The Qualities of Yin & Yang
Whether they take the form of tattoos or fashion designs, the Yin and Yang symbols appear in many aspects of modern society. However, Yin and Yang are more than just designs; they represent an important concept of Chinese philosophy, which branches out into the fields of science and martial arts. Together they suggest the idea of two opposite but interdependent forces.
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Conditions, Seasons and Time
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Yin and Yang can take on the qualities of weather conditions and seasons. Yin represents cold, dark and damp elements. On the other hand, Yang stands for warmth, light and dryness. The seasons flow into each other just like the Yin and Yang symbols. Winter, represented by Yin, gradually passes through spring until it arrives at summer, which is represented by Yang. Afterward, summer passes through fall and returns to winter. On a clock, Yang is noon and Yin is midnight.
Personality
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Yin has a quiet quality; it is conservative, passive and hypo-active. Yang is talkative; it is creative, aggressive and hyperactive. Yin relates to femininity, while Yang relates to masculinity. There is no such thing as pure Yin or pure Yang, so each personality demonstrates a certain combination of the traits.
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Elements
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Yin has the qualities of water and metal. Yang has the qualities of wood and fire. Earth represents the central agent between them. In early Chinese philosophy, these five elements were called the Wu Xing. The Wu Xing served as a basis for many aspects of Chinese culture. For example, in astrology, wood related to Jupiter, fire related to Mars, metal related to Venus, water related to Mercury and earth related to Saturn.
Anatomy
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In the human body, the area below the waist is yin; it is closer to Earth. The area above the waist is yang; it is closer to Heaven. According to Shen-nong, the Yin organs are interior organs, which include the heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidney. These organs produce and store substances. The Yang organs are exterior organs, which include the small intestine, large intestine, gall bladder, bladder and stomach. These organs are hollow but aid in active functions such as circulation, transformation and excretion.
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References
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