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onmyō gogyōsetsu
陰陽五行説

doctrine of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements


A philosophic perspective originating in ancient China. According to this way of thought, everything from nature to the affairs of human beings could be explained using the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. This philosophy was adopted by Sakuteiki to Japanese gardens.


Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.