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Daoism, Elemental balance, tastes
& Éléments Chocolats Concept Origins
Discover Daosim’s fundamental holistic balance of the 5 Elements & how they inspired the foundational concept for Éléments Chocolats
A fundamental introduction to Daoism
The Dao, meaning “the way,” is an ancient Chinese belief system which emphasizes harmony with the natural, balanced order of the universe. Daoism teaches the importance of aligning oneself with the Dao, bringing balance & harmony to life.
First we take a trip to the sacred Daoist Mountains of central China, where Doaism’s foundational text, the Dao De Jing (道德经), “Dao Virtue Book”, written by Daoism’s founder Lao Zi (老子) is believed to have originated, some 2,500 years ago.
人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。
“Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature.”
(Chapter 25 of the Dao De Jing)
Different to Confucianism, which believes man’s behaviour is naturally out of harmony with the “Way of Heaven”, requiring precisely measured steps, actions & phrases for particular purposes at particular times to get closer to the way of the universe, and Buddhism which believes the world is a set of traps, a generator of illusions, a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures, requiring man to transcend “the world of dust” to find peace and reach Nirvana, Daoism believes all things are interconnected & ultimately governed by the natural order of the Dao and that the harmony that exists between the heavens & earth can be found by anyone at any time, but not by following the rules of Confucianism.
A part of a Taoist manuscript, ink on silk, 2nd century BCE, Han Dynasty. Public domain
Painting depicting Confucius, Buddha & Laozi over a pot of vinegar perceiving it as sour, bitter and sweet, 16th century. Public domain.
For Daoism, the earth is a reflection of the heavens, and all run by the same laws – not by the laws of men. These laws not only affect the spinning of distance planets but also activities of the birds in the forest and fish in the seas. The more man interferes with the natural balance produced & governed by the universal laws, the further away the harmony retreats into the distance. The more forcing against the natural balance, the more trouble we bring. All things already have their own Inner Nature which cannot be violated without causing difficulties. When abstract or arbitrary rules are imposed from the outside, struggle is inevitable.
To Daoism the earth is not a setter of traps but a teacher of valuable lessons. Its lessons need to be learned, just as its laws need to be followed; when appreciating this then all would go well. Rather than turn away from “the world of dust”, Daoism advises to “join the dust of the world”. What Lao Zi used to describe the operating force behind everything in heaven & earth was the Dao “The Way”.
Fundamentally, Daoism is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Daoist point of view the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness.
Through understanding & respecting the world around us in its natural ever evolving form, and seeking to remain in harmony with life’s evolving circumstances, Daoism changes what others may perceive as negative as something positive. Life itself, when understood and utilised for what it is, is sweet.
(For further interest I recommend reviewing the over 1,000 year old allegorical Song Dynasty painting, “The Vinegar Tasters”)
A Daoist tenet for the understanding of the way of the natural world is the 5 Element Theory
This ancient theory seeks to provide a basis for understanding the ever evolving way of all things in the universe. Building from this foundation, here I hope the sweetness of life and the below understanding of Daoism’s 5 elemental harmony will help appreciate these chocolate creations, and together bring greater balance to everyday life.
Éléments Chocolats: Bringing Balance to Life Through Chocolate
5 Elements Theory: Holistic Approach to Health & Well Being
The 5 elements theory as a holistic approach to health & well-being
Dating back over 2,500 years, The Five Chinese Elements, also known as the Five Phases (五行), are a foundational Daoist concept found in traditional Chinese philosophy, medicine & metaphysics. This system provides a framework for understanding the balance of nature & how the 5 elements’ inter-connectedness is essential for achieving natural harmony.
Contrary to Indo-European classical elements of earth, water, air, fire (& later aether), rather than being fixed, the Daoist 5 elements —Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water—represent the dynamic interactions & evolving phases that shape the natural world & human experience.
Operating within an ever evolving cycle, the elements symbolise different transient phases, either nurturing one another in a productive cycle or restraining one another in a controlling cycle, thus offering insight into how balance or imbalance manifests in life.
The 5 Elements & Our Emotions
Among other things, the interplay of these 5 phases is believed to profoundly influence emotions. When in balance, they encourage emotional resilience, creativity & well-being. Imbalance however, can result in emotional turmoil, such as suppressed anger, chronic worry, or unresolved grief, where these emotional manifestations can subsequently affect the body, mind & our behaviours.
According to Daoist philosophy, by understanding the balance & flow of the Five Elements, we can explore the roots of our emotional states, addressing emotional imbalances & restore balance from a holistic perspective, promoting harmony within ourselves as well as fostering improved mental & physical health.
In Chinese Medicine Nutrition, the 5 Elements are associated with the 5 flavors; Sweet (甘), Aromatics/Spices (辛), Salty (咸), Sour (酸), Bitter/Spicy (苦/辣). Each element plays a crucial role in understanding the properties of the foods we eat & their effects on the body. Thereby each respective element & taste taste has a unique set of functions, and consuming a balanced combination of these in daily life is said to be essential for maintaining physical & mental harmony & health.
Why I added the 6th element of Love to the Éléments Chocolats constellation
I added the 6th element Love, as while the element of Fire does relate to Joy, and a path to Love, in Chinese texts it does not explicitly represent Love. Additionally, when the Fire element is out of balance it can also bring forth resentment and even hate, (these themselves being controlled by the water element), whereas I feel Love is an emotion which leaves no room for resentment and hate to exist. I also feel that Love is a highly complex & dynamic emotion within itself, balancing between & simultaneously experiencing all emotions & tastes that life can be; sweet as honey, deeply complex and aromatic as cinnamon, salty as the pink salt from the Himalayas, sour as a lemon, bitter as coffee & spicy as a red chilli. This constant interplay of experiences & emotions we all pass through with the ones we love, shapes who we are, creating the differences that make us all unique, yet this element of Love solely having the power to bring us all together.
I believe, through its harmonizing nature, love is the most powerful force that unites & uplifts humanity, transcends boundaries, brings people together & fosters empathy, kindness & understanding. It enriches our lives with joy & purpose, reminding us of the beauty in connections with others, ourselves & the world around us. Celebrating love allows us to appreciate the relationships that shape us, whether romantic, familial, or through friendships we make along the way. Love encourages us to balance our emotions, show gratitude, consideration & partnership, spreading positivity & strengthening the bonds between us. Therefore I feel, what would this world and this life have without the element & taste of Love?
Éléments Chocolats itself was born out of my love for chocolate and my love of learning about and celebrating that despite the differences in people, places, cultures, tastes & flavours across the world, when it comes to love, we are all the same. And in so forth, I hope you will join me in honoring this most simple & yet most complex element of Love we all have within us with the taste of Celebration!
Éléments Chocolats Concept Origins
A Journey Across The World, Daoism & Chocolate
From Brussels, around the world, to Shanghai
Growing up in Brussels, Belgium, my love for chocolate was a part of my identity, always testing out each & every kind I could find in the ‘land of chocolate’. However, despite enjoying the chocolates made by all the great chocolate houses, I found most chocolatiers make almost all the same flavours, and in doing-so I felt that was restricting the full potential of what chocolate’s deep complexity of flavour was truly capable of， but staying in Belgium & Europe, made it harder to expand those horizons. Personally, I also I yearned for adventure & seeing the world outside of what I knew.
After my bio-medical studies and my first job in clinical research, I decided to travel across the world for a year, from North to South America, Oceania, East-Asia & finally arrived in Shanghai, China. With over 15 years in China, I began discovering the vast breadth & depth of China’s landscapes, seas, mountains, plains, deserts & jungles. During this time I also learnt of its deep historical culture, and of course explored its rich diversity of foods & ingredients previously unknown to me.
My personal connection to Daoism & Éléments Chocolats Concept Origin
Simultaneously, during my university studies I had come across & connected with the basic principles of Daoism & its fundamental philosophy of appreciating all aspects nature, aiming to be in tune with the natural order of things & not forcing things against their own nature.
Even before learning of Daoism, as a teenager I always felt one should consider the totality of things, follow one’s heart, avoid regret and not force things too much, as in forcing things we are naturally working against the true nature of the situation. In forcing things their state will be unstable, unhappy, as it constantly & inevitably seeks to return to its natural state, until we learn to respect it and work with it as it truly is.
Being in China, the birthplace of Daosim, it was only natural to read further into this natural holistic philosophy. In doing so, I learned of the 5 elements balance, how it connects us with the natural world & how their balance influences all things, the body & mind, as well the 5 tastes. Inspired by this, I blended these concepts, flavours & ingredients from each respective element with Belgian chocolate traditions & Éléments Chocolats was born.
Pioneered in Shanghai: A Unique Chocolate & Cultural Experience
Éléments Chocolats: The Daoism inspired Belgian Chocolate Experience
A unique culinary & cultural journey to the Far-East via the wonderful medium of Belgian Chocolate
Éléments Chocolats seeks to bring a modern, innovative & unique culinary interpretation to the Daoist 5 Element balance of tastes, as well as the taste of Love & Celebration, all via the wonderful medium of Belgian chocolate.
Each of my chocolates is inspired not only by each of the 5 Elements, but also by the rich culture & history of China. By extension each chocolate reflect a part of its own cultural symbolism & tells its own story. I, of course, invite you to visit each of the 6 Element Box pages to read each chocolate’s significance & story.
In blending Belgian chocolate making traditions with selected ingredients from each of the respective elements from across the length & breadth of China, I aim to take you on a unique culinary & cultural journey across the plains, jungles, beaches & mountain landscapes of China where this ancient holistic elemental balance & philosophy originated, bringing forth an exchange from west to east and back again.
Truly a taste journey & cultural experience like no other. I hope you enjoy it as much I did creating it.
With delighted & delectable regards, Thomas Standring
Éléments Chocolats: Bringing balance to life through chocolate
