Many people have said that YIN YANG represent the two opposing ends or properties of an idea or a substance. For example, YIN represents void or emptiness and YANG represents solidness; YIN left and YANG right; YIN women and YANG men; YIN soft and YANG hard, YIN up and YANG down etc. However, let us take a look at the Taiji (tai chi)diagram below:
In terms of the area within the diagram, both YIN and YANG occupy exactly half of the diagram. However, the diagram is not separated into two halves by a straight line but by an 'S' shape curve. Within the YIN half of the Taiji (tai chi)diagram, there is a YANG radical and vice versa. Therefore YIN YANG does not simply represent two opposing or different properties but represents the constant change of two opposing or different properties in a continuum. The principles of YIN YANG were propounded in the 'Yi Jing' or the ‘Book of Changes’ in which divinatory symbols are used to predict the changes in response to questions on the future. Therefore YIN YANG does not represent static matters like black and white.
As YIN YANG is in a continuum, YIN cannot exist on its own, neither can YANG. There is YIN in YANG and there is YANG in YIN. Without YANG, YIN cannot survive and without YIN, YANG will perish. They cannot be separated from each other. The ebbs and surges change and when YANG predominates to the full, YIN will automatically appear and vice versa. YIN and YANG alternate and eventually, YIN is YANG and YANG is YIN. YIN and YANG complement one another and also oppose and counteract one another.
YIN YANG is the product of Taiji (tai chi)(universe). Since the principles of YIN YANG are employed as the theoretical backbone of this style of martial art, this style is therefore named taijiquan (quan means fist or martial art form). Having briefly explained the principles of YIN YANG, we will discuss how to use these principles to practise taijiquan in the next chapter.
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