Yin and yang are two notions from Taoism (philosophical system of life), which are used to represent the duplicity that this philosophy gave to everything that exists in the universe. These concepts describe the two antagonistic and complementary fundamental energies found in all things.
The Yin represents the feminine principle, passivity, earth, absorption and darkness. While Yang symbolizes the masculine principle, light, penetration and activity. According to this theory, all beings, objects and thoughts have a complement, on which they depend for their survival and which, in the same way, is immersed within itself; which means that nothing exists in its pure state, much less in absolute calm, but in a constant transformation.
Yin and Yang are based on the following principles:
They are opposites; since everything in life has its opposite, even when it is not absolute, but rather relative. For example, summer is opposed to winter, however on a winter day it can be hot and vice versa.
Interdependence, one can never exist without the other. Example, the day would not exist without the night.
They consume and generate each other; both yin and yang are capable of creating a dynamic balance, that is, when one increases, the other decreases. However, the imbalance is something circumstantial, since when one of the two increases excessively, the other is forced to concentrate, which ends up causing a transformation.
They can transform into their opposites; day can turn to night, cold can turn to warm.
As has already been said, these symbols of Chinese Taoism show the duality of everything that exists in the universe, where each object or circumstance is associated with this duality. The philosophy of feng shui is the one that deals with finding the balance to obtain well-being and fortune.
Yin and yang are usually represented by the symbol known as "the taiji diagram." This figure circle is divided into two parts: one side colored black with a white dot that symbolizes the yin, side white, a black dot representing Yang. The line that separates both parts is not straight, but curved; symbolizing the dynamic balance between both terms and their constant transformation. The different colored dots represent the presence of each concept within the other.
