What is the Ying and the Yang?

Table of Contents

• 1 Definition of YIN and YANG
• 2 Explanation of Yin and Yang.
• 3 The Origin of Yin and Yang
• 4 Yin and Yang.
• 5 Yin or Yang?
• 6 Some examples of Yin and Yang

1 Definition of YIN and YANG

The theory of Yin and Yang is an ancient Eastern philosophical doctrine, which holds that all things and phenomena in the universe exist under two opposing but unified aspects, interacting and transforming each other to develop and move.

2 Explanation of Yin and Yang.

*/ Yin

It represents the dark, what we don't see. It is hollow and it is what receives life. Yin is dark, cold. It is the energy of fertile passivity, it gives life which is why it is said to be the symbol of femininity.
A person who is more Yin than Yang is someone introverted, calm and rather shy. This is a person who doesn't like to put themselves forward and doesn't really like change. This is a person who prefers the warmth of home. Physically, these will be rather healthy people.

*/ Yang

Yang is the opposite of Yin and it is what completes it. Yang represents the luminous, what is hard and fast. It is active and manifests all accumulated energy. Yang is always in action, in motion. Yang is masculine and it is the spark of life.
If you are Yang, you are someone more extroverted, nervous and who likes to be seen. You like to be put forward and to put yourself forward. You love adventure and challenges and routine is the thing that bores you most in the world. For you, home is a place where you rest after a long exhausting day. Physically, Yang people are thin since they are always in action, they eliminate what they eat.

3 The Origin of Yin and Yang

It is believed that Yin and Yang originated from the observation of peasants. They could see the alternation, every day, of day then night. Then they noted that day is synonymous with work and activity, while night is devoted to rest. Work and day were therefore associated with Yang, and night and rest with Yin. These are two cyclical phases in perpetual motion that alternate. Night gives way to day and day gives way to night.
As the sun is in the sky, the sky is Yang and therefore by opposition the earth is Yin. Anciently it was thought that the sky was rounded and the earth was flat. That is why we can say that what is round is Yang and what is square is Yin.

4 Yin and Yang.

Everyone has already heard of Yin and Yang but it would still be necessary to know what it is. We all have in mind these two kinds of commas, one white with a black dot and one black with a white dot, which fit into each other to form only one. If a white dot is found in the black part or a black dot in the white part, this is by no means the result of chance. On the contrary, this is supposed to show that every male element has a female part and that every female element has a male part. Yin and Yang are everywhere around us and are present in each of our actions, Yin completes Yang and vice versa. The terms Yin and Yang were created by the ancient Chinese to describe the bipolarity they could see by observing nature. Thus, one cannot imagine Yin without Yang and of course one cannot imagine Yang without Yin either. I will give you an example that shows what I am telling you. If I talk about night, we will think of day. Indeed, how can we imagine night without day? Night (Yin) completes day (Yang).

5 Yin or Yang?

It is important to know that we are not solely Yin or solely Yang. Within us, these two forces exist and coexist. We all have a Yin part and a Yang part, which is more or less significant. Yin symbolizes the feminine part of each person, the unconscious, the night. Yang symbolizes the masculine part, the conscious, the day. Between Yin and Yang, there is a very small gray area that shows us that we cannot fully achieve Yin or Yang. We seek to achieve it, but it is impossible to reach. The Chinese zodiac signs are more or less Yin or Yang:  

• The Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster, and Pig are predominantly Yin. These are organized people with a developed practical sense. They are people with a changing character that depends on the mood of the day.  
• The Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, and Dog are predominantly Yang. These are impulsive and spontaneous people. They are people who do not let themselves be influenced by their surroundings. 

How does it work?

Yin and Yang must always be in balance. So if at one point Yin is too strong, Yang will be later and will seek balance. All our actions lead to a certain imbalance that someone else will fill with an action. But let's look for something closer to us by observing nature. For example, in summer, YANG reaches its peak; immediately after this apogee, YIN begins to grow while YANG gradually declines. So in winter, Yin reaches its peak and Yang its lowest point. Reaching the highest point, whether for Yin or Yang, marks the beginning of their decline. But it is still important to know that Yin or Yang is always in excess somewhere; perfect balance is very rarely achieved (I would even say never, but one should never say never). But as I said before, Yin and Yang are found everywhere, even in the human body. For example, the upper body is Yang while the lower body is Yin, a contracting muscle is Yang while a resting muscle is Yin, even the mind can be Yin or Yang. Indeed, the mind in a waking state is in the Yang phase and the mind in a sleeping state is in the Yin phase.

6 Some examples of Yin and Yang:

This table clearly shows how complementary and inseparable Yin and Yang are. It seems impossible to imagine one without the other. Of course, there are many more examples demonstrating this; you just need to look around you and you will find many.

Vietnamese funeral rites are deeply imbued with the spirit of Yin-Yang Philosophy and that of the "Five Principles" of the South.

It must first be said that the Philosophy of Yin-Yang (in Vietnamese Am-Duong) originated from Nature and was studied by man and applied in their different ceremonies:

In ceremonies, white is traditionally used in Vietnam, which is the color of the West according to the "Five Principles".

Everything related to the West is considered harmful. This is why all tomb locations are often to the west of the village. Mountain people consider the forests to the west as evil places. Near White is Black, the color of the North, still according to "Cinq Principes". Great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren wear mourning clothes in auspicious colors (because it is a blessing to have so many descendants). Like Red (the South) or Yellow (the Center).

According to Yin-Yang philosophy, Yin corresponds to even numbers and Yang to odd numbers.

Yin and Yang in the world

In this world, nothing is entirely clear nor entirely dark. No one is entirely right nor entirely wrong.

A wise person is one who knows how to behave. Facing Yang, gentleness is essential for harmony. Facing Yin, firmness is indispensable for maintaining balance. When moving in the right direction, one must progress. When moving away from it, one must retreat.

The path is to know how to maintain the balance between gain and loss, between progress and retreat, between oneself and the community. Understanding Yin and Yang is understanding how to live in an imperfect world with a pure heart.