Surprisingly, the symbol actually has ties to the ancient Chinese way of keeping track of the changing days, months, and seasons.Īround 600 BC, the Chinese would keep track of the solar year. Though the principles and philosophy behind yin and yang have been around for a few thousand years at least, the symbol is a newer trademark of this system of belief, and its origins are unknown to many. The curved line separating the two halves of the yin-yang symbol shows that though they are opposites, there is no strict separation between anything: all things exist together and effect each other.Įverything must always strive towards peace, harmony, and balance. This tells us that in order to thrive in life, these forces must coexist and form a perfect union, as we should too with those around us. This is done to show that each side carries the seed, or essence, of the other.
The other side, representing yang, is white, the polar opposite to the color across from it.Įach half has a small circle in the center, the color of which is that of the opposite side of the symbol. The symbol is a circle divided into two equal parts by a curved line. It’s popular in many forms of media and has probably been known to you since you were a pretty small child. Most people are already pretty familiar with the yin yang symbol, which is sometimes referred to as the tai chi symbol. The Yin Yang Symbol: Beauty and Simplicity Many beliefs probably stem from popular philosophers running with and adapting the ideas of yin and yang in their own lives, including Confucius. Since then it has influenced almost every aspect of Chinese culture from martial arts and science to literature selections, political beliefs, and the daily minutiae of the Chinese people’s lives.
The concept really began increasing in popularity from 800 BC to 200 BC. The oldest records of the actual philosophy behind the yin and yang come from the Western Zhou dynasty in the 9th century in a book titled The Book of Changes. This dynasty held power from roughly 1400 BC to 1100 BC, making the concept of these twin natures over 3000 years old. Ancient writings mentioning yin and yang first crop up from the Yin dynasty. We’re not entirely sure how early it actually originated, but we can look to written records in order to make an educated guess. The ideas behind the yin-yang philosophy began to circulate in Chinese culture long ago.
These two energies are polar opposites and can be observed through nature if we take the time to slow down and observe our surroundings. To give a simple elevator pitch, the yin-yang philosophy believes that two cosmic deities work in tandem to govern the universe. Yin and yang are ancient Chinese concepts that gradually developed over time, first originating thousands of years in the past. The story and meaning behind yin and yang, known by some as simply yin-yang, is no different. Cultures and customs from ancient times are always fascinating to learn about.
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