The Five Elements, a Taoist concept dating back to more than four thousand years ago, represent the cyclic alternating phases of Qi. They are, consequentially, best interpreted as the five phases or stages of transformation of one into the other, that Yin and Yang are costantly undergoing.

The Elements, their Yin-Yang trasformational phase and their colours are: 

[  Wood – beginning of Yang – Green

[  Fire – Yang – Red

[  Earth – Neutral/Centre – Yellow

[  Metal – beginning of Yin – Grey

[  Water – Yin – Black or White

There are many other things associated with each Element, besides a specific colour, including an Internal Organ (Zang-Fu) pair, a taste/flavour, an emotional state, an internal/external pathogen and a season. These are: