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Yin and Yang Two Opposites that Forms a Whole Only in Combination |
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by Vadim Kotelnikov, Founder, The first-ever BUSINESS e-COACH for Innovative Leaders, 1000ventures.com
"The Great One produces the two poles, which in turn give rise to the energies of the dark (yin) and the light (yang)" - Lü-shin ch'un-ch'iu
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Yin and Yang: Properties and Associations
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Yin
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Yang
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Feminine
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Masculine
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Passive
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Active
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Receptive
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Creative
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Dark
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Bright
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Soft
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Hard
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The Two Polar Energies Yin and yang are the two polar energies that, by their fluctuation and interaction, are the cause of the universe. The notion means that the reality consists of relationships between opposite and opposite principles. Yin and yang are polar manifestations of the Tao of the supreme ultimate, their concrete manifestations being Earth and Heaven. Different Ways of Looking at the World The notion yin and yang also means different ways of looking at a world that may be experienced in a variety of different ways. Yin, or 'the shady side' is contrasted with 'the sunny side' yang, and the idea is that everything has at least two aspects to it. The Manifestation of Continuous Change From the intermingling of yin and yang arise the five elements - water, fire, wood, metal, and earth - the five phases of transformation, or five energies, that determine the course of natural phenomena. This manifestation of all phenomena is seen as a cyclic process, an endless coming into being and passing away, as everything, upon reaching an extreme stage, transforms into its opposite. The underlying shared characteristic of yin and yang therefore consists in giving rise to this continuous change, which is said to be the movement of the Tao.1 Chinese Traditional Medicine "The energies of yin and yang are of great importance in traditional Chinese medicine. The body is healthy only when yin and yang hold each other in balance. Too much yang causes heightened organic activity; too much yin, an inadequate functioning of the organs."1 Origin of the Yin-Yang Concept The concept yin-yang stems from the Book of Change (I-ching), a Chinese book of wisdom and oracles, dating from the transition period between the Yin and Chou dynasties. The essential philosophy of the Book of Change is based on Confucianism, but there are also Taoist ideas present. It is based on the idea of two polar energies, by whose activities all things are brought about and come into being. Initially, these two energies were simply called the light and the dark, but later were referred to as yin and yang. The interaction of yin and yang produces change, which is to be understood as the movement of the Tao. |
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Bibliography:
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"The Rider Encyclopaedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion", Rider Books, 1989
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"Key Concepts in Eastern Philosophy", Oliver Leaman, 1999
