What does yin and yang mean? ☯️

Yin and yang are a powerful symbol in Far Eastern culture, particularly in Ancient China, where they played a very important role in Chinese philosophy . They represent the alliance of two opposing but complementary cosmic forces.

So what is the meaning of yin and yang and how do they impact daily life?

☯️ Yin and yang: a bit of history

Yin and Yang is a dialectical paradigm that has existed since the 3rd century BC. It refers to the universal duality in the world. According to Lei Jing: "Yin/Yang is unity that engenders duality."

Zou Yan , the renowned Chinese cosmologist and philosopher, was the first to invent this philosophy. According to him, the theory of yin and yang is closely related to nature and is based on 5 essential components: fire, water, metal, wood and earth.

Several other interpretations have been proposed to demystify the magic of this enigmatic symbol. It was assumed that the balance between yin and yang was at the origin of the birth of the first human being and notably the first Chinese gods.

☯️ Yin and yang: meaning

Yin and Yang (also known as Tai Chi) is a Buddhist symbol of universal significance, composed of a white part (representing Yang) and a black part (representing Yin). These two sections represent a compact whole and each of them complements the other. Therefore, one part of this duo cannot exist without the existence of the other part. They are two inseparable and complementary forces .

Yin and yang reflect the duality and harmony that exists in life: good and evil, joy and sadness, light and dark, strength and weakness, etc.

The circle: the symbol of the universe

The outer circle represents the universe as a whole. It symbolizes the unity and balance between all the energies that make it evolve. Indeed, the circular shape symbolizes the constant movement of the universe.

Yin and Yang: A Complementary Duo

Inside the outer circle, the two sections: black and white, represent the interaction between two opposing energies . These different forces form the stimulus that moves the world.

The "S" shape signifies that these opposing energies coexist together, share the same space in the universe, and are in perpetual motion in an infinite life cycle. During this motion, each energy gradually transforms into the other. If one entity changes status (grows or shrinks), the opposite entity behaves in the opposite way.

The two points

The two dots in each section express that in this universe nothing is absolute. The color of the dot that exists on the yin (black) part borrows the color of the yang (white) part and vice versa. This affirms that nothing is uniform: there is no absolute yin or absolute yang . There is a little of each part in the other.

The dividing line

This flexible line gives the shape of an "S". It recalls the complementarity, continuity and interdependence between the two parts, despite their contradictory appearance.

The yin symbol

Yin represents the dark part of the symbol. It denotes shadow, femininity, intuition, cold, submission, night, weakness, introversion, passiveness, the moon, downward movement, immobility, etc.

The symbol of yang

 Yang is the white part of the symbol. It symbolizes light, masculinity, vigor, warmth, dominance, strength, extroversion, activity, the sun, upward movement, movement, etc.

☯️ The power of yin and yang in daily life

Yin and yang are projected into all aspects of our daily lives: the succession of day and night, the succession of seasons: cold and hot, etc. This duo is also manifested in our emotions: courage and fear, trust and mistrust, etc.

In body logic, yang corresponds to the upper part of the body and yin represents the lower part . The center of the body designates the point of balance and meeting between these two entities.

Since decoration is a fundamental element to ensure well-being in the home, yin and yin have also penetrated into decoration codes.

Yin and yang in decoration

The colors we use in our decoration directly impact our mood and emotions. Each color stimulates an energy , in particular, black stimulates yin and white inspires yang.

In the context of Feng Shui (the Chinese art of harmonizing the environmental energy of a space), simply balancing the energy flows from colors and other decorative shapes and symbols can create an excellent living space. This allows you to:

• optimize the energy that circulates inside the human body ( Qi ),
• strengthen family relationships,
• keep fit,
• promote the well-being of occupants.

To achieve this, Feng Shui focuses on the balance between all the elements of decoration. In particular, you must alternate between:

• the light and dark lights,
• Warm and cool colors. For example, you can drape a howling wolf throw over your sofa to take advantage of the duality between black and white and add character to your room. Or, you can hang a yin and yang wolf painting to bring balance and serenity to your home.
• Shapes: Don't hesitate to mix decorative objects of different shapes: square, rectangle and round.

To restore balance to your body and promote your health, you can incorporate yin and yang into the details of your life. Aside from decoration, you can incorporate this symbol into your tattoos and clothing.