YIN and YANG

MTC _ QIGOGN TERAPEUTIC

Each and every phenomenon in universe has two aspects: Yin and Yang, one oppose to
the other, yet interdependent and interchangeable. This is the general way world is build. This is
a theory very ancient and explains and analyses, along with QI Theory and 5 Elements Theory,
all the visible and invisible phenomenon and lows of Universe. This theory appears during Yin
and Zhou dynasties (XVI century – 221 B.C.) and it was for the first time mentioned in “The
Transformation Book” (Zhou Yi – “The Transformation from Zhou Dynasty). In time, the most
important books become treaty, so the name was change in YI JING – The Treaty about
Transformation. In the period of “Spring and Autumn” (770 – 476 B.C) and “Warring States”
(475 – 221 B.C.) the Yin-Yang theory was very profound assimilated and cultivated in all the
philosophical systems of thinking.

Yin and Yang are symbolic representation and qualities which explains everything based
on (understanding of the) transformation and the present moment of a system (the impermanent
characteristic of a system). Based on a long and profound observation, the ancient Chinese sages
observed the principles of opposition in man and women, sun and moon, movement and stillness,
could and heat, interior and exterior and so on, and described in terms of Yin and Yang. So, the
wisdom is to understanding the transformation in its essence and not to try maintaining a fixed
condition.

In the past, Yin aspect was pictures by the moon and Yang by the sun. It was also said that the
nature of Yis is water and the nature of Yang is fire. The basic characteristics are like follow:

YIN – dark, regarding the interior, which is motionless, hidden, latent, goes down

YANG – light, regarding the exterior, the motion, manifest, goes up

YIN YANG
Water Fire
Feminine Masculine
Moon Sun
Shadow Shine
Rest Activity
Sunset Sunshine
Nord South
Material (substance) Energy
Heavy Light
Liquid Steam
Seed Fruit
Which produce form Which produce energy
Down movement Up movement
Unconsciously Consciously
Interior Exterior

The Yin or Yang characteristic of a phenomenon is not absolute but relative. This relativity is
found in the basic principles of relations between this two “forces”: “in the middle of Yin, the
Yang appears, the Yang activated the Yin”. So, this theory teaches us about the relativity of all
existence: no matter what we look at, we conclude the way of it transformation. Nothing remains
in one condition at a certain point forever. After day night come, one season follows other, the
seed sprout and the plant grows, the man live and die, one who stay tall must go down, and so
on …

Opposition of Yin and Yang

The theory of Yin-Yang claims that all the natural phenomena from the entire universe are
composed from two opposite forces: one is Yin and one is Yang. This opposition consists in the
capacity of fighting between them, from this process result the reciprocal control. For example
the heat (Yang) dispel could (Yin) and could tame heat. This is happening also in the human
body where the opposition of Yin and Yang maintain the physiological equilibrium. If, from any
reason, this equilibrium is unbalanced, the condition of sickness will appear.

Interdependence of Yin and Yang

Even Yin and Yang are opposite; between them is a relation of interdependence. Yang cannot
exist without Yin and Yin cannot be without Yang. In human body, Yin corresponds to the
nutritive substances, body fluids, and Yang is characterized by physiological activity, energy.
The body fluids have to remain inside the body and the physiological activity manifests to the
exterior.

The interconversions of Yin and Yang

These two forces are not in a rigid, fixed state but conversing and feed off one another. For
example, physiologic activities (Yang) consume regular some nutritive substances (Yin). In this
way, Yang is generated by the consuming of Yin. Normally, there is an equilibrium of the
consuming – alimentation relation. In the absence of this equilibrium, it will be most probable
for the sickness to install.

The infinite divisibility of Yin and Yang

In each aspect of Yin or Yang we will find the opposite force. For example, the day is Yang, but
the morning is Yang and the afternoon is Yin. The energetically (holding) organs – kidneys, liver,
heart, spleen, lungs – have Yin character. But the ones who are in the upper part of the body
(heart and lungs) are with Yang character and the ones who are in the lower part have Yin
character.

Knowing the man from Yin-Yang perspective

The understanding of human being from Yin-Yang perspective is much vaster then the separate
study of anatomical and physiological systems. Like all existing beings, human are composed by
Yin – conscience and Yang – corporal form (body).

Human Yang

The human Yang has also two aspects: one Yin and one Yang. The Yin aspect is described like
the energetic field of the material structure (not the conscience field) and the Yang aspect is the
carnal structure. The Yang aspect of the energetically field is the exterior part of it: the one
which we can measure by its components – light structure, electrical and magnetically structure
and so on … and the Yin component is the very based of the existence of this energetically field.
The Yin aspect of the body is the body fluids, its cells, and the Yang component is the energy
(produced by cells). The cells produced energy (in the middle of Yin, Yang appears) and the
energy sustain the function of the cells (Yang activated Yin).

A very important detail is in the description of different parts of the body from Yin-Yang point
of view. So, the upper part of the body is Yang and the lower part is Yin. The exterior is Yang
and the interior is Yin. The back is Yang and the front is Yin. From the physiological point of
view, the internal organs which are full of energy (deposit energy) are Yin - kidneys, heart, liver,
spleen, lungs – and the organs which transport energy – urinary bladder, gallbladder, stomach,
small intestine and large intestine – are Yang. Going further, in each organ is Yin and Yang
aspects: the essence of the kidneys is Yin and the energy of the kidneys is Yang. Also the
energetically channel system (meridian system) has two categories: Yin meridians and Yang
meridians.

Human Yin
The two aspects of human conscience are the conscious and the unconscious. Here, the
terminology from Qigong uses Conscious Spirit (mind) or Zhi Shen for conscious and Original
Spirit (soul) on Yuan Shen for unconscious. The unconscious represent the Yin aspect of
conscience and the Mind (conscious) is Yang. The most important principle of existence describe
in Yin-Yang theory is:

“In the middle of Yin, Yang appears; the Yang activate Yin”

The understanding of this primordial principle is very important in therapy and in diagnosis. For
example, the therapy in Qigong uses the modifying of the body energetically field (Yin
character) for obtaining a result (in time, not right away) in the flesh body (Yang). The
therapeutically mechanism in energetically practice like Qigong implies that from the
unconscious (Yin) a thought will appear and become conscious (Yang). This thought will allow
the action (in a characteristic Qigong state) over the energetically field (Yin) for modify the body
functions (in time). By thoughts we used, a new field with characteristic parametric will be
created over the patient field, and in time, will equilibrate and drive to a normal state of health.
But, like we said, everything appear from Yin to Yang, from interior to exterior, and for a real
treatment of the cause of the affection (from the Yin level) and not the manifestation (Yang
level), is necessary the change of patient’s state of conscience.