Chinese Five Element Philosophy
The Five-Element System was developed in ancient China in order to understand and explain different worldly phenomena. By observing the cycle of the seasons in nature, it is possible to see the five phases and how each one influences nature in different ways: WOOD (spring), FIRE (summer), EARTH (late or Indian summer), METAL (autumn) and WATER (winter).

Although each phase has its different qualities, they all contribute to the endless cycle of creation. Winter, hibernation and recharge leads to the growth in spring, leads to mature in summer, leads to abundance in late summer, collect, reflect and recycle in autumn, that leads to winter again.
Nature follows laws and tendencies and through observation of the cycle of the seasons (explained above) we can understand the creation cycle:

WATER creates WOOD
WOOD creates FIRE
FIRE creates EARTH
EARTH creates METAL
METAL creates WATER

Harmony between the elements will manifest as healthy growth and reaching the full potential. However, when one of the elements is out of balance (deficient or excess) the whole cycle will be affected. For example: in a year when the winter was short and there was not sufficient water and recharge, the growth in spring will not be the same.
The Five Elements . shiatsu
An important principle from the Taoist thought is that the part equals to the whole. since we (humans) are part of nature, the Chinese think of each person as a cosmos in miniature. Therefore, the five elements are present also within us and manifest as different systems and organs working in harmony.

The process of creation starts when we are in the womb, where the five energies contributes to the development of the human body. Water - kidneys, Wood - liver, Fire - heart, Earth - spleen and Metal - lungs. These are the five Yin organs.
Nature follows certain laws or tendencies, for example: spring always comes before summer, like wood tends to create fire.