Different cultures and traditions emphasize particular names of images as the objects of their prayers. In fact, people may direct their prayers to any object and they may still receive a response. In ancient China, for example, people would pray to a well, the "water" energy; the kitchen stove, the "fire" energy; to very old trees, the "wood" energy; to high mountains, the "earth" energy; or to ancient swords and weapons, the "metal" energy, and they would receive a response through their sincerity.
— Hua-Ching Ni, Entering the Tao