===Five Phases theory===
Five Phases (五行, {{zh|p=wǔ xíng}}), sometimes also translated as the "Five Elements"<ref name="Ergil 2009"/> theory, presumes that all phenomena of the universe and nature can be broken down into five elemental qualities – represented by wood (木, {{zh|p=mù}}), fire (火{{zh|p=huǒ}}), earth (土, {{zh|p=tǔ}}), metal (金, {{zh|p=jīn}}), and water (水, {{zh|p=shuǐ}}).<ref name="Aung 2007">Aung, S.K.H. & Chen, W.P.D. (2007): [http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=I6NclaeDWjgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Clinical+introduction+to+medical+acupuncture&hl=zh-CN#v=onepage&q&f=false "Clinical introduction to medical acupuncture"]. Thieme Medical Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58890-221-4</ref> In this way, lines of correspondence can be drawn:
{| class="wikitable"
! Phenomenon || Wood || Fire || Earth || Metal || Water
|-
! Direction<ref name="Aung 2007"/>
| east || south || center || west || north
|-
! Colour<ref name="Deng 1999"/>
| green/blue || red || yellow || white || black
|-
! Climate<ref name="Aung 2007"/>
| wind || heat || damp || dryness || cold
|-
! Taste<ref name="Ergil 2009"/>
| sour || bitter || sweet || acrid || salty
|-
! Zang Organ<ref name="Maciocia 1989">Maciocia, Giovanni, (1989): The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists; Churchill Livingstone; ISBN 978-0-443-03980-5, p. 26</ref>
| Liver || Heart || Spleen || Lung || Kidney
|-
! Fu Organ<ref name="Maciocia 1989"/>
| Gallbladder || Small Intestine || Stomach || Large Intestine || Bladder
|-
! Sense organ<ref name="Deng 1999"/>
| eye || tongue || mouth || nose || ears
|-
! Facial part<ref name="Deng 1999"/>
| above bridge of nose || between eyes, lower part || bridge of nose || between eyes, middle part || cheeks (below cheekbone)
|-
! Eye part<ref name="Deng 1999">Deng, T. (1999): [http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=wONlwtKkUmcC&pg=PA185&dq=tcm+six+evils&hl=zh-CN#v=onepage&q&f=false "Practical diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine"]. Elsevier. 5th reprint, 2005. ISBN 978-0-443-04582-0</ref>
| iris || inner/outer corner of the eye || upper and lower lid || sclera || pupil
|}
Strict rules are identified to apply to the relationships between the Five Phases in terms of sequence, of acting on each other, of counteraction etc.<ref name="Aung 2007"/> All these aspects of Five Phases theory constitute the basis of the [[Zang-fu|zàng-fǔ]] concept, and thus have great influence regarding the TCM model of the body.<ref name="Ergil 2009"/> Five Phase theory is also applied in diagnosis and therapy.<ref name="Ergil 2009"/>
Correspondences between the body and the universe have historically not only been seen in terms of the Five Elements, but also of the "Great Numbers" (大數, {{zh|p=dà shū}})<ref name="Matuk 2006"/> For example, the number of acu-points has at times been seen to be 365, in correspondence with the number of days in a year; and the number of main [[meridian (Chinese medicine)|meridians]] – 12 – has been seen in correspondence with the number of rivers flowing through the [[History of China|ancient Chinese empire]].
==Diagnosis==
Four Methods of Diagnosis : It is a wonder that TCM doctors could cure countless patients without any assistant apparatus but only a physical examination. The four methods of diagnosis consist of observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, pulse taking and palpation.