Yin Yang/Ta Ki/Taijitu

Also called the Ta Ki, the yin-yang symbol is Chinese in origin, from the Taoist tradition, although its meaning has extended throughout the World. Yin and Yang is a complex relational concept in Chinese culture that has developed over thousands of years. Briefly put, the meaning of Yin and Yang is that the universe is governed by a cosmic duality, sets of two opposing and complementing principles or cosmic energies that can be observed in nature.

Yin is associated with the receptive, passive, cold, dark, and feminine aspects of the universe, while Yang is associated with the creative, active, warm, light, and masculine aspects. The two principles are interconnected and interdependent, and each contains the seeds of the other (The bindhu or dots inside the fatter part of each shape borrows colour from its partner, and signifies balance and harmony despite seemingly opposing forces). This cyclical and harmonious relationship between Yin and Yang is often depicted as a symbol, with the Yin principle represented by a dark, curved line and the Yang principle represented by a light, curved line.

The concept of Yin and Yang is not just a philosophical idea, but a way of understanding the natural world and the balance and harmony that exists within it. It is often used to describe the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, and the interconnectedness of all things.

In terms of the interpretation of Taiji and Yin and Yang by Confucianism and Taoism, Taoism attaches importance to Yin, believing that Yin represents the law of nature and Yang represents the activities of people in pursuit of fame, wealth, and individual desires. Individual obedience to Yang’s activities will lead to the expansion of desires, creating a man-made world in opposition to nature, resulting in opposition between man and nature, bringing bondage to the individual’s mind. Meanwhile, if the individual obeys Yin, that is, the law of nature, he/she will eliminate the opposition between human and nature, so that the mind is free and mental health is sound.

The Yin-Yang symbol, also known as the Taijitu, is a circular symbol that consists of two teardrop-shaped halves. In its most recognizable form, one of the halves will be black and one white, with a small dot of the opposite color in each half. The black half is often referred to as “Yin,” and it represents qualities such as darkness, passivity, receptivity, cold, and femininity. The white half is often referred to as “Yang,” and it represents qualities such as light, activity, creativity, warmth, and masculinity.

The concept of Yin and Yang has been used in various aspects of Chinese culture, including medicine, philosophy, and art. It is often used to describe the balance and harmony that exists within the human body, and is used in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine to diagnose and treat imbalances in the body.

In conclusion, the meaning of Yin and Yang is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been developed over thousands of years in Chinese culture. It is a way of understanding the natural world and the balance and harmony that exists within it, and is often used to describe the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, and the interconnectedness of all things.