This is the basic anatomical posture in TCM: is based on northern hemisphere standing and facing south. Yin, yang, time and space in relation to the left and right, head and feet of your body:
More complex models are built on the basis of this one.
Five Phases, a basic term in TCM, with many applications: the earth ecosyste, zang-fu (5 organ) systems are typically categorized into 5 phases:
Five Phases are not based on a materialistic view of nature, but on dynamic movements of the 4 seasons. It is invisible cyclic movement, likes human organs are hidden inside, presenting signs and symptoms outside.
Wu Xing (五行) Five Phases are not to be view in isolation and it is also not an abstract concept. When we talk about Five Phases, it is normally about zang-fu (脏腑) organ systems.
zang-fu in TCM is in relation to the essence or Fundamental Substances (FS):
In terms of FS, there are Qi (气), Xue (血) Blood, yin, yang, Jing (精) essence. The picture on the above tells how important Earth phase is to FS:
The model is an extension of the basic model of yin-yang. It illustrates in human body how fundamental substances are stored and can be related to the eight extraordinary vessels:
Put postnatal ba gua on top and prenatal ba gua at the bottom, we come to the symbol of Qi, Jing, and shen (substances, mind & spirit) of TCM. Each symbol is a picture of spiritual meaning:
TCM is all about pattern recognition. This is the full model of TCM that how we can or may perceive our 'self' in the universe.
A. It is also about our body and mind, high self and low self, consciousness, and subconsciousness.
B. It is about macrocosm and microcosm. We are under constant macrocosmic influences of Governing Heaven Qi (GH Qi), Governing Earth Yun (GE) in the sun and earth system showing on the Chinese calendar.
C. Human health in TCM is based on below submodels (from inside out):
1. Fundamental Substances (FS) - Qi, Blood, yin, yang, and Jing
2. 12 ordinary channels and 8 extraordinary vessels
3. Zang-fu and Five Phases
4. Six divisions and 3 zi-wu circuits
5. 12 channel body clock
6. 6 GH Qi (Heavenly Great Movement) and 5 GE Yun (Earthly Great Movement)
In TCM, time is not a linear line, space and time are not two separate entities. Space, time and human health are under the influence of a synchronized cyclical movement of the above subsystems. Following the way of the universe, balancing your body and mind with the patterns of nature. Staying positive and be healthy! Big Picture is what we need to perceive our 'self' in the universe