Yin-Yang

[gnostic]

I am quite sure that the Taoist subject of yin-yang has been cover before.

Yin-yang represents the 2 spirits or 2 forces of natures. Each force has its equal opposite and that are contradictory. Thus, there is female/male, dark/light, passive/active, even/odd (number), valley/mountain, etc.

Here, it is clear that the yin-yang Taoism is dualistic.

But are they truly dualistic?

If they are equal, but opposite to one another - for people in science would say that the two forces balance each other out.

Yes, it is true, there are two of them, but together they form one, because they are in harmony, equilibrium - balanced. They are more than just opposite of each other - they are complementary.

Is that right? Isn't that why the yin-yang is represented within a circle?

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Did you notice that I didn't use yin-yang to represent "good and evil", when I was went through list of examples of yin-yang? (female/male, dark/light, etc.)

Good and evil is really a subjective perspective of human reasoning. I left it out because in nature, there are no such thing as good and evil, and the forces of nature don't distinguish them in such way.

 

[Buttons*]

... when i read up more on Taoism, i'll give you an answer....(sorry i dont know )

 

[d.]

a few important things to consider.

1) there's a white dot in the black area and a black dot in the white area. it is not a rigid dichotomy.

Did you notice that I didn't use yin-yang to represent "good and evil", when I was went through list of examples of yin-yang? (female/male, dark/light, etc.)

Good and evil is really a subjective perspective of human reasoning. I left it out because in nature, there are no such thing as good and evil, and the forces of nature don't distinguish them in such way.

but this goes for male/female or dark/light also. these are human constructs as much as good or evil is.

2) the yin-yang symbol is meant to be spinning. it is always changing.

3) i'm drunk. it's friday morning and i just got home from the pub. i'll get back to you.

 

[Jaymes]

From what I understand, yin and yang aren't opposites... just two sides of the same coin.

There are others that know more about that than I, though I'm still learning.

 

[robtex]

From what I understand, yin and yang aren't opposites... just two sides of the same coin.

There are others that know more about that than I, though I'm still learning.

That is the way I have understood it too. Not two opposite parts but the whole spectrum. The circle you mentioned Gnostic refers to the ever-changing state of the Tao. It is circular because given enough time most, if not all cycles will revert back to their original form.

To put this to an example. When you are born you are helpless. As a baby one is entirely dependant on your parents or guardians for survivial. The baby need food, water, love and the duties that go with infant rearing like diapers and baths. When one grows to an old age one are also in need of such attention. The elder need help many times, eating moving around, sometimes being bathed and the like.

In taoism the infant is not the opposite (yin/yang) of the elder but rather the cycle that given enough time the infant returns to as an old man/woman. The two are not opposites but parts that make-up the whole.

 

[gnostic]

but this goes for male/female or dark/light also. these are human constructs as much as good or evil is.

What I mean is that good and evil is purely abstract and perspective from human reasoning.

Male and female are actually physical definitions, not abstract. Light and dark are also natural phenomena.

2) the yin-yang symbol is meant to be spinning. it is always changing.

They spin? Didn't know that.

3) i'm drunk. it's friday morning and i just got home from the pub.

Well, I hope you sober up...without the hangover.

 

[gnostic]

Not two opposite parts but the whole spectrum. The circle you mentioned Gnostic refers to the ever-changing state of the Tao.

Thank you, robtex. Your explanation explains more of divine's 2nd point about the cycling.

From what I understand, yin and yang aren't opposites... just two sides of the same coin.

So I thought. Which is why I am questioning the dualistic nature of yin-yang. I thought there must be more to it.

 

[Jaymes]

What I mean is that good and evil is purely abstract and perspective from human reasoning.

Male and female are actually physical definitions, not abstract. Light and dark are also natural phenomena.

They are natural, yes... and part of yin and yang is that one couldn't exist without the other.

If we had no concept of light, how would we be able to recognize dark as an absence of it? If we reproduced asexually (as some creatures do), how would we be able to come up with a concept of male and female? And so on and so forth; that can apply to many things.

One of my favorite chapters of the Tao Te Ching talks about just that, actually:

"When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.

Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other."

That's always helped me get a bit of a glimpse at what yin yang represents.

 

[michel]

I wish I hadn't looked at this site:- http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/yinyang.htm

It have totally confused me.

From the I Ching, I have always understood yin - yang to be 'states of flux' - ie, stages of growth, and decline.

Anyone else see it that way?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

I am quite sure that the Taoist subject of yin-yang has been cover before.

Yin-yang represents the 2 spirits or 2 forces of natures. Each force has its equal opposite and that are contradictory. Thus, there is female/male, dark/light, passive/active, even/odd (number), valley/mountain, etc.

Here, it is clear that the yin-yang Taoism is dualistic.

But are they truly dualistic?

If they are equal, but opposite to one another - for people in science would say that the two forces balance each other out.

Yes, it is true, there are two of them, but together they form one, because they are in harmony, equilibrium - balanced. They are more than just opposite of each other - they are complementary.

Is that right? Isn't that why the yin-yang is represented within a circle?

---------------------

Did you notice that I didn't use yin-yang to represent "good and evil", when I was went through list of examples of yin-yang? (female/male, dark/light, etc.)

Good and evil is really a subjective perspective of human reasoning. I left it out because in nature, there are no such thing as good and evil, and the forces of nature don't distinguish them in such way.

Here are some thing I learned about Yin and Yang from my T'ai Chi teacher.

Yin and yang is the universal theory of opposites.

Yin means the shady side of the mountain and yang means the sunny side of the mountain. Descriptions of what is yin and what is yang develop from there. For example the sunny side of the mountain is brighter and warmer. When things warm up they expand and rise and so on.

There are 5 laws of yin and yang:

1. Everything can be divided into yin and yang. (I've since added that everything "physical" can be divided into yin and yang in order to avoid that "good and evil" concept)

2. Nothing is completely yin or yang or everthing can be futher divided into yin and yang.

3. Yin and yang control each other.

4. Yin and yang create each other.

5. Yin and yang can transform into each other.

An interesting aspect of this that stems from the rules concerns rules number 2 and 5. It concerns what happens when indivisible and divisible are put into context of yin and yang. Obviously that which is indivisible (it doesn't become divisible or it was never indivisible to begin with) violates these rules. It creates something which then doesn't fit into the laws of yin and yang. Changing and unchanging also fills this role.

Herein I think fall the concepts of an imutable force or "God" if you prefer.

In some Chinese belief, in the beginning was "Wu Chi" or the "Great Emptiness." Then came movement or "T'ai Chi" (this is what is represented by the symbol that you refered to). Immediately when movement started came yin and yang (for exmple I was there but now I'm here.)

Maybe this will help you understand some more.

 

[Valjean]

The dots in the symbol represent seeds. Each property contains the seed of its opposite.

 

[finalfrogo]

As a person who's avatar is the ying yang, I don't know that much about it. Lol.