The implication of yin-yang
Ancient Chinese held that the original state of the universe was "qi" and that the motion and variation of "qi" produced two poles known as "yin" and "yang".
Qi = Universe Forces = Yin - Yang
Everything can be divided into the aspects of yin and yang, such as : -
- the heaven vs the earth
- the day vs the night
- the water vs fire
- upper vs lower
- cold vs heat
- man vs woman
The original meaning of yin and yang is simple and specific, mainly referring to the sides facing and opposite to the sun.
That is to say that the things facing the sun pertain to yang while the things opposite to the sun pertain to yin. In Chinese "yang" means "sunshine" while "yin" means "shadow".
Later on specific things related to yin and yang were abstracted to induce a series of properties in the light of yin and yang.
In this way yin and yang, two special signifiers, gradually evolved into a theory of extensive application. Consequently the implication of yin and yang was extended.
The properties of things signified by yin and yang are quite abstract. In order to make the meaning of yin and yang explicit, people in ancient China used specific things, namely water and fire, as metaphors to analogize.
Since water and fire are opposite to each other in nature and reflect the basic characteristics of yin and yang, they are used as the signifiers of yin and yang in Huangdi Neijing (黄帝内经).
Comparatively speaking, fire is warm, bright, active and up-flaming; while water is cold, dim, static and downward-moving. That is why it is stipulated in Huangdi Neijing that "water is yin and fire is yang".
A life lived in love will never be dull.
- Leo Buscaglia
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