The five colors are powerful motif because each color is associated with one of the Five Elements ( azure=wood, red=fire, yellow=earth, white=metal, and black=water). The elements, which are five natural forces, work together in a cyclical order to represent periods of rise and decay, production and destruction. Wood prevails over earth; metal prevails over vood; fire over metal;water over fire; and earth over water. Thus by symbolizing the essence of creation, the endless cycle of elements adn their correlations with colors, directions, seasons, and so on, are especially effective in banishing pernicious influences.