Foundations of Eastern Philosophy: Dao, Yin-Yang, and the Elements
Explore the fundamental concepts of Chinese philosophy that underpin all xianxia stories - from the primordial Dao to the intricate relationships between the Five Elements
🎙️ Listen to the full episode on Xianxia Podcast for detailed explanations and visual references


Key Cultural Concepts

Dao (道) [dow]
The Way, the source of all being. Similar to the concept of Logos in Greek philosophy.
Wu Xing (五行) [woo-shing]
The Five Elements system: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. More complex than Western classical elements.
Ba Gua (八卦) [bah-gwah]
Eight Trigrams representing fundamental principles of reality. Like binary code, but for the universe itself.
Tian Gan Di Zhi (天干地支) [tyen-gan dee-jr]
Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches, used for calendrical and divinatory purposes. Similar to a combination of zodiac signs and celestial coordinates.



Discussion Questions

• Which element would you choose for cultivation and why?
• How do you see yin-yang balance reflected in modern life?
• What parallels do you see between these concepts and other philosophical systems?
• How might understanding these concepts change your reading of xianxia stories?




 
 

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