Five Elements

Japanese: 五行 - ごぎょう

〘Noun〙① In ancient Chinese thought, the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water give rise to all things and change all phenomena. Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water were originally the five substances that are essential to daily life, but they came to mean the energy symbolized by these substances, or their functions, and developed into the so-called theory of the five elements. "Gyo" means movement, and the five substances are called the five elements because they were named after the five planets in the heavens. In Onmyodo, they are used to judge fortune. ※Kokin Chomonshu (1254), 6 "The origin of the reed strings and their transmission are long-lasting. <Omitted> There are five sounds: Miya, Shang, Kaku, Zhou, and Feather. Sometimes they are assigned to the five elements, and sometimes to the five constants." [Book of Documents - Hong Fan]② Buddhist term. Five types of ascetic practices performed by bodhisattvas. The Nirvana Sutra describes these as five practices: holy practice , brahma practice , heavenly practice, infant practice, and sick practice. In the Tendai sect, from the standpoint of Besshun, these are called the "Five Practices in Stages, " which divide the stages of bodhisattva training, while from the standpoint of Perfect Buddhism, they are called the "Five Practices in Stages," since there is no distinction between the five types. Furthermore, in the Awakening of Faith Treatise, five gates are established: giving, keeping the precepts, patience, diligence , and zazen. Five gates of training. [The Lotus Sutra - 3, Part 2] ③ = The Camp of the Five Practices [Li Weigong Wen Tai - Middle]

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 古代中国の思想で、万物を生じ、万象を変化させるという木火土金水の五つの元素をいう。木火土金水は、元来は日常生活に不可欠な五つの物質であるが、転じてこれらの物質によって象徴される気、あるいはそのはたらきの意となり、いわゆる五行説として展開する。行とは運行の意で、五つの物質が五行となるのは、天上の五遊星にその名をあてたことに由来する。陰陽道では、運勢を判断するのに用いる。※古今著聞集（1254）六「菅絃のおこり、そのつたはれる事ひさし。〈略〉宮・商・角・徴・羽の五音あり。或は五行に配し、或は五常に配す」〔書経‐洪範〕② 仏語。菩薩が修行する五種の行法。涅槃経(ねはんぎょう)に説く、聖行(しょうぎょう)・梵行(ぼんぎょう)・天行・嬰児行(えいじぎょう)・病行の五つ。天台宗では、これを別教の立場では、菩薩の修行階梯を分けるものとして「次第の五行」と呼び、円教の立場では五種の別はないとして「不次第の五行」とする。また起信論には布施・持戒・忍辱(にんにく)・精進・止観の五門を立てる。五門修行。〔法華玄義‐三・下〕③ ＝ごぎょう（五行）の陣〔李衛公問対‐中〕

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