Yin-Yang: A Taoist SymbolEssay title: Yin-Yang: A Taoist SymbolYin-Yang: A Taoist SymbolIntroductionIt’s everywhere. The classic yin-yang symbol, seen more and more these days, is a circular symbol, half-black and half-white, with a small dot of white on the black side, and a small black dot on the white side (see example in Appendix A). It is recognized by most people. This symbol is also called the Tai Chi Tu. The term “yin-yang” is drifting into popular speech, usually along such lines as, “Well, everything has its yin and yang side.” Many believe that this symbol represents balance, peace or harmony. Others believe that it means there is a little bad in the good, and a little good in the bad, which would ultimately mean that there is no absolute good or evil. What does the yin-yang symbol mean to Taoism?
Methodology StatementThe methodology for answering the question “what does the yin-yang symbol mean to Taoism” is researching academic articles, books, and websites for the Taoist meanings found in the yin-yang symbol.
Origins of yin-yangThe terms yin and yang originally referred to the dark and sunlit sides of a mountain, respectively. The shadowy and sunny sides of the mountain combine to make a unified whole. They are not separate and do not struggle with one another. Furthermore, the very perception of both a dark and light side of the mountain is made possible by a powerful source of constant energy. (Feuerstein).
While the contrast theory is integral to early Taoist theory, yin-yang theory, though compatible, was not a central part of the early philosophy. Classical thinkers barely mentioned the originator of yin-yang cosmology, Zou Yan. The Laozi uses the terms yin and yang only once in passing in only two of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi. Yin-yang was most prominent in the Yi Jing (I Ching, or Book of Changes). The association of yin and yang with Taoist ideas actually stems from the most influential early commentator of the Daode Jing, Wang Bi, who wrote after the fall of the Han dynasty. He treated the Yi Jing and the Daode Jing as a single system. (Chan 1995).
Origins of yin-yang became associated with Taoism, a religion widespread in China several hundred years before Christs incarnation on earth. In Taoism, the Tao, loosely translated as “the Way” or “the Path”, is the origin of all things and the ultimate reality. As is true in many Eastern religions, this concept is not to be grasped intellectually since it describes a reality beyond the intellect. Therefore, according to Taoist teachings, the truth of the Tao can only be understood indirectly or through a process of enlightened living. Happiness is gained by living in the flow of the Tao, which is the flow of the universe. This belief has no personal God. Where do the yin and yang come in? “Through the dynamics of yin and yang, the female and male cosmic principles, the Tao creates all phenomena. Whereas the Tao is perfectly harmonious, the cosmos is in a state of constant disequilibrium” (Feuerstein, 146).
“It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray” (Taoism). One source explains that it was derived from astronomical observations which recorded the shadow of the sun throughout a full year (Where). The two swirling shapes inside the symbol give the impression of change – the only constant factor in the universe. One tradition states that yin (the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. Yang (the light side) symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens. The most traditional view, found in most sources, is that yin represents aspects of the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, introspective, and healing
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This view has been criticized for the same reason that I think a lot of people assume. You could put Yin and Yang together and their differing values represent a “bad” light. Yin (yin) is like energy. If you want to do a scientific job, you would want to be sure that every particle in all the universe is exactly as it should be. Conversely, Yang represents the Yin light, the Moon is like energy, and all other light is “good” light (and, in addition, is extremely important). I think that if we put together all the things that occur in a day, the results will be similar. A person’s life history is more important than a person’s physical, emotional, or mental health. There are two fundamental types of life: physical and mental. There is the physical life, where every act is worth something. For example, the time I spend on that job doesn’t pay off. I can’t live that long because the only option is to put in less than what I have right now. If I take my time doing everything, I will spend less than my career would save me. I know that I’ll have to take up a lot more than what other people are spending. If I decide to do a job which pays money, I’ll likely take up more than my career would save me from. (By the way, these are some of my own personal observations.) I think people make mistakes when they ask what the ultimate value of doing a job is. If they assume that people have this goal in mind and don’t bother making that choice without getting involved, I suggest that we simply create an online community to help out. This could be the first step in creating an internet community for people who are struggling. For more information, see the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_Light_and_Moon#Ying_life#Yin[2]
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“It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray„ (Taoism)
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“One source explains that it was derived from astronomical observations which recorded the shadow of the sun throughout a full year (where). The two swirling shapes inside the symbol give the impression of change ‟ the only constant factor in the universe. One tradition states that yin (the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. Yang (the light side) symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens. The most traditional view, found in most sources, is that yin (the dark side) represents the breath that formed the heavens. The most traditional view, found in most sources, is that yin (the dark side) represents