NOCTURNAL TRAVEL

july_winter · Last edited by july_winter on Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:07 am; edited 15 times in total

Scribble: The author reserves the right to modify this theory accordingly, depending on the recent events from Naruto manga and/or for purely theoretical development. Please be guided that this is only a theory and not a fact.

Important Note: This theory is based on the Five Elements of Japanese Mythology. It is slightly different from the Five Elements of Chinese Mythology and should not be confused with it.

The Five Elements based on Japanese mythology:

... fire > wind > sky/heaven > earth > water > fire ... (cycle)

The Five Elements of Naruto:
In Naruto, sky/heaven is seemingly specified as lightning.

... fire > wind > lightning > earth > water > fire ... (cycle)

The elements fire and sky/heaven are associated with yang.

The Uchiha specialize in the element of fire.

Consistently, this is manifested by Sasuke as well as the element of lightning (chidori).

Note that the element sky/heaven in Japanese myth is synonymous to lightning in Naruto.

The elements water and wind are associated with yin.

The Hyuga are yet to show any elemental affinity, if at all. Note, however, that the Hyuga divination field is similar to the bagua, the ultimate device in Chinese geomancy (feng shui, literally wind water).

Wind and water are believed to direct qi (energy) - wind carries energy, representing the principle of change and transformation; water withholds energy, representing stability and inner strength.

One filler arc pointed out that Hinata uses water to sharpen her absolute defense but it is still considered unofficial.

The element left out is earth which may either be viewed as:

1. The balance of yin and yang together; or
2. A metaphor of yin that is matched by sky/heaven metaphor of yang.

NOTES

(1) During the chuunin exams at the Forest of Death, Team 7 was given the scroll of Heaven.

(2) Orochimaru gave Sasuke the Seal of Heaven. Kimimaro has the Seal of Earth.

Disclaimers

Naruto is a property of Kishimoto Masashi.
Manga published by Shueisha. Anime produced by Studio Pierrot.

Last edited on: 01 February 2010. Reason: Minor entry edit.

baka_dark · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 12

soo... u think hinata is yin if she is a water user and sasuke is a fire user n that's yin n yang? but wat does the scroll have to do with anything all the other teams has the same scroll

HinaMatsuri · Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 135

july_winter · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

Mysticwish123 · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:58 am Post subject:

it is said that team 8 recieved the heaven scroll.

but this could speculate something else, I don't know haha =P
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july_winter · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject:

july_winter · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:27 am Post subject:

The Five Elements based on Chinese mythology:
... fire > metal > wood > earth > water > fire ... (cycle)

The polarity (i.e. yin/yang) of the Chinese classical elements are a given. However, note again the difference between the Chinese and Japanese Five Elements philosophies.

The Five Elements based on Japanese mythology, and perhaps as used in Naruto:
... fire > wind > sky/heaven > earth > water > fire ... (cycle)

First theoretical assumption:
1. Metal = Sky/Heaven ; Wood = Wind

This relationship may be found by taking a closer look at the eight trigrams; each of which has a corresponding classical element based on I Ching.

The Bagua (King Wen "Later Heaven" order, as seen in the Hyuga divination field) -

Among the last two correlations, it may be observed that:
- the trigram of Sky/Heaven is correlated to the element of Metal
- the trigram of Wind is correlated to the element of Wood

Important note: The polarity of a trigram is entirely different from the polarity of the element.
Trigram polarity is determined by looking at the 'host' line whereas elemental polarity is determined using phase movement.

Since there are literally no Metal and Wood elements in the Japanese philosophy, the polarity of the corresponding trigram (if any) is considered.

Second theoretical assumption:
2. Wind is yin.

While Wind may be correlated to the the element Wood (yang), the trigram polarity is specifically yin.

Third theoretical assumption:
3. Sky/Heaven is yang.

While Sky/Heaven may be correlated to the element Metal (yin), the trigram polarity is specifically yang. This is also consistent if Sky/Heaven is used as a metaphor of yang as Earth is yin.

Fourth theoretical assumption:
4. Japanese element Sky/Heaven = Naruto element of Lightning (in Bagua, synonymous to Thunder)

Based on trigram polarities, regardless if such an assumption stands true or not, Sky/Heaven and Lightning are both yang.