A Study on the Proposition of “Five Zi Returning to Geng 五子归庚” in Wang Wenqing 王文卿 Thunder Rituals—With a Discussion About the Characteristics of Leifa Internal Alchemy Theory

As the teachings continued to expand within Daoism, Thunder Rituals (Leifa 雷法) inevitably faced the crucial question of how to integrate the newly emphasized thunder element within the traditional Five-Phase system upon its emergence. To address this, Wang Wenqing (王文卿), the founding master of Shenxiao(神霄 Daoism school) Daoism who held a pivotal position in the realm of Thunder Rituals, creatively proposed the theory of “Five Zi Returning to Geng” (五子歸庚). On the one hand, drawing upon the Najia (納音 Stem–Branch Correspondence) theory from the Zhou Yi Can Tong Qi, this theory posits that thunder corresponds to the number five, occupies the central position, and belongs to the earth element, thereby reinforcing the core thesis of Leifa’s internal alchemy that thunder is generated through the interaction of water and fire. On the other hand, by ingeniously adapting the Nayin method of the Sixty JiaZi (六十甲子), it offers a creative interpretation of the abstract relationship between thunder and the Five Phases, asserting that all phases ultimately converge toward the central Geng/thunder. Together, these two aspects demonstrate that thunder in fact occupies a central position alongside earth within the Five-Phase system. This theory not only provides a sophisticated resolution to the question of thunder’s relationship with the Five Phases but also furnishes solid theoretical support for the elevated status of Thunder Rituals.