

Half of the circle is black, representing the yin side, and the other is white, symbolizing the yang side. ’ The striking imagery of a perfect circle divided into two halves by a curved line was first introduced by a philosopher named Zhou Dunyi, and has evolved into what is now commonly referred to as the yin-yang symbol. However, it wasn’t until the Song Dynasty era when the concept of yin and yang was illustrated and symbolized using a diagram called taijitu or ‘the taichi symbol. The philosophy behind the yin-yang symbol is no less than 3,500 years old, and was first introduced during the ninth century, in a text entitled ‘I Ching’ or ‘Book of Changes.’ The text talks about cosmic duality and the importance of achieving balance between two halves in order to create a perfect whole. In this article, we will revisit what ancient Chinese philosophy really teaches about yin and yang. Still, as is true with many ancient symbols, its integration with popular culture has caused confusion over the real meaning behind the concept of yin and yang.
#Yin and yang symbol meaning how to
How to Develop Financial Freedom and Life-Long Happiness. Is it possible to use the Yin Yang symbol to favor this balance? The answer is yes. When the components are in balance within you, this state will be reflected outside you, living the world in harmony. In other words: your inner yin and yang need each other! The Yin Yang symbol teaches us that in life all that we encounter is not just light or just darkness. Each side has its own legitimacy and it is good to do so. We could summarize the spiritual meaning and the message for the soul of the Yin Yang symbol with these words: The Message for the Soul and Spiritual Meaning of Yin and Yang: Recommended: 10 Spiritual Symbols that You Must Know. When there is too great an imbalance between Yin Yang, catastrophes such as floods, droughts and plagues can occur. The constantly evolving relationship between the two poles is responsible for the constant flow of the universe and life in general.

Taoists emphasize seclusion while Confucians believe in the importance of involvement in life. In Chinese religion, Taoists favor Yin, while Confucianists favor Yang in line with the main objective of their respective philosophies.

Furthermore, the first gods of Fuxi, Nuwa, and Shennong were born from Yin and Yang. In Chinese mythology, Yin and Yang were born of chaos when the Universe was first created and believed to exist in harmony at the center of the Earth.ĭuring creation, achieving their perfect balance in the cosmic egg allowed the birth of Pangu (or P’an Ku), the first human being. The Yin Yang symbol in mythology and religion: Yang can also be represented by the dragon, blue in color and a continuous line trigram. Yang reaches its maximum influence with the summer solstice. Yin reaches its maximum influence with the winter solstice. Yin can also be represented by the tiger, the orange color and a broken line in the trigrams of the I Ching (or Book of Changes). Recommended: 4 Steps to Follow to Discover Your Personal Power Symbol. Hence the theory of 5 elements, the cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The first supporter of the theory was the cosmologist Zou Yan (or Tsou Yen) who believed that life went through five phases (wu xing) – fire, water, metal, wood, earth – which were continually exchanged according to the principle of Yin and Yang. The concept of Yin and Yang became popular thanks to the work of the Chinese school of Yinyang who studied philosophy and cosmology in the 3rd century BC. The two opposites of the Yin Yang symbol attract and complement each other and, as their symbol illustrates, each face has in the center an element of the other (represented by small dots). Neither of the two poles is superior to the other and, since an increase of one leads to a corresponding decrease in the other, it is necessary to achieve a correct balance between the two poles to achieve harmony. This principle, dating back to the 3rd century BC or even earlier, is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and culture in general. The principle of the Yin Yang symbol is that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites such as male-female, light – darkness, old-young.

The Yin Yang symbol in mythology and religion:.
