Yin Yang and Taiji — Meaning, Origin, Symbol, Relationship, and Utilization

Yin Yang, which evolved out of Taiji, is a simple ancient Chinese philosophical idea widely applied in astrology, calendar, religion, traditional medicine, Feng Shui, and other traditions and customs.

yin and yang represents the sun and moon

What Is Taiji?

Taiji was the original state of the cosmos when the universe was believed to be undifferentiated and the oneness.

With the constant movement of Taiji, it evolves out of the Yin and Yang.

Yin is about contracting energy, which is downward, passive, dark, accumulated, introverted, feminine, and quiet.

Yang is about releasing energy, representing upward, active, bright, expand, exocentric, masculine, and lively.

Everything in the world has both sides: constant motion and mutual transformation.

The motions of Yin and Yang generate the Greater Yin, Lesser Yin, Greater Yang, and Lesser Yang.

They are the Four Images, whose transformations formed the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth) or Five Phases theory.

Therefore, Taiji is considered the Supreme Ultimate, the origin of everything, and the Dao from Daoism (or Taoism) Philosophy.

Introduction to the Yin Yang Symbol Taijitu

Yin Yang Symbol Taijitu, or Tai Chi Diagram, had different origins and versions in history.

Yin Yang and Taiji in Cosmology

As a cosmological term, the Yin Yang Symbol or Taijitu is the orbit of the sun's movement in a year.

In the Chinese Calendar, the 24 Solar Terms correspond to the sun's movement.

The lengths of the shadow of the ancient sundial on noontime of each Solar Term day formed the S-shaped curve in the middle.

The lengths of the shadow of the ancient sundial on noontime of 24 Solar Terms.

The two colors represent day and night.

There are cloudy and rainy days in the daytime, hence the black dot on the white side.

At night, there are bright lights of the moon and stars, represented by the black dot on the black side.

Yin Yang and Taiji in Philosophy

As a philosophical term of both Taoism and Confucianism, the symbol perfectly represents the duality theory, relationship, and principle of Yin and Yang.

Round Shape: the wholeness of the universe, intact and eternal circle, and Great Unity.

Black and White Sides: equality of Yin and Yang, everything has two sides, the relationship of opposition and unification.

Curve in the Middle: everything is in motion, hence can convert into the other side and situation, and with complementary forces;

Dots on Opposite Colors' Side: nothing is absolute nor still; there's always some Yin on the Yang side, and vice versa.

Gold and Gem Decorations of the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644) — Hubei Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Yin and Yang Meaning

Briefly speaking, Yin and Yang is a duality concept.

Heaven is Yang, earth is Yin;

Sun is Yang, moon is Yin;

Brightness is Yang, darkness is Yin;

Daytime is Yang, night is Yin;

Thunder is Yang, rain and snow are Yin;

Hot is Yang, cold is Yin;

Spring and summer are Yang, autumn and winter are Yin;

Creative Yin Yang Symbol Presents Seasons, By Feifei Fiona.

Creative Taijitu Presents Seasons, By Feifei Fiona.

Man is Yang, woman is Yin;

Emperor is Yang, official is Yin;

Movement is Yang, stillness is Yin;

Odd number is Yang, even number is Yin;

Up is Yang, down is Yin;

Left is Yang, right is Yin;

To sum up, Yin and Yang can be concluded as two sides of anything.

Bricks of the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD) of Deities Flying Dragons Shapes — The Art Institute of Chicago (Photo by Dongmaiying)

What Are the Flow and Relationships of Yin and Yang

Everything is in motion, hence the constant flow between Yin and Yang.

And the flow leads to four relationships of the Yin and Yang:

Opposition

Interdependence

Wax and Wane

Transform

What Is the Yin-Yang Balance?

Balance of Yin Yang is a relatively stable status among the constant movement of Yin and Yang, which is believed to be the best situation.

In cosmology, it symbolizes a natural world that all species coexist in harmony;

In the climate field, it represents a stable amount of rain and sunshine and good weather;

In traditional Chinese medicine, it means a healthy body;

In romantic relationships, it is the key to equality and harmony.

Dragon and Phoenix Pattern Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty (1636 — 1912) — The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Yin Yang in Culture and Tradition

Toponymy

In ancient China, Yin (shady side) and Yang (sunny side) were widely used to name places based on the toward or backward of the sunlight.

If a place is on the north of a river or south of a mountain, it would be named Yang.

Such as Luo Yang City is on the north of the Luo River, and Heng Yang City is on the south of Mount Heng.

If a place is on the south of a river or north of a mountain, it would be named Yin.

Such as Jiang Yin City is on the south of the Yangtze River, and Hua Yin City is on the north of Mount Hua.

Hua Yin City and Mount Hua

Philosophy

Lao Zi (about 571 BC — ?):

Everything embraces Yang and carries Yin, pursuing balance and harmony in the flow of Yin and Yang.

万物负阴而抱阳,冲气以为和。

Confucius (551 BC — 479 BC):

Yin and Yang are the Dao.

一阴一阳之谓道。

Dong Zhongshu (179 BC — 104 BC):

Integrated Yin Yang and Five Elements theories and developed the Heaven-Human Induction ideology, whose reformed Confucianism was promoted as the official ideology by Emperor Wu of Han in 134 BC.

Since then, they have been included in both Taoism and Confucianism ideologies.

Gild Bronze Mirror of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC — 8 AD) With Inscriptions Mentioned Yin Yang and Five Elements

Gild Bronze Mirror of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC — 8 AD), Inscribed With Chinese Characters About Yin Yang and Five Elements — National Museum of China (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Divination and Fengshui

I Ching, or the Book of Changes, believed to have finished in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC — 771 BC).

It is a masterpiece concerning cosmology, philosophy, and divination, presented the formation and relationship of essential elements:

Taiji generates Yin and Yang;

Yin Yang evolves the Si Xiang or Four Images (Greater Yin, Greater Yang, Lesser Yin, Lesser Yang);

Four Images form the Ba Gua or Eight Trigrams.

This has been the most fundamental theory in divination, Fengshui, and martial arts (like Tai Chi) of Taoism Religion.

Yin Yang Symbol or Taijitu and Bagua or Eight Trigrams

Yin Yang Symbol Taijitu and Bagua or Eight Trigrams

Mythology, Folklore, and Legend

In ancient creation myth, tens of thousands of years ago, Pan Gu split a giant chaos egg and formed heaven and earth, like the Taiji evolved the Yin and Yang.

In folklore and legends, the world where humans live is named Yang, and the world where the deceased live is called Yin.

People who see humans and ghosts are believed to have Yin Yang Eyes.

Pan Gu Creating the World

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Food Culture

Based on Yin Yang and Five Elements theory, every organ of one's body, herbs and food, has its features.

The cure of traditional medicine is to balance all features within one's body, and the diet should correspond to one's physical condition and the surrounding climate.