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Chinese - Wu Xing (五行) Mystery Cache

Hidden : 2/29/2016
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

* This cache is not at the listed coordinates.

This cache (and hopefully more caches later on) is designed to show you some interesting facts in Chinese tradition and culture. Have fun!


The Wu Xing is also known as the Five Elements. They are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water. In ancient China, the Wu Xing system played important roles in lots of different fields, such as geomancy, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, tea ceremony, military stregy...

The doctrine of Wu Xing describes two cycles: a generating or creation cycle, and an overcoming or destruction cycle:

----Generating:

  • Wood feeds Fire
  • Fire creates Earth (ash)
  • Earth bears Metal
  • Metal enriches Water (as in water with minerals is more beneficial to the body than pure water)
  • Water nourishes Wood

Other common words for this cycle include "begets", "engenders" and "mothers".

----Overcoming:

  • Wood parts Earth (such as roots; or, Trees can prevent soil erosion)
  • Earth dams (or muddles or absorbs) Water
  • Water extinguishes Fire
  • Fire melts Metal
  • Metal chops Wood

This cycle might also be called "controls", "restrains" or "fathers".

*Reference: Wikipedia

 

Here comes the puzzle:

If Wood=1, Fire=2, Earth=3, Metal=4, Water=5.

A=tears, B=square, C=sweet, D=solfege re or D, E=Winter.

If Wood=6, Fire=7, Earth=8, Metal=9, Water=0.

F=Mercury, G=north, H=yellow, I=lung, J=adulthood.

Final cords can be found at S34°EC.IJA E138°BD.HGF

 

 

You may need something like a milk crate, depend on how tall are you.

 

Additional story: 

The Wu Xing theory is also part of the philosophical background of traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient China, pharmacists kept their (secret) medicinal liquid in calabash. Proverb "I don't know what's in his calabash" means "I don't know what's his idea". So, do you know what's in my calabash? 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1. Objqra? Oebzcgba? 2. lbh'yy svaq rirelguvat rkprcg jngre & sver

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)