What Are the 5 Traditional Elements

Many philosophies and traditions around the world believe in similar  elements. They tend to focus on about five specific ones. Here is a look at the five elements in Chinese, Japanese, Buddhist, Greek, Babylonian, and European alchemy. Babylonian 5 Elements windfireearthseasky Medieval Alchemy The number of traditional elements in medieval alchemy varies from 4, 5, or 8. The first four are always found. The fifth, aether, is important in some traditions. Sulfur, mercury, and salt are classical elements. airfirewaterearthaethersulfurmercurysalt Greek 5 Elements airwaterfireearthaether Chinese 5 Elements - Wu Xing woodwaterearthfiremetal Japanese 5 Elements - Godai airwaterearthfirevoid Hindu and Buddhist 5 Elements Akasha is the equivalent to Aristotles aether, in the Greek tradition. While Hinduism traditionally recognizes five elements, Buddhism typically only the first four great or gross elements. Although the names are different, the first four elements roughly translate as being air, fire, water, and earth. Vayu (wind or air)Ap (water)Agni fire)Prithvi (earth)Akasha Tibetan 5 Elements (Bon) airwaterearthfireaether