Classical element

Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical elements to explain patterns in nature. The Greek version of these ideas date from pre-Socratic times and persist throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, deeply influencing European thought and culture; but the concept is far older in the Far East, and was widely disseminated in India and China, where it forms the basis of both Buddhism and Hinduism, particularly in an esoteric context.

The modern scientific periodic table of the elements and the understanding of combustion (fire) can be considered successors to such early models.

Classical elements in Greece

The Greek classical elements are Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. They represent in Greek philosophy, science, and medicine the realms of the cosmos wherein all things exist and whereof all things consist.

Plato mentions them as of Pre-Socratic origin, a list created by the Ionic philosopher Empedocles (ca. 450 BC).

Fire is both hot and dry.
Earth is both cold and dry.
Air is both hot and wet.
Water is both cold and wet.

One classic diagram (right) has two squares on top of each other, with the corners of one being the classical elements, and the corners of the other being the properties.

According to Galen, these elements were used by Hippocrates in describing the human body with an association with the four humours: yellow bile (Fire), black bile (Earth), blood (Air), and phlegm (Water).

Some cosmologies include a fifth element, the "aether" or "quintessence." These five elements are sometimes associated with the five platonic solids.

The Pythagoreans added idea as the fifth element, and also used the initial letters of these five elements to name the outer angles of their pentagram.

Aristotle added aether as the quintessence, rationalizing that whereas Fire, Earth, Air, and Water were earthly and corruptible, the stars were not made out of any of the four elements but rather a heavenly substance. The word aether was revived by late 19th century physicists as a term for the proposed invisible medium which permeated the universe, the luminiferous aether.

Some occultists have noted that in modern science the general rule is that most visible matter can be classified as either a solid (Earth), liquid (Water), gas (Air), or plasma (Fire). By extension, more exotic phases of matter (such as Bose-einstein condensate) are sometimes seen as representative forms of a fifth element (Aether).

In 1987 composer Robert Steadman wrote a chamber symphony each movement of which musically depicts the characteristics of the Ancient Greek elements: Fire, Water, Wind and Earth.

Classical elements in China

In Taoism there is a similar system of elements, which includes Metal and Wood, but excludes Air. The five major planets are associated with and named after the elements: Venus is Metal, Jupiter is Wood, Mercury is Water, Mars is Fire, and Saturn is Earth. Additionally, the Moon represents Yin, and the Sun represents Yang. Yin, Yang, and the five elements are recurring themes in the I Ching, the oldest of Chinese classical texts which describes an ancient system of cosmology and philosophy.

Classical elements in Hinduism

The Pancha Mahabhuta, or "five great elements," of Hinduism are Prithvi or Bhumi (Earth), Ap or Jala (Water), Agni or Tejas (Fire), Vayu or Pavan (Air or Wind), and Akasha (Aether)

Classical elements in early Buddhism

In the Pali literature, the mahabhuta ("great elements") or catudhatu ("four elements") are earth, water, fire and air. In early Buddhism, the Four Elements are a basis for understanding suffering and for liberating oneself from suffering.

Classical elements in Japan

Japanese traditions use a set of elements called the 五大 (go dai, literally "five great"). These five are earth, water, fire, wind, and void. These came from Buddhist beliefs; the classical Chinese elements (五行, go gyô) are also prominent in Japanese culture.

Classical elements during the Middle Ages

During medieval times, the idea of the classical elements was known. Just as the Aristotelian dogma was related to the Greek world view, the idea of classical elements in the Middle Ages composed a large part of the medieval world view. The Catholic Church supported the Aristotelian concept of aether because it supported the Christian view of earthly life as impermanent and heaven as eternal. References to the classical elements in medieval literature are numerous and can be seen in the work of many writers, including William Shakespeare:

Thou hast as chiding a nativity

As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,

To herald thee from the womb

-PERICLES, from Pericles Prince of Tyre

The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat

Awake the god of day; and, at his warning,

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,

The extravagant and erring spirit hies

To his confine

-HORATIO, from Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Astrology and the classical elements

Astrology has used the concept of classical elements from antiquity up until the present. Most modern astrologers use the four classical elements extensively, and indeed it is still viewed as a critical part of interpreting the astrological chart.

Tarot and the classical elements

The tarot suits of cups, swords, wands and pentacles may be taken as corresponding to water, air, fire, and earth respectively. These correspond in the modern deck of playing cards to hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds.

Classical elements in popular culture

The classical elements are often used together thematically in modern fantasy, literature, movies, television shows, and comic books. Typically, a magic wielder has the ability to influence one of the elements, or can use the elements to affect the world around him.

External links

Different versions of the classical elements

Alchemy | Astrology | History of physics | Obsolete scientific theories | Numerology

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