Yang Energy: Expanding energy that represents the sky, the sun, warmth, aridity, and masculinity. An example is a seed that sprouts from the earth and grows during spring and summer.

Yin Energy: Contracting energy that symbolizes the earth, the moon, cold, wet and femininity. An example is when plants stop growing in autumn and return to the earth again in winter.

Likewise, the universe continuously repeats the process of expansion and contraction.
 
The five elements illustrate the cycle of how the universe expands and contracts.

This is the movement of energy that begins in one direction. Sprouts emerging from the earth in spring are possessed of Tree .
 
This is the state of energy in which the sprouting energy disperses in all directions without order. The leaves of a tree or plant, flourish in the summer like a flame, express Fire.
 
This energy collects the expanding and scattering Fire as much as possible. We can observe the processes of Metal when leaves fall and trees bear fruit or nuts in autumn.
 
This energy focuses the fruition achieved by Metal and solidifies it strongly. The seed buried in the earth during winter is possessed of Water.
 
This energy maintains the smooth cycle of contraction and expansion.