Qualities of the Yin and the Yang

Taoism teaches us that the material universe is comprised of two, dynamically opposed, yet complementary energies. These are called The Yin and The Yang. Dynamic balance between Yin and Yang is the pre-requisite condition for the physical manifestation of every aspect of life. From the smallest and most insignificant situation in life to the most profound and earth-shattering, this law applies to all life.

The traditional diagram of the Supreme Principle, the T'ai Chi T'u, is twin shapes inside a circle. The dark being Yin and the white Yang. The small white circle within the black and the black circle within the white symbolize that each contains the seed and potential of the other.

The Tao, or The One, is forever manifesting the two energies of Yin and Yang dynamic activity which are always under the guidance of the One. Taken together, these three are the manifest universe. That is, all the visible and invisible phenomena of the physical world arises from the interplay and inter-relationship of Yin and Yang.

• Yin pushes outward and Yang pulls inward.
• Yin attracts Yang, and Yang attracts Yin.
• Yang repels Yang, and Yin repels Yin.
• At the extreme of their movements, Yin changes into Yang, and Yang produces Yin.
• The greater the polarity between Yin and Yang, the greater the attraction between them. The more similar two things are with respect to Yin and Yang, then the greater the repulsion between them.
• Yin and Yang are constantly changing into one another.
• Nothing is totally Yang, or totally Yin. Everything in existence contains both Yin and Yang energies.
• Nothing in life is neutral, or perfectly balanced. Yin or Yang is present in excess in all phenomena in dynamic interplay.
• Under the guiding influence of the Tao, or One, every inter-relationship of Yin and Yang is moving toward a dynamic balance.

In every situation in life, or life itself for that matter, there is always this ever-shifting, yet always dynamically balanced interplay of the two.

 The Yin and Yang pages...