The Buddhist altar consists of all Five Elements of gold, wood, water, fire and earth.
Bodhisattvas represent the gold, flowers grow in the earth, the incense is the wood, water is contained in the offering of water, and the oil lamp represents fire.
The Five Elements work together to bring good fortune to one’s home.
They work as floating clouds representing flowing water,
which signifies prosperity.
佛台是金木水火土五行俱全。
菩萨就是金的，花是长在土里的，
木是香，水就是供水，火是油灯。
五行的运作家里就会幸福。
五行就是行云，行云就会流水，就是财运。
– Master Jun Hong Lu, Words of Wisdom Volume 6
< Words of Wisdom