One of the keystones of Chinese philosophy is the Yin-Yang disc that symbolises the harmony of opposites which is simultaneously the start and end of creation. Here we see how the twelve astrological signs are divided between Yin and Yang, also represented by the Phoenix and Dragon, The disc represents an ideal of harmony towards which all creation aspires and which in practice is rarely achieved more than fleetingly. Nevertheless, the constant striving towards that perfect harmony and balance is what has always preoccupied China's sages.
The Way begets One; One begets Two; Two begets Three; Three begets the myriad creatures.
The myriad creatures bear on their backs the Yin and embrace in their arms the Yang and are the blending of the generative forces of the two.
The most noticeable thing to Western eyes about the list of opposites represented by Yin and Yang is the complete absence of good and evil. It's so ingrained in Western culture that these are the fundamental opposites that many automatically assume that they're included in the black and white spinning disc of Chinese philosophy but that's not the case at all. Good and evil are something else entirely that come from the harmony or discord of Yin and Yang, which are in themselves equal in value, just different. Below is a list of the common qualities associated with Yin and Yang:
|