Waidan

The Waidan (Way-dan), also known as the Great Wai, the Five Elements, Five Phases, or the Five Agents, is a type of spiritual alchemy which seeks to process the outward energies which manifest as the elements. It is a philosophical outlook and a fivefold conceptual scheme that many Ryushin cultures use to explain a wide array of phenomena, from cosmic cycles to the interaction between internal organs, and from the succession of political regimes, to the properties of medicinal drugs, and all the way to the ascension of deities in the Celestial Bureaucracy. The "Five Phases" are Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, and Wood.   Many in Lungao practice Waidan as a general faith alongside their true worship, and those dedicated to the pursuit of alchemical formulae are often aware of its methods and practices, implementing their elemental understanding into the craft of producing new substances such as dragon powder, known in some regions simple as firearm powder, gray powder, black powder, fire dust, or any number of other names.   The most common practitioners of this faith system are known as Wu Jen. These shamans work to interpret the will of the Five Phases and maintain balance throughout their region. They observe the world for signs, viewing omens of the elements in all things. Others who seek to use this path to bend the unconscious elements of nature to their will are known as Shugenja.

Element	Animal	Organ	Sense	Finger	Life Stage	Action
Earth	Mammal	Stomach	Touch	Thumb	Adulthood	Difficulty/Adversity/Risk
Fire	Bird	Heart	Taste	Middle	Youth	Foolishness/Betrayal
Metal/Æther	Insect	Kidney	Smell	Ring	Old Age	Misfortune/Betrayal/Submission
Water	Fish	Liver	Hearing	Pinky	Death/Conception	Unexpected Change
Wood/Air	Reptile	Lung	Sight	Index	Birth	Simplicty/Fortune