In Asian
philosophy, the concept of yin yang which is often
referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to
describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary
forces are interconnected and interdependent in the
natural world, and how they give rise to each other in
turn. Opposites thus only exist in relation to each
other. The concept lies at the origins of many branches
of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as
being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese
medicine,[1] and a central principle of different forms
of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang,
taijiquan and qigong and of I Ching divination. Many
natural dualities—e.g. dark and light, female and male,
low and high, cold and hot— are thought of as
manifestations of yin and yang (respectively).
Yin yang are not opposing forces (dualities), but
complementary opposites that interact within a greater
whole, as part of a dynamic system. Everything has both
yin and yang aspects as light cannot exist without
darkness and vice-versa, but either of these aspects may
manifest more strongly in particular objects, and may
ebb or flow over time. The concept of yin and yang is
often symbolized by various forms of the Taijitu symbol,
for which it is probably best known in western cultures.
There is a perception (especially in the West) that yin
and yang correspond to evil and good. However, Taoist
philosophy generally discounts good/bad distinctions and
other dichotomous moral judgments, in preference to the
idea of balance. Confucianism did attach a moral
dimension to the idea of yin and yang, but the modern
sense of the term largely stems from Buddhist
adaptations of Taoist philosophy. |