"The best of men is like Water; Water benefits all things and excludes none. It dwells in all places that others disdain and thus approaches the TAO". Lao Tse.

"The North creates Cold that produces Water, which yields the salty that nourishes the Kidneys". Nei Jing.

Water descends and is stored. It is related to calm, quietness, rest. Essential for conservation, savings.

• The associated season is winter.
• Reserve functions.
• Climate: Cold. It contracts, restricts, slows, freezes.
• Color: Black.
• Taste: Salty.
• Emotion: Fear. Distrust, isolation, feeling threatened.
• Belong to Water R and V.
• Water would be the people. If the minister gives the adequate resources and the general knows how to convince and direct, the people have a great strength of will and can achieve great accomplishments for the country. If the minister does not give what it needs and charges many taxes for a wasteful emperor and the general sends them tyrannically from battle to battle without rest, the people become exhausted and do not have the capacity to achieve the country's objectives.

Relationships

• "Mother" of: Wood
• "Child" of: Metal
• Controls: Fire
• It is controlled by: Earth

Pathology

• Pathology according to the five elements

Excess

In the society we live in, too focused on action (Fire and Wood) tends to Water deficiency.

1. Earth weak does not control Water enough.
2. Excess of Water invades Fire.

Deficiency

1. Metal does not internalize and does not produce enough Water.
2. Wood drains in excess and exhausts the reserves.
3. Fire expands in excess and exhausts the reserves. It dominates Metal in excess, not allowing internalization.
4. Earth dominates in excess and does not allow storage.