA27 Touhkondo: The Way of the Fighting Spirit]'', p.&nbsp;27. iUniverse. {{ISBN|9780595279784}}.
-* Yin Yang Five Element Medicine [https://gogyoaikido.com/ ''Inyo'' Gogyo ''setsu'']
+* Yin Yang Five Element Medicine [https://gogyoaikido.com/ ''Inyo'' Gogyo ''setsu''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125043047/https://gogyoaikido.com/ |date=2020-11-25 }}
-[[Category:Buddhist enumerations by number (5)]]
 [[Category:Classical elements]]
-[[Category:Cultural lists|Five elements (Japanese philosophy)]]
+[[Category:Japanese culture-related lists|Five elements (Japanese philosophy)]]
 [[Category:Japanese philosophy]]
-[[Category:Philosophical theories]]
+[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]

Classical elements
Hellenistic Air Water Aether Fire Earth
Hinduism / Jainism / Buddhism Vayu Ap Akasha Agni Prithvi
Chinese Wood (木) Water (水) Fire (火) Metal (金) Earth (土)
Japanese Wind (風) Water (水) Void (空) Fire (火) Earth (地)
European alchemy Air Water Fire Aether Earth Sulphur Mercury Salt
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