Ying Yang Symbol

The ying yang symbol had its beginning thousands of years ago in ancient China representing the balancing forces of the universe.

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As early as the fourteenth century B.C. the ancient Chinese were inscribing oracle bones with pictures that depicted phenomena that occurred naturally in the universe such as night and day. Used as a divination method in ancient China, the oracle bones, found and dated by archeologists and scientists are the earliest records of the symbols used by man to represent the concept of ying and yang.

As centuries passed the concept of ying and yang, commonly referred to as yin yang, evolved to represent the Chinese philosophy of the dual polarity and balance of everything in the universe. The concept of yin yang explained how the universe and all existence worked through its delicate balance of forces that are opposite but complementary.

An ancient symbol that is known throughout the world, each of the parts of the yin yang sign is rich with symbolism.

The outer circle of the yin yang stands for the everything of the universe. It represents the wu chi, or the beginning. It is emptiness, the void where the universe evolved from. It also represents a complete or single aspect within the universe.

Said to resemble the tails of two fish or the shapes of two tear drops, the two halves of the inner circle are in opposite colors. One is black representing yin and the other is white representing yang. The halves are in constant motion as they flow and meld into one another. Neither the yin nor the yang can exist alone. Each is dependent on the other.

The yin, or dark half, represents the female energy and is associated with being passive, negative and indirect. It also represents the moon, death and night and the qualities of moist, cold and submissiveness. Other examples of the qualities of yin include:

• Receptive
• Weak
• Small
• Withdrawn
• Contradicting
• Downward

The yang, or light half, represents the male energy and is associated with being active, positive and direct. It represents the sun, birth and day and the qualities of dryness, heat and dominance. Several other qualities associated with yang are the following:

• Dominance
• Strong
• Large
• Forceful
• Expanding
• Upward

In early times yin was associated with the north side of the mountain and was shady and mysterious while yang was associated with the southern direction and was sunny and bright.

The separation of the two halves of the yin yang sign is distinct. There are no shades of gray as the two halves are in perfect balance and harmony with one another. Examples of the separation and balance include:

• Night and day
• Heaven and earth
• Sickness and health
• Birth and death
• The seasons as hot is replaced by cold

Within each of the halves of the symbol are two smaller circles, often referred to as the eyes of the fish or the seeds of the opposite. The black yin half holds a small white circle and within the white yang area is a circle of black. These small circles represent the belief that both yin and yang are present in everything in the universe. They also show that nothing is completely black or white, that everything has an area of gray and neither can exist without the other.

The ying yang symbol taken in its entirety illustrates the delicate balance of everything in the universe. It shows that neither half if better than the other, they are the same yet opposite. Within the symbol yang grows and at its largest area it merges with yin. Then as yin grows to its fullest, it merges with yang. The cycle keeps repeating itself just as the forces of the universe and everything that exists within it is cyclical in nature.

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