The Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth were thought by the ancient Chinese to constitute the cosmos, in much the same way as Buddhism's Four Elements (or mahabhata) of earth, water, fire and wind.
正如佛家講「四大」﹘﹘地水火風﹘﹘是構成宇宙的要素，中國的老祖先們講「五行」﹘ ﹘金木水火土。