© Shutterstock

The name -

First things first, let’s be clear about the correct name of the concept. It’s called "yin and yang," not "ying and yang" - a common misspelling. 

© Shutterstock

Ying is something else -

You might recognize Ying as a popular Chinese family name, particularly for those living outside China. Though it turns out, most of these are rooted in biased foreign pronunciation.

© Shutterstock

Ying -

For years, Chinese names such as Tham, Ham, Wun, or Zhen, all became Ying in countries such as the US, Singapore, and Malaysia.

© Shutterstock

The symbol -

With that cleared up, let's get back to yin and yang! The symbol consists of a black and white circle with a contrasting black and white dot on each side. 

© Shutterstock

Taoism -

The yin and yang as we know it (more on that later) has its roots in Taoism. The symbol is also referred to as the "taijitu." 

© Shutterstock

Masculine and feminine -

The duality of concepts like masculinity and feminity is present in much of Chinese philosophy and tradition. The yin and yang symbol is a prime example. The idea is that these two energies complement each other.

© Shutterstock

Masculine and feminine -

This concept is not only associated with men and women. It has also been associated with other things in the universe, such as the sun and the moon, day and night, physical and spiritual, etc.

© Shutterstock

Confucianism -

This ancient Chinese belief system focuses much on activity, which is a more masculine characteristic, associated with yang (white).

© Shutterstock

Taoism -

This philosophy and religion incorporates more yin (black) features, which are associated with the feminine.

© Shutterstock

It’s not about division and difference -

The symbol represents opposed energies, but its form and colors represent a constant motion and synergy.

© Shutterstock

It’s not about division and difference -

The dots make it clear that yin has a bit of yang, and vice versa. One cannot exist without the other.

© Shutterstock

Origins -

While most of us assume the symbol originated in China, its roots are not so clear. 

© Shutterstock

India -

Part of the confusion comes due to the fact that it can be found in the sacred religious texts from ancient India, called the Vedas.

© Shutterstock

India or China? -

It turns out, the Vedas precedes the first Chinese records by about a thousand years. In this context, it actually had an astronomical meaning instead of a spiritual one.

© Shutterstock

Vedas -

In the Vedas, the yin and yang is used to depict time. It’s used to represent seasons, as well as the length of day and night.

© Shutterstock

Where can it be found? -

We’ve mentioned how the symbol can be found in the Vedas. But how about China? Well, history tells us that it has been around since at least the 14th century BCE.

© Shutterstock

China -

There is evidence of the yin and yang symbol carved into oracle bones, which were used in fortune-telling.

© Shutterstock

Ancient Rome -

Fast forward a few centuries and symbols similar to the yin and yang can also be found among the insignias used by soldiers of the Roman Empire.

© Shutterstock

Ancient Rome -

These can be found in the 'Notitia Dignitatum Omnium tam Civilium quam Militarium,' which dates back to around the 4th or 5th century BCE.

© Shutterstock

Ancient Rome -

The meaning of these yin and yang-like symbols are somewhat metaphysical, but the lack of research into this subject means there is much we don't know. 

© Shutterstock

Tai chi -

The association of the symbol with the Chinese martial art, Tai chi, has been around for a very long time. Though there are three versions of the symbol, known as Tai Chi Diagrams.

© Shutterstock

Tai chi -

One of the versions is this one, also known as Lai Zhide's ‘Taiji River Diagram.’ Unlike the version we’re familiar with, which focuses on balance and energy, this one represents movement and acceleration on the outside, and stillness on the inside.

© Shutterstock

Tai chi -

This is the third version of the symbol, which represents building and storing.

© Shutterstock

Good and evil -

While the symbol represents polar opposites and how they integrate (and depend on) each other, the good vs evil dichotomy is not often associated with it.

© Shutterstock

Good and bad energy -

There isn’t such a thing as inherently good or bad energy in the universe. One cannot live without the other, and nature strives for balance, just like the yin and yang.

© Shutterstock

Religion -

While the symbol has been used by many Eastern belief systems, it does not belong to any specific one. It is essentially a foundational universal energy.

© Shutterstock

It’s not linear -

Unlike the Western thought process, which is more linear, the Eastern perspective, as illustrated by the yin and yang, focuses more on concepts such as balance and the acceptance of change.

© Shutterstock

Reason and emotion -

For instance, in the West, these two elements can be separated. In Eastern philosophy, though, they cannot. The yin and yang is a good representation of that concept, for which the Chinese even have a word: "xin,” which translates to "heart-mind."

© Shutterstock

So, which one are you? -

Both, of course. We act more yin or more yang according to the situation. Take the example of a crop: growing it is yang, but the act of harvesting it is yin.

Sources: (Learn Religions) (Grunge) (My China Roots) (Ancient Symbols) (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) (Research Gate) (Zeigua Arts) (Educational Philosophy and Theory)

See also: What your aura says about you

© Shutterstock