The Taijitu is commonly known as the “Yin Yang symbol” This ancient Chinese symbol embodies the duality of the natural world. This diagram was first introduced by Chinese philosopher Zhou Dunyl (1017-1073) of the Song Dynasty. However, this core theory dates as far back as the 14th century BCE when it was first found on oracle bones and was later mentioned in Lao Tzu’s Dao De Jing (around 400 BCE). Taiji literally translates to “utmost extreme” and the diagram demonstrates the extremes of nature and how they complement one another, ever-changing, ever-evolving…always on the verge of transformation, one into the other.
This image, with the fullest depiction of “yang” on top and “yin” on the bottom, is also a depiction of the cycle of the natural seasons, based on the earth’s rotation around the sun and the accompanying planetary movement of our solar system. The most Yang of the seasons is mid-summer (top), which is represented by the Fire element (which rises). The most yin is mid-winter (bottom), which is represented by the Water element (still in its depths). As the peak of summer arrives, the yin toward autumn and winter takes over. The small dot in the center of each depicts the fact that hidden within all extremes there is some vestige of the opposite. as it transitions from one to the next. Day becomes night, Summer becomes Winter, Joy life becomes death, joy becomes sadness, etc. This is the duality of our world.
The Taijitu also represents the “whole” (circle) and all forms of energy within it: the extremes, everything in between, and the continuous cycle of those energies. The curved line through the center is the “perfect path”…the place of harmony and balance of all the elements. This is what we strive for…that place of cooperation and amity. In Xuan Kong Feng Shui, we seek to find balance within the realm of earth energy through the calculations of the Five Phases or Elements in the Flying Stars. This balance also includes the connection with the occupants, aka Human energy as demonstrated in BaZhai/8 Mansions. In all of the Chinese Metaphysical arts, the object is to find a balance of energies (Heaven, Earth, Human) for a more harmonious and productive life.
Taiji (Yin-Yang) Theory is the primary tenet of all Chinese Metaphysics and Healing Arts. This theory is broken open and explicated in detail time and time again. In my advanced studies over the past 10 years I’ve found that each and every time I dive deeper into the ancient writings, I have come to a deeper understanding of this seemingly simple basic principle. I’ve also come to respect the fact that if we just pay attention to the natural world and sciences, the answers are obvious. We are an integral part of the natural world, not separate/autonomous. Human energy intersects and reacts with the rest of the natural world creating ripples of transformative energy into the rest of the universe…and vice versa. If we pay close attention to the world and life around us, the answers to how we should “BE” within this energetic dance are there! The polarities of opposites is always a factor in how we affect and are affected by everything and everyone around us. You’ve heard “Opposites attract.” You even witnessed an experiment of this in elementary school science class: magnets with opposite polarity will stick together, but when you put magnets with the same polarity together, they push away from one another. We are all part of the whole…we are both alike but unique and it is our uniqueness that combines with other unique energies to create a single harmonious and balanced field of energy!
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