Blood of the Pure - Chapter Twelve - Yin & Yang

Yin & Yang 

 - Yab Yam, Taiji -

The Yin Yang is the easily recognized Taoist symbol of the interplay of Forces in the Universe. In Chinese philosophy, this symbol represents 'how everything works', and depicts two great opposite forces unable to exist without each other, and upon whose continual interaction everything depends. Yin (black, the moon) is the female aspect. Being dark and negative, she represents the moon, water and the earth, while Yang (white, the sun) is male. He is the opposite, being light and positive, and represents the sun, fire and the heavens.

The outer circle represents everything (the Universe and everything within it) while the black and white shapes within the circle symbolize the interaction of the two energies, 'Yin' and 'Yang', which cause all things to happen in the Universe. While 'Yin' (female) is dark and passive, downward and cold, contracting and weak, 'Yang' (male) is bright and active, upward and hot, expanding and strong.

From the shape of the two sections of the symbol, continually revolving like a wheel spinning on its axle, one can gain a sense of the perpetual movement of these two energies. Yin changes to Yang while Yang changes to Yin, then back again, causing everything to happen during the process, such as waters freezing and melting, plants growing to produce their seeds before dying, metals expanding and contracting, night turning to day, Winter turning to Spring, then Summer, then Autumn and eventually back to Winter.

The Yin Yang symbol represent the idealized harmony of these forces; equilibrium in the Universe. In ancient Taoist texts, white and black represent enlightenment and ignorance, respectively.