The theories of Chinese philosophy, along with Chinese Medicine, are all based on the idea of yin and yang. What seems to be a simple concept of opposites, is actually the movement of the universe.
The Tai Ji Tu: Movement and Change
The symbol, called the Tai Ji Tu, illuminates the balance, interaction, and transformation that exist between yin and yang. The light and the dark colors do represent the oppositions that exist in the universe: yin being dark, deep, lower, cold, and wet, while yang is light, outward, higher, hot, and dry. The design shows the equilibrium between the two. They rely on each other; one cannot exist without the other and nothing is only one or the other, everything contains at least a little of each.
The shape of the Tai Ji represents the movement and transformation that occurs throughout the universe. This flow of the shape shows how yin and yang support and consume each other. The shape also represents the transition that occurs between the two: night and day, the seasons, the cycle of life. The transitional movement between yin and yang reveals the ever dividing nature and relativity of the two; 54⁰F is yin/cold compared to 63⁰F yang/warm, which becomes yin/cold compared to 74⁰F.
Yin and Yang in Bend
It’s so much a part of our lives, we don’t think much about it. And sometimes it’s there, and we just don’t know. One of my favorite reminders is in Old Mill: the mural of the Chinese Phoenix and the Dragon. The Chinese Phoenix, or FengHuang, is depicted as one bird, made up of six different birds, with each part representing one of the six celestial bodies. The FengHuang was recognized as the union of yin and yang (Feng is Male, while Huang is female) and symbolizes peace and prosperity.
As there is relativity within the concept, the FengHuang is the yin component to the yang nature of the Dragon. The Dragon, or Lung, represent power and boldness, yet still viewed as a gratuitous creature.
Taking time to notice yin and yang within our world, and within us, can help us become more connected with both. When we connect with the world, we are more open to the changes occurring in our environment and what we might do to help bring harmony. When we connect with ourselves, we are more apt to notice when our own yin and yang are out of balance. When that happens, acupuncture and the other therapies of Chinese Medicine offer help in bringing equilibrium back to these two forces. Click here to call or schedule an appointment to help balance your garden.
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