The Five Arts (Wǔshù)
The Five Arts are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. They represent the primary classification of the vast and complex system of Daoist practices (known before the Qin and Han dynasties as fangshu, comparable in Western terms to “sorcery”). Generally, they are divided into five categories: Mountain (Shān), Medicine (Yī), Fate (Mìng), Physiognomy (Xiàng), and Divination (Bǔ).
The foundation of the Five Arts comes from the Book of Changes (Yìjīng), which encompasses both time and space. All things in the universe operate through the interplay of yin and yang—opposites that can transform into each other: winter gives way to spring, summer to autumn, the moon rises as the sun sets, the old pass away while the young are born, and so on.
★ Mountain (Shān) – The Art of Cultivation
“Mountain” refers to methods of cultivating body and spirit through scriptures, talismans, dietary practices, meditation, martial arts, and foundational training, with the goal of health, longevity, and harmony of body and mind. It includes:
- Scriptures (Xuándiǎn): Studying the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi to cultivate one’s nature.
- Alchemy (Dāndǐng): Internal and external elixirs for transformation and longevity.
- Talismans & Incantations (Fúzhòu): Used to guide the mind, ward off misfortune, attract blessings, and provide spiritual comfort.
- Dietary Therapy (Shí’ěr): Using medicinal foods and tonics to strengthen the body and treat illness.
- Foundational Training (Zhùjī): Meditation and breath control to regulate jing, qi, shen (essence, energy, spirit), achieving balance and vitality.
- Martial Arts (Quánfǎ): Practicing combat arts to build strength and resilience.
★ Medicine (Yī) – The Art of Healing
“Medicine” refers to methods of preserving health and curing disease through formulas, acupuncture, and spiritual healing. It includes:
- Formulas (Fāngjì): Using herbal prescriptions to treat illness.
- Acupuncture (Zhēn jiǔ): Applying needles and moxibustion based on meridians, organs, and qi-blood circulation.
- Spiritual Healing (Língzhì): Treating illness by addressing the mind and spirit (including practices like exorcisms, rituals, or hypnosis).
Diagnosis considers yin-yang, internal-external, excess-deficiency, cold-heat, combined with Yijing hexagrams, earthly branches, and meridians.
★ Fate (Mìng) – The Art of Destiny Calculation
“Fate” explores life through systems such as the Four Pillars of Destiny (Bāzì), Ziwei Doushu, and astrological methods, to understand natural laws and improve destiny. It includes:
- Four Pillars (Bāzì): Calculating fate using the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of a person’s year, month, day, and hour of birth.
- Ziwei Doushu: Using the Ziwei star system, transformations, and palace relations to calculate life path.
- Astrology (Qīzhèng, Xīngpíng Huìhǎi): Using the sun, moon, and planets with birth data to predict destiny.
★ Physiognomy (Xiàng) – The Art of Observation
“Physiognomy” includes the study of names, human features, dwellings, seals, and graves—observing forms in the phenomenal world to judge fortune or misfortune.
- Name Analysis (Míngxiàng): Interpreting names through structure, sound, meaning, strokes, five elements, and zodiac signs.
- Human Physiognomy (Rénxiàng): Includes palmistry, face reading, and body form analysis.
- House Feng Shui (Zhái xiàng): Determining the auspiciousness of dwellings based on Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and Yijing principles.
- Seal Divination (Yìnxiàng): Assessing fortune from the design and inscription of seals.
- Grave Feng Shui (Mùxiàng): Determining auspiciousness of burial sites using Yijing theory.
★ Divination (Bǔ) – The Art of Prediction
“Divination” includes divining, choosing auspicious dates, and situational analysis. It predicts the development of events and advises action based on time, direction, and ganzhi (stems and branches).
- Yijing Divination: Using the 64 hexagrams with changing lines, dates, and months to determine outcomes.
- Liùrén Astrology: Using stems, branches, seasonal influences, and derived “void stars” to predict success or failure. Other forms include plum blossom numerology, character divination, and casting lots.
- Qimen Dunjia: A divination system combining stems, branches, and directions to choose auspicious actions.
- Taiyi Divination: Used to predict the fortune of groups or major undertakings.
The purpose of Divination is to foresee the future and determine appropriate responses to events.
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