Yin / Yang Theory and its relevance in Tai Chi practice The ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang is perhaps the oldest and most profound model of understanding the universe which we inhabit and all its manifestations. Its very simplicity acknowledges ancient teachings from multiple cultures that true “understanding” of the nature of life, lies in viewing with a “child’s mind” – to see clearly at a very simple level. Yet, for all its simplicity, the model can accommodate anything of which we can conceive or experience, however, complex that might be. Had they considered the concept of Yin/Yang, western astronomers would not have been surprised to find a black hole at the centre of every galaxy; quantum physicists might have easily anticipated the wave/particle dichotomy; research biologists might understand that cloning would not have a long term future. It is thought that Yin/Yang theory developed during the Yin and Chou dynasties, i.e. between 1500 and 221 BC. The earliest known reference to Yin/Yang is in the I Ching, the Book of Changes, around 800 BC. Chapter 42 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching (6th century BC) states: “The Tao begot one; One begot two; Two begot three; And three begot the ten thousand things. The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang. They achieve harmony by combining these forces.” An interpretation of these words might be that the one (Wu Ji) gave rise to the two polarities of Yin and Yang, the third could be understood as Qi (the movement between Yin and Yang), the combination of which ultimately gives rise to everything (ten thousand in ancient China was the biggest number of which one could or needed to conceive…!). [The interpretations could be many and varied as the concept of three is a significant number in many philosophies, e.g.: Heaven, Earth and mankind; Father, Son and Holy Ghost; mind, body and spirit; Jing, Qi and Shen – although all ultimately embracing similar ideas.] Life, the universe and everything, according to this model, is the result of the interplay between the two polarities of Yin and Yang. These two polarities are not absolutes and cannot exist independently of each other. They are relative states and are in a constant dynamic interchange, never stopping, never reaching an end point, like the stuff of life itself, always moving, always changing, always transforming. The empty circle (Fig. 1a) represents emptiness, the Void, the Tao, Wu Ji. This potential can then be divided into the familiar Tai Chi symbol, which epitomises the interplay and encapsulates the multiple dynamics of the Yin/Yang relationship. (Figure 1b) “Tai Chi evolves from Wu Chi, the mother of Yin and Yang.” © Liz Welch 2006 Yin Yang theory and Tai Chi practice As published in TCAH magazine Within the circle, the darkened areas represent Yin and the white areas represent Yang. They are of equal size and, within each area is the seed of the other. As one increases in volume, so the other decreases in a proportionate amount. Nowhere is there a state of absolute Yin or absolute Yang. As a critical point is reached, one turns into the other. “These complementary opposites are neither forces nor material entities. Nor are they mythical concepts that transcend rationality. Rather they are convenient labels used to describe how things function in relation to each other and to the universe. They are used to explain the continuous process of natural change. But Yin and Yang are not only a set of correspondences; they also represent a way of thinking. In this system of thought, all things are seen as parts of a whole. No entity can ever be isolated from its relationship to other entities; no thing can exist in and of itself. There are no absolutes. Yin and Yang must necessarily, contain within themselves the possibility of opposition and change.” Ted Kaptchuk Yin /Yang Characters and Symbols The character for Yin originally meant the shady side of a mountain. It is associated with coolness, moisture, darkness, rest and lack of activity. The original meaning of Yang was the sunny side of the mountain, implying warmth, dryness, brightness, activity and movement. (See fig. 2) How might we interpret these polarities within everyday experience? The table below gives some examples of ways these manifest. __ __ YIN ____ YANG Examples in the environment Dark Light Night Day Earth Heaven Moon Sun Cold Hot Water Fire Damp Dry Stillness Activity Substance Function Centripetal force Centrifugal force Examples in the body Female Male Interior (organs) Exterior (surface) Front Back Medial (nearer to the centre line) Lateral (towards the sides) © Liz Welch Yin Yang theory and Tai Chi practice As published in TCAH magazine __ __ YIN ____ YANG Lower body (below the waist) Upper body (above the waist) Nourishment (Nutritive Qi) Protection (Defensive Qi) Blood Qi Storage (of nutrients) Excretion or transformation Structure Function Zang organs: Lung, Spleen, Heart, Kidney, Fu organs: Large Intestine, Stomach, Liver, Pericardium Small Intestine, Bladder, Gall Bladder, Triple Burner Left Right Examples in Tai Chi practice Stillness Movement Contracting Expanding Backwards Forwards Down Up Substantial Insubstantial Lower Upper Negative Positive Softness Hardness External (physical) Internal (energetic) Calmness Agitation Coiling Uncoiling Receiving Giving Decrease Increase Adhering Fleeing Coming together Yin (ovum) and Yang (sperm) create life. At the moment of conception, when Yin and Yang fuse, the fertilised ovum immediately starts to spin – the continuous movement of life has begun. At the stillness of death they separate, when the Spirit leaves and goes towards the Heavens (Yang) and the body returns to the Earth (Yin). Yin / Yang Theory There is a set of rules or theory defining the Yin Yang relationship. These are: They are infinitely divisible. See figure 3. One can continuously sub-divide creating Yin within Yang or Yang within Yin. For example, one may think of water as being more Yin (than what?). But in itself water may be sub- divided, so that when it’s ice, it’s more Yin than when it’s fluid, which is more Yin that when it’s steam. © Liz Welch 2006 Yin Yang theory and Tai Chi practice As published in TCAH magazine They are inter-dependent. It is impossible to have one without the other. “Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub; it is the centre hole that makes it useful. Shape clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful. Cut doors and windows for a room; It is the holes which make it useful. Therefore profit comes from what is there’ Usefulness from what is not there.” Lao Tzu The substance and the space have to work together to create and define each other. There is mutual creation and mutual consumption. For example, in order to create a fire (Yang), there must be something to burn, such as wood (Yin) and as the fire continues to burn, it consumes the wood. If we rest, we have sufficient resources (Yin) to be active (Yang). Too much activity (Yang) burns us out and ultimately depletes our Essence (Yin). They control each other. Examples of this are that Cold cools down Heat or Water controls Fire. In hot weather, it is important to drink plenty of water. They keep each other in check and thereby create homeostasis. They transform into each other. There is no point at which something is totally Yin or Yang. When a critical point is reached and conditions are ripe for change, one turns into the other, e.g. day into night, heat into cold; the seasonal changes of new life and expansive activity of the spring and summer into the drawing in and stillness of the autumn and winter. It is also important to note that one has to be clear about the nature of their relative states, e.g. which is more Yin or Yang – the snow at the top of a mountain or the warm sand on the beach below? Answers on a postcard to…….. If you think the snow is more Yin than the sand, you’re right (if you’re defining it in terms of temperature, softness or moisture). If you think the snow is more Yang than the sand, you are also right….! (if you’re defining it in terms of height, being nearer to the Heavens, or insubstantiality). © Liz Welch Yin Yang theory and Tai Chi practice As published in TCAH magazine Assessing your Yin/Yang tendencies As we’ve seen above, a state of health and harmony is achieved when the Yin/Yang balance is available to us. There is, of course, no perfect state where that balance is held without change, but we need to have both options and directions available depending on which activities we are engaged in, time of day, season, temperature control, etc. We all have particular predispositions to err more towards one polarity than another and it’s helpful to develop one’s awareness of this in order to bring about rebalancing and adjustments. As a broad generalisation, males tend more towards the Yang and females towards the Yin (although, of course, we are all a continuing blend and exchange of both). Biologically this can be accounted for in the location of the reproductive organs: male externally (Yang) and female internally (Yin). These tendencies can affect Tai Chi practice; see the section on Interior/Exterior later in the article. Exercise This can be done at any time, but is useful to do before starting Qi Gong or Tai Chi training as one can then assess changes, as a result of the practice.