Saturday, December 31, 2011

Evolution of the Yin and Yang Part 2 阴阳

无极生太极,太极生两仪,两仪生四象, 四象生八卦"

With the interaction of the dynamic forces of creation, Yin and Yang, comes the Four Images 四象, or the four phases of universal energies. With this, the four cardinal directions are created: North, South, East and West.

These are formed by adding a Yin and a Yang line respectively on top of the Yin and Yang - creating a Major Yin (太阴) with two Yin lines, Minor Yin (少阴) with a Yin line at the bottom and Yang line on top, Minor Yang (少阳) with a Yang line at the bottom and Yin line on top, and Major Yang (太阳) with two Yang lines. 

And from the Four Images or Four Phenomenon, eight phases of universal energy are developed, also known as the 八卦 or Eight Trigrams. These adds more granularity to the evolution of the energy, and with this, eight directions are created: North, South, East West, North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-West.  

These are formed by adding a Yin and a Yang line respectively on top of the Four Images - creating the Eight Trigrams as shown in the summary image attached. Kindly note that development of the Four Images and Eight Trigrams should be viewed from bottom-up and not top-down. 


 



Monday, December 26, 2011

Evolution of Yin and Yang Part 1 阴阳



孔子云:无极生太极,太极生两仪......"
 

Confucius stated" "the formless and limitless space created an equilibrium with two active opposing and yet complementary forces in the universe....."
Through eons of evolution, the formless and limitless space - Wu Ji (
无极) - created countless matter in the form of planets and stars. The moment a matter takes position on another matter, directions are established and thus Tai Ji (太极)is created.
From the Tai Ji, two active, opposing and yet complementary forces evolved - the Yin and the Yang (
阴阳). The interaction - the act of balancing and harmonization - of Yin and Yang forces enables the forces of life and creation. 

Within Yang there is a little Yin, and within Yin, there is a little Yang. Nothing exists in isolation. For example, if you did not know what is hot, you wouldn't know if something is cold either. If you have no notion of what is strong, how can you know what is weak. At the same time, within strength we can find weakness, and within weakness we can find strength.

Interaction of the Yin and Yang forces is constantly happening and applies to matters of all sizes. Despite being opposing forces, one's existence is dependent on the other - hence complementary. This provides a sense of organization too, with the forces constantly seeking equilibrium to reach a state of harmony. The balance of Yin Yang is one of the most important concepts in Chinese metaphysics. In the application of Feng Shui, the harmony of Yin and Yang is of paramount importance.