The idea is based on the theory that everything is composed of Qi (energy) and five elements which they classified as wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Each of the five elements symbolically represent aspects of the human psyche, personality and biological processes. The meanings were devised from observing nature.
Yin, water and black is categorised as female energy. Yang, fire and white is male energy. The relationship between the two forces is interdependent in order to maintain balance. The dots also reveal that one exists in the other.
It is from this ancient belief that the modern axiom, “we are all one” is derived from.
It’s difficult to categorically say the ancient understood how energy worked around 5000 years ago, but their theory is still way ahead of its time.
In her book, published in 2018, Dr Rulin Xiu writes:
“String theory studies the quantum dynamics of a string. It is found that vibrations of a string may produce all the particles and forces observed in nature, including gravity. In string theory, all forces and all matter are naturally unified. However, current string theory is unable to make many testable predictions. Something is still missing in string theory. Many questions remain to be answered before string theory can become a theory of everything.” ~ Dr Rulin Xiu: Tao Science: The Science, Wisdom, and Practice of Creation and Grand Unification
So what did the ancient Chinese know that modern scientists are still trying to figure out.
The key principle of yin-yang is that energy balance is required to achieve harmony within a system.
Balance, or “harmony”, is a word that is used today to express good health.
In ancient Chinese medicine, the balance of energy in relation to health is defined as an equilibrium between the body and the environment; internal and external influences.
This makes complete sense when you consider that internal thoughts and feelings project outwards into our external environment. The reverse is also true. Information and experiences we have in the outside world influence our behaviour which is triggered by internal thoughts and emotions.
Today, energy balance has a different meaning – and appears to be significantly watered down:
“Energy is another word for “calories.” Your energy balance is the balance of calories consumed through eating and drinking compared to calories burned through physical activity.” ~ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Oh dear, the NHI has reduced “energy balance” down to the cause of obesity. Chinese medicine and the philosophies of yin-yang principles reveals that energy has much more impact on our lives than the intake of calories!
Scientists have demonstrated that everything is made of energy; atoms and matter. Our bodies are made from the same elements and also attracts and emits the flow of electromagnetic energy in the atmosphere.
To develop ourselves as individuals and improve all aspects of our life, we must learn how to navigate through dark aspects of our personality to find the light of wisdom. To do this, we have to develop the male and female aspects of our unconscious and find harmony that leads to happiness and success.
This idea is expressed in the black and white swirls of the yin yang symbol. Also known as the Taijitu, this ancient Chinese symbol is used to express the duality of human nature and physiology:
We know the unconscious mind impacts the conscious mind. Moreover, the thoughts and emotions the surface from the unconscious are subtle energies.
Quantum scientists also know that all energy carries information.
“There is no matter that does not carry information and energy. Similarly, there is no energy that does not carry matter and information. And there is no information that is not carried by matter and energy. Matter and energy are the carriers of messages or information.” ~ Dr Rulin Xiu: Tao Science: The Science, Wisdom, and Practice of Creation and Grand Unification
If we keep this discovery as simple as the NIH’s interpretation of energy balance, we could say, the information you put in is the results that you get out.
Moreover, if you think of the brain as a supercomputer and information as the coding developers provide for the operational instructions; bad code means poor functionality, good code makes your computer run smoothly.
The Law of Thermodynamics shows that energy cannot be created or destroyed, nor does it gain or lose anything; it transforms.
Nothing is completely yin or completely yang. The white dot in the black swirl and the black dot in the white swirl signify that everything has opposing forces that are relative to one another.
Whilst the opposing forces are all part of the same principle that attract and complement one another, the energies behave in different ways and produce different results. In essence, the male energy, yin, starts an action, and yang, the female energy completes it.
The Taijitu symbol reveals the need for balance between the male and female aspects of our nature, and the positive and negative attributes of personality.
That’s not to say you should perform negative actions, but you should be aware that you are capable of them. Dr Jordan Peterson suggests imagining yourself committing the historical atrocities that mankind has been capable of. It is a sobering thought.
Furthermore, the Tao Te Ching explains we have to learn from both the yin and yang aspects of nature. And the similarities do not end there.
“The way begot one
And the one two;
Then the two begot three
And three all else.
All things bear the shade on their backs
And the sun on their arms;
By the blending of breath
From the sun and the shade
Equilibrium comes to the world.”
Note how the Taijitu is also encased in a circle. The circle to a symbol of ‘spirit’ or the zero-point of creation. It also represents wholeness or the complete Self – the fully enlightened man or “Buddha”.
It is said the opposing forces existed in harmony at the centre of Earth and from this union came a cosmic egg which produced Pangu, the first human. When Pangu hatched from the egg, the separation of the shell formed chaos and order.
Taoists believe the Universe is made from vibrations, energy and matter all of which behave differently in relation to yin and yang energies. As science can establish, energy is in a constant state of flux and can change the course of its flow at any time.
The I Ching, a manual on divination and commonly known as ‘The Book of Changes’ expresses the ever-changing relationship is a code to show how positive and negative energies are responsible for the constant flux of life. When the imbalance is too great, disasters occur.
We see the same principles in the Yin Yang symbol – notice how the opposing forces decrease as the other increases. The same principle applies with the flow of electromagnetic energy that runs through your body. When this energy is imbalanced or blocked, illness, disease, aches and pains occur.
The principles of yin yang are not only described in Chinese religions and philosophies but are still practised in eastern medicine to this day. Acupuncture and the reiki from Japan are the most well-known forms, but there is also exercises you can do by yourself including Tai Chi, Qi Gong, martial arts and
The principal proponents featured in the five elements of Taoism was a theory proposed by cosmologist in the 4th Century BCE. He believed that life cycles pass through five stages of wood, fire, earth, metal and water which continuously interchanges according to yin yang principles.
Each of the five elements relates to critical organs, chakras and specific personality types and moods. The archetypal symbols can, therefore, be used to determine your psychological and physiological functioning.
The five phases complement one another and is best remembered by starting with the most masculine element (wood and fire) and working your way to the most feminine of elements (water):
Wood feeds fire. Fire creates earth. Earth bears metal. Metal collects water. Water nourishes wood.
Notice how the process creates and destroys. Again we see how religion uses symbolic tools to express the cyclical patterns of nature which include the flow of energy through our bodies. Destructive cycles are required to breathe new life.
Fire is the strongest of the masculine energies. Character traits associates with this energy is love, leadership, insight, dynamism, warm-heartedness, intuition, reason and expressiveness. But it can also cause anger, jealousy, frustration, regret, loss of love and vanity.
Fire is associated with the heart and the small intestines. Signs that you have too much fire are digestive problems and heart disease. Fire types redden easily and should avoid alcohol as the liver powers the heart.
Wood is also male energy, but regarded as less masculine as fire, yet is needed to feed a fire and is thus associated with new beginnings. Its season is spring.
In traditional Chinese medicine, wood is connected to the gallbladder, the spleen and liver. Avoid greasy and fatty foods.
In Chinese cosmology, wood types are associated with the white tiger, hare and dragon. Tigers are associated with qualities of personal strength; courage and patience.
But tigers also have a dark side and are connected with emotions, thus negative energies in the personal unconscious mind. Old feelings of fear can surface so don’t give up too easily even in moments of unpredictability.
The dragon is the essence of spirit and a symbol of transformation. They represent the flow of energy that connects with the divine and regenerates in accordance with thoughts, emotions and actions. It is the alchemists’ mercury which passes from the zero-point through your body to the earth chakra and back to absolute consciousness.
The hare is a symbol of procreation, immortality and diligence, but is also associated with impatience and haste. The attributes of the hare are ambitious, virtuous and creative, and whilst this energy can bring new beginnings, you have to be careful not to become greedy.
Earth can exist in either the yin or yang state and represents unity and balance. This makes sense considering the flow of your individual energy ends at the earth – about 3 metres below our feet – before returning through our bodies and back to source.
Personality traits associated with the earth element are practical, reliable, stable, honest, kind, pensive and empathetic. A strong earth element helps you to accept circumstances are the way they are supposed to be and gives you the inclination to expand your knowledge.
Traditional Chinese medicine relates Earth to the stomach, spleen and pancreas. Too much Earth energy can develop into stomach disorders and problems with indigestion together with a weak immune system.
Metal is considered a feminine energy, but less feminine the Earth. Because metal is extracted from the earth it can also exist in yin and yang state.
Qualities associated with this element include inner strength, focus, independence and fluency of speech. When flowing well, you will feel determined, empowered, less opinionated and able to let go of the past.
Metal is also associated with the monkey, phoenix and dog. In Chinese astrology, dog types are prepared to sacrifice things in life, stay loyal and be honest with themselves – qualities you need to develop new habits and transform your character traits.
You are probably already familiar with the fable of the phoenix rising from the ashes. The phoenix is the rooster in Taoism and represents rebirth and transformation, thus representing the start of a new cycle, just as the metal phase is associated with the return of energy from the Earth into the body.
The monkey is associated with being quick-witted, versatile and lively, and display great depths of bonding and understanding. Characteristics of the monkey us agility in movement and mind which gives you the ability to solve problems and not shy away from what you have to do.
Taoist symbolism shares close similarities with Buddhism. It’s interesting to note in the 16th Century Buddhist novel, Journey to the West, the main character Tang Monk is protected by a monkey who wards of demons and defeats six bandits. He then eats the Elixir of Immortality prepared by the wise sage Lao Tzu and becomes immortalised in a mountain (the body) for 500 years (the 5 elements).
This is an analogy of overcoming old temptations in order to preserve the new, pure energy to manifest in your body and subsequently in reality through your actions in association with the psychological and physiological conditions of your energy.
The character’s name, Sun Wukong means ‘Awakened to emptiness’ and he has the power to shift-shape and transform into 72 things – the cabalist number of God and used prevalently in other religions, most notably, the 72 disciples sent by Jesus and the 72 disciples of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius.
The number 72 is attributed to the 72 forms of God – thus 72 energies that manifest as creation. Furthermore, in gematria, 7+2 = 9, the number of absolute consciousness where cycles end and begin again with the number 10 or 0. Thus Sun Wukong – awakened to emptiness – is the voyage of energy from the source, down to earth and back to source.
Water is the most feminine of the fine elements, but also the most powerful because of its ability to destroy and create. Furthermore, because water is highly adaptable, it’s essential nature gives you the ability to go with the flow of life and fit comfortably in whatever surroundings you find yourself.
The qualities of character associated with water are creativity, sensitivity, reflection, persuasion, calmness, effectiveness and a desire for life. As a receptive quality, the water element has the capacity to attract.
In Chinese medicine, water is connected to the kidneys and bladder. Signs that the water element is imbalanced are urinary problems, bladder infections and prostrate difficulties.
The element of water is also associated with the boar, rat and ox. Boars are also linked to fertility and common characteristics in boar types are people that are courageous, self-reliant, strong, sociable, diligent and determined – qualities you need to adopt to go with the flow of life.
But because water is so closely linked with female yin and emotions, you have to guard against falling into the negative attributes pigs are often associated with laziness, greed and aggression.
Because of its ability to reproduce easily, rats are also a symbol of fertility and also represent wealth and abundance. That doesn’t necessarily mean material wealth, but the richness of life you can achieve when blessed with an abundance of wisdom. The symbolism of rats is therefore closely related with water.
In China and other eastern religions, the ox is associated with strength, patience and steady toil. Because the animal was also used in sacrificial ceremonies, it bears a close relation to agricultural fertility. Agriculture is symbolism for nurturing growth.
Interesting enough, of the terrestrial animals associated with the four cardinal points, the ox takes up the central position which is related to the spiritual plane. Tao and Buddhist teachings both feature the ‘herding (or taming) of the ox’ to reflect the stages initiates pass through when heightening consciousness.
Throughout Asia, the ox is considered as a paradox; when untamed, the animals are unpredictable and considered dangerous, whereas when they are tamed they are disciplined and powerful. In this respect, oxen share similarities with water.
The sages, therefore, used the ox and water to symbolise the qualities you need to develop to expand conscious awareness and take life in your stride. When you are disciplined and control your emotions, you can handle anything life throws at you.
