Subdivisions of Nature – Chinese

For native speakers of English, it seems so natural to recognize the world, and the organization of time and space, to be subdivided into groups of 4 that it is quite inconceivable to consider the idea that there could be any question but that this is the way the world ‘really’ is.

You might be surprised to discover that since ancient times the Chinese language has naturally recognized each and every one of these subdivisions of the world not as subdivisions into 4 at all, but as subdivisions into 5!