The Taoist view holds 5 elements while the western tradition holds that there are 4 elements.   Can everyone please share their understanding of how the two systems translate? What is the relationship between the air element and the metal element, and the addition of the wood element. I nkow that the 5th western element is ether, but how does this relate to metal and wood?   I know that the Taoist way was derived from the process of nature observed, but so was the western element view.   Personally I'm more comfortable with the Taoist view, but just want to meld them together...