According to philosophy of Ancient China in the universe two beginnings called yin and yang closely intertwine. They symbolize dark and light, women's and men's, the good and evil, active and passive. Neither that, nor other concept prevails over the second and is the best, these two beginnings only in interaction with each other lead to formation of the nature and life in a harmonious look.
History of the concept "yin and yang"
For the first time two beginnings under the name "yin" and "yan" are mentioned in the well-known Ancient Chinese treatise "Book of Changes". The yin, according to this book, is symbolized by dark and soft substance, yan – light and firm. In this work the idea about their interaction is not stated yet, it begins to develop a bit later, in process of improvement of the Chinese philosophy. Both beginnings gain more and more expressed and detailed lines: the yin becomes a symbol of darkness, night, the moon, the earth, cold, odd numbers, the negative phenomena, yan – the complete antithesis. Philosophers begin to think of how these concepts influence at each other.
Ancient Chinese wise men came to a conclusion that polar forces have to interact constantly with each other to generate changes in the nature which give rise to life. Yin and yang are indivisible, they are closely connected with each other and represent the uniform phenomenon. As a result of development of this idea the new doctrine under the name Taoism appeared: two opposite sides of life open the concept Dao, explain the changeable nature of the world and complementarity of all existing phenomena. There cannot be light without darkness, good without the evil, white without black – both ideas are equal. Moreover, for harmonious development they have to counterbalance each other, otherwise violations are possible. So, according to this doctrine, the imbalance of yin and yang can be the cause of the diseases developing in a human body.
Value of yin and yang
Interaction of both beginnings is well presented on the well-known Taoist symbol – the circle divided by the wavy line into two half, black and white with points of opposite color on each of them. These points mean that each force bears in itself grain of other beginning. The symmetry symbolizes stability and balance of two forces, and the wavy line – variability, lack of static character, continuous movement in a circle. To each of concepts there corresponds the whole set of the definitions opposite on sense. Yang is a machismo, it symbolizes activity, life, fiery elements, dryness and heat. Yang is the movement outside, this space and expansion. Connect red and white colors with this beginning, to it there correspond sour and bitter tastes. The summer is a manifestation yan, all animals and cereals are a generation of this force. The yin – the feminine corresponding to cold, passivity, softness and weight. The yin symbolizes compression, situation inside, orientation on the state, but not on the environment. Therefore in introverts strength of the yin, and in extroverts – yan. The yin is described violet and black in flowers, to him there correspond sweet, sharp and salty tastes and also all slow and static. The yin is a winter, this beginning prevails in greens and vegetables.