The generation sequence, whereby one element gives birth to and promotes another, runs as follows: wood generates fire; fire, earth; earth, metal; metal, water; and water, wood.
所謂「相生」，是指其中一種對另一種有著生發、促進的作用，它排列起來是這樣的﹘﹘木生火、火生土、土生金、金生水、水生木。