Tai chi is a Chinese martial art developed in the 13th century. Tai chi incorporates yin and yang principles, opposing yet complementary forces of nature. Yin refers to passive or feminine energy, while yang refers to active or masculine energy. The two concepts come from ancient China, describing how everything in the universe operates on different levels of opposites.
Examples:
- day and night
- light and dark
- hot and cold
- stress and peace
- panic and fearlessness
- depression and happy
- illness and healthy
- hate and love
The Yin-Yang Symbol Represents the Interconnectedness of the World
The symbol represents the interconnectedness of the world, particularly the natural world. There can be no positive without a negative, no open without closed, and no light without shadow. The yin-yang symbol itself portrays that interrelatedness. Looking at the symbol, you can see it doesn’t have a straight line going through the center to represent the divide between yin and yang. Inside, the dividing line is a soft S-shape. It shows how yin and yang are connected and constantly flowing into and out of each other. At the top of the symbol, as yang swells, yin contracts. At the bottom, Yin swells as Yang contracts. The ideal situation is when there is an equal balance between the two, as that is when harmony is achieved.
The idea behind balancing these opposing forces; is to bring peace into one’s life by reducing stress caused by the over-stimulation of either force, achieving balance through meditation and tai chi practice. It relies heavily on breathing techniques that utilize both sides of the lungs.
Yang is the element of light, power, and masculinity. Yin represents darkness, weakness, and femininity in contrast to yang’s brightness and strength. Yang expands whereas yin contracts; complex contrasts with soft; active opposes passive, but both are necessary for balance within one another- without either, there would be chaos or stagnation respectively. Yang is the rising masculine force, while Yin descends into a feminine state, which creates space between them.
All of these states are highly contextual; therefore, what is yang in one circumstance, may be Yin in another, so be careful.
The Symbol-
The S curving line that creates the two halves in the symbol is often described as two fish in Chinese metaphorical art. One fish is light in color, representing yang, and the other is dark in color, representing Yin. There are three critical elements to the tia chi symbol. First, notice how one end of the fish is fat and the other is thin, representing the maximum and minimum. Therefore, the skinny end of the lighter half is the minimum yang, which grows progressively fatter to become the maximum yang eventually; therefore, the same for the yin side. Representing the idea that either side can increase from a minimum, or beginning state, to the maximum.
The Tai Chi Tu has a little light or dark spot in the center, which shows hints of Yin and Yang, even in deep meditation. The more often you meditate on this idea, it will be easier for your body’s qi energy to flow back into balance.
The Tai Chi Tu is not a static circle. It’s a wheel in constant motion, always picking up energy from the other side of the spectrum and balancing it with its own. Yin-Yang constantly exchanges places – Yang moves towards Yin just as night becomes day, and vice versa, for nights turn into days. The philosophy of balance is a dynamic concept in Chinese culture that should not be understood as static, for proper equilibrium must exist “in motion.”
In Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is considered healthy when yin and yang are balanced. Different factors, such as diet, stress, and pollution, can enter the body and cause either yin or yang to dominate. When this happens, the person becomes ill because their body is no longer in harmony. The medical practitioner must determine whether yin or yang has become dominant and work to restore the balance.
Meditation Brings Balance- Limitless Life Online Meditation Program
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More Resources:
Science-Based Benefits of Meditation https://1111newme.com/2020/11/17/8-science-based-benefits-of-meditation/