# Fire (wuxing)

In Chinese philosophy, fire (Chinese: 火; pinyin: huǒ) is the second phase of Wu Xing.
Fire is yang in character. Its motion is expanded and its energy is fermenting, ripening and convective.
Fire is associated with Summer, the South in the northern hemisphere and North in the Southern hemisphere and the planet Mars, the color red (associated with extreme luck), hot weather, daylight, and the Vermilion Bird (Zhu Que) in the Four Symbols.
There is debate based on the logic of fire, summer and the south as to whether feng shui should be changed for the southern hemisphere.

## Attributes

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fire is associated with the Heart, the Emperor or Sovereignty, and therefore Virtue. Its attributes are considered to be dynamism, spontaneity, and enlightening; however, it is also connected to restlessness when out of balance and is burning out of control. The fire element provides warmth, connection, enthusiasm, and creativity; however when in excess or deficiency it can bring cold emotional responses or hot tempered behaviour including, hatred, impatience, and impulsive behaviour. In the same way, fire provides heat and warmth; however, an excess can also burn too bright leading to dehydration, listlessness, and exhaustion. Fire is the prosper of the matter, or the matter's prosperity stage.
The organs associated with the Fire element are the Triple Heater, Heart and by extension the cardiovascular system (yin), small intestine (yang), tongue and a body's pulse. It is associated with the Spirit of the Shen (神).

## Astrology

The element plays an important role in Chinese astrology and feng shui. Fire is included in the 10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms), which combine with the 12 Earthly Branches (or Chinese signs of the zodiac), to form the 60 year cycle.
Yang Fire years end in 6 (e.g. 1976). (Yang years end in an even number.)
Yin Fire years end in 7 (e.g. 1977). (Yin years end in an odd number.)
Fire governs the Chinese zodiac signs Snake and Horse.
Flying Star Feng Shui uses number 9 to represent Fire. The current 20-year cycle from 2024-2044 (Period 9) is governed by star 9 fire.
The South corner releases energy of Fire as I Ching and Feng Shui states. It is generally referred as energy of destroying and rebuilding.
Fire/red traditionally symbolizes happiness, relating to a lucky love life, which is why Chinese brides traditionally wear red.

## Cycles of Wu Xing

In the regenerative cycle of Wu Xing, wood engenders Fire as "fire is generated by rubbing together two pieces of wood" and it must be fueled by burning wood; Fire begets earth as "fire reduces everything to ashes, which become a part of the earth again".
In the restraining or in excess also called the conquest cycle, the Wisdom of water helps to cool the Heart fire so as to not burn out by overreacting in daily life as "nothing will rationalize desire as water's wisdom."; Fire regulates metal's tendency to be cut off and aloof from people and life, when fire is in excess it overcomes metal's ability to have form and structure by affecting its self-righteousness. Thus, metal's ability to stay straight and true becomes compromised.