Chinese Ying Yang
Though many refer to it as Chinese ying yang, the correct pronunciation is "yin yang".
History of Yin Yang
Yin Yang philosophy stretches beyond feng shui and into Chinese science, medicine and even martial arts such as Qigong. Simply stated, yin yang philosophy is the acceptance of the dualities found in all living matter. History credits the ancient Chinese philosopher Fu Xi with the idea of yin and yang energies.
Fu Xi, the Philosopher
Fu Xi has been credited to developing not just the concept and philosophy of yin yang, but also writing. After a great flood, Fu Xi and his sister were the only survivors and with the approval of the Emperor of Heaven procreated a new world with the help of clay figures that they turned into human beings.
The latter part of the story has similarities to the universal stories of the Great Flood and to the Christian story of creation with God molding Adam from clay.
115 Years of Leadership
The Fu Xi legend states that Fu Xi and his sister were together for nearly 200 years and that Fu Xi ruled over the new world they'd created for 115 years. Parts of his teachings were about how the two energies of yin and yang control all of life. Yin and yang, when joined, create the life-force energy, chi.
What Is Yin and Yang?
The yin yang symbol represents the philosophy that is an enlightened state of being. Yin and yang are the female and male energies, respectively. Yin energy is associated with the magnetic direction of north while yang energy happily resides in the south. Yin and yang govern nature with the balance of opposites.
- Night and Day
- Moon and Sun
- Light and Dark
- Right and Wrong
Order Out of Chaos
There is always chaos before there is order. The yin and yang energies bring order to nature and create decisive patterns for which all life conforms. The influences of these two opposing energies don't stop with nature. Yin and yang reach beyond the physical and into the spiritual realm. Many believe that the spiritual nature of yin and yang energies begin in the unseen realm and it's through logical thought processes that yin and yang take form by manifesting into the physical realm.
Cycle of Life
If you examine the symbol for yin and yang, you'll quickly discover how the white teardrop ascends with the bulb at the top of the encircled pair. The black yin teardrop descends from the white teardrop and the two create the illusion of motion as they circle back into each other in a continuous cycle. To represent how interconnected the two energies are, the symbol also has an inner circle within each teardrop in the appearance of an eye. For the white teardrop (yang), the circle is black and vice versa for the black tear drop. This signifies the dependency as well as the eye of the fish that never closes and is all-seeing. This type of symbolism conveys the concept of yin yang energy.
Exploring Chinese Ying Yang Properties
To gain a greater understanding of the function of yin and yang energies in all life, it's best to separate the two fishes and examine the properties of each one.
Yin Energy
Yin energy is feminine and considered to be passive. The properties of passive energy means it gives in to the other forces surrounding it and at times even absorbs those energies. Water is a passive energy because it moves over other elements yet can be a powerful force. Earth is also considered a yin form of energy as it accepts all of the elements and nurtures life.
Yang Energy
Yang energy is male and considered to be aggressive. Fire and air are yang energies. Each of the two yang energies impact the two yin ones by fueling and fanning the energies of creation (life).
It's All About Balance
Whether it's in spiritual matters or feng shui applications, the Chinese ying yang concept is about achieving harmony and balance.
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