Taoism and Taoist symbols and concepts have gained popularity all across the globe. The yin-yang symbol is popular with practitioners of Taoism, Tai chi as well as non-practitioners.
Yin and yang are essential to understanding the concepts of Taoism, Qigong and Tai Chi. This symbol is easily recognized; it is comprised of a circle divided by an inverted “S” with one side that is colored white and the other side colored black, and smaller circles of the opposite color in each half.
Although this Tai Chi or Taoist symbol is widely recognized, its meaning is not clearly known to everyone. Here is an introduction to the yin-yang symbol, its meaning and significance in Taoism.
The Yin Yang Symbol in Taoism
According to Mari Womack in Symbols and Meanings, “In Chinese tradition, the yin-yang symbol represents the contrasting pairs of attributes associated with femaleness and maleness.”
In Taoist cosmology, the yin-yang symbol represents the Tao or the universal matter and energy that exist in the universe while the two equal halves in black and white represent the opposites of masculine and feminine energies respectively. According to eastern schools of thought, it is the interaction between these basic energies that leads to the the creation of the world as it's known.
The Nature and Significance of This Taoist Symbol in Tai Chi and Qigong
In Tai Chi, this symbol has a lot of importance in terms of the way practitioners view and experience the world. According to Roger Jahnke in The Healing Power of Qi, “… Yin-yang cannot be fully translated into English and yet its place in our quest for power and understanding is enormous.”
Jahnke further elaborates on the role played by yin-yang in Tai Chi and Qigong. He writes, “Embodying and experiencing yin-yang through your practice can trigger revelation and cause you to evolve in your relationships, your work, your quest for health…"
In other words, practicing Tai Chi and Qigong serves as a way to understand and explore the world of yin-yang and the secrets held by them. Roger Jahnke also writes that individuals can enjoy perfect health when both yin and yang are in balance and in harmony with each other.
Taoism’s Explanation of Yin and Yang
According to Jahnke, the yin-yang symbol represents not just yin and yang, but also their constant interaction and essentially, “ tells the whole story of the universe in one image.” Yin and yang, in Taoism, are symbolic of the elemental masculine and feminine energies and it is the interaction between these energies that eventually leads to the rise of the five elements and the “10,000 things” or everything that makes up the actual physical world. Therefore, everything that an individual sees can be described as “yin” or “yang.”
According to Simmone Kuo in Yin-Yang in Tai Chi Chuan and Daily Life, “All things have two aspects, or sides – a yin side and yang side. Yin and yang can be distinguished but they cannot be separated.” So everything is a blend of yin and yang and nothing can be completely yin or completely yang.
The Tai Chi symbol for yin and yang also represents this aspect by the presence of the smaller circle of the opposite color within the larger semicircular half. Simmone Kuo further describes how yin and yang change into each other, and also control and influence each other.
The yin-yang symbol is indeed easily recognizable and its representation of fluidity, interplay of masculine and feminine elements, and the constantly evolving world makes this symbol an integral part of Taoism, Tai Chi and Qigong.
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Readers of this article may also like to read A Brief Introduction to Taoism History along with What is Qigong or Qi gong? and Understanding Taoist Beliefs – What is Chi or Qi.
Sources:
Womack, Mari. Symbols and Meaning: A Concise Introduction. Rowman Altamira, 2005.
Jahnke, Roger. The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2002.
Kuo, Simmone. Yin-Yang in Tai Chi Chuan and Daily Life. North Atlantic Books, 2004.
Prerna Malik - Prerna Malik is a professional freelance writer, business blogger, social media expert and obsessive organizer.
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