After the first differentiation, reality is distinguished into yin ( ⚋, 0) and yang ( ⚊, 1). We can now see why yinyang is such a key concept in the Book of Changes, Yi Jing. Once there is a contrast of yin and yang, changes become possible. So we can sum up the important point so far this way: without yinyang, there would be no changes. The essential meaning of yinyang is differentiation and contrast. Moreover, there cannot be a binary of this and that without a differentiation. If this stays as this, then there would be no change. To say that a change occurs means that a shift from this to that, or from that to this, takes place. The very concept of change presupposes the existence of differences. The prejudice against women has caused much suffering in the history of China. Alas, over time, a tendency toward favoring yang over yin germinated and sprouted out in the Chinese culture, resulting in unfounded prejudices that foster discrimination. Yin and yang are just a binary pair used to represent the contrasts that show different characteristics in the world.
It would be silly to maintain that day is better than night or fire is superior to water. It cannot be stressed enough that the designation of yin or yang in no way implies that one is better than the other. Some common examples of yinyang pairs are day/night, sun/moon, hot/cold, summer/winter, fire/water, and male/female. This process can continue indefinitely.įigure 1 The Yinyang-bagua Diagram With this schema, the Chinese people categorize the contrasts in the cosmos as yin and yang.
With three additional differentiations, we would have sixty-four hexagrams such as ䷊ and ䷌. If each of the two are further differentiated, then there would be four parts or four states (four xiang): yin-yin ⚏ (00), yin-yang ⚍ (01) yang-yin ⚎ (10) and yang-yang ⚌ (11). After the first differentiation, reality would be divided into two parts or two states: one of them yin ⚋ (0) and the other yang ⚊ (1). 0 is non-1 and 1 is non-0.) The symbols can then be used to represent the contrasts that we recognize as different characteristics or states of reality. (They can be symbolized with the Hindu-Arabic numerals as 0 and 1. There is no this without that, and no that without this.Īs a binary, yin is symbolized using the sign “ ⚋” and yang with “ ⚊”. This is “that which is not that”, and that is “that which is not this.” When there is this, that which is not this would be that. To illustrate this, we can construe yin and yang as this and that. There cannot be yin without yang, and yang without yin. Yin means “that which is not yang” and yang means “that which is not yin.” As soon as there is yin, there is yang. When differentiation starts, contrasts will emerge as yin and yang. “ Taiji yields two yi.” These two yi are yin and yang. It is that from which everything becomes what it is. 2 It is the unity and oneness of reality. It is nothing because before differentiation it cannot be said that there is this and there is that. It is something because it is that which is. As such, it is both something and nothing. We can visualize it as an endless, undifferentiated space or void. Taiji is the primordial reality in which no differentiation has occurred. In Yi Jing Xici it is stated that “ taiji yields, or gives rise to, two yi ( 儀， 仪) two yi yield four xiang ( 象) four xiang yield eight gua ( 卦).” 1 Yi Jing ( I Ching, 《易經》， 《易经》), the Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese scripture that focuses on the study of changes. To understand these two concepts, we need to start with another important concept taiji ( taichi, 太極， 太极). They constitute the fundamental conceptual framework that shapes the Chinese worldview. Yinyang ( 陰陽， 阴阳) and dao ( tao, 道) are two of the most important concepts in the Chinese culture and philosophy.
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