Theory of yin-yang

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Theory of yin-yang
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Theory of yin-yang
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Teaching objects

• Basic concept of yin-yang
• Properties of yin and yang
• Basic content of the theory of yin and yang
• Application of theory of yin and yang in TCM

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• Yin and yang is a general term for two
  opposite aspects of things or phenomena in
  nature, which are interrelated with each other.

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• Initially, yin and yang refer to the light
  and darkness of the sunlight, anything that is
  exposed to the sun belongs to yang, and that is
  unexposed to the sun belongs to yin.

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The range of the concept of yin and yang was
broadened

• It represent the two opposite things
• It represent the two opposite sides of the same
  thing

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Being active, upward, outward, warm, bright, and
so on
Yang
Being still, downward, inward cold, dim, and so
on
yin
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The theory of yin and yang

• It is an ancient Chinese philosophy,
  serving as a perspective and methodology for
  ancient Chinese people to explore origination and
  change of the universe. Its main task is to
  research the connotation of yin and yang as well
  as the movement laws and changes of yin and yang,
  and to explain occurrence, development and change
  of all things in the universe.

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Some examples for Yin-yang properties of things

• Yang----Heaven, big, sun, day, fire, upward,
  active, male, Spring and Summer, warm, bright,
  function, et. al.
• Yin----Earth, small, moon, night, water,
  downward, still, female, Autumn and Winter, cold,
  dim, material et. al.

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In medical field
Any materials and functions which have the
feature of promoting, warming or exciting
Yang
Yin
Any materials and functions which have the
feature of coagulating, moistening and inhibiting
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Properties of yin and yang

• Generality of yin and yang
• Correlation of yin and yang
• Relativity of yin yang
• Infinite divisibility of yin and yang

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Generality of yin and yang

• Yin and yang is the generalization to every
  two related objects or phenomena in material
  nature.

e.g. Heaven pertain to yang while earth belong to
yin Man pertain to yang while woman to yin
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Correlation of yin and yang

• we should definite the Yin-yang property in
  the range of the correlated objects or phenomena.

e.g. Heaven and earth are the two opposite sides
in universe Man and woman aims at the sex
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Relativity of yin and yang
e.g. Human body
viscera Yang back
fu organs Yin Chest and
abdomen zang organs
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Infinite divisibility of yin and yang

• Each of two opposite objects with yin-yang
  properties and each of two opposite aspects in a
  single object can be further divided into yin and
  yang aspect.

e.g. Fu organs pertain to yang, zang organs to
yin heart and lung belong to yang, while the
remaining three zang organs pertain to yin.
Heart can be subdivided into heart-yin and
heart-yang
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Basic content of the theory of yin and yang

• Intercourse and mutual containing of yin and
  yang
• Opposition and restriction between yin and yang
  
• Interdependence and complementation between yin
  and yang
• Waning and waxing and equilibrium of yin and
  yang
• Inter-transformation between yin and yang
• Natural harmony of yin and yang

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Intercourse and mutual containing of yin and yang
Yin within yang celestial qi descending

• Intercourse
• of yin and
• yang

Yang within yin terrestrial qi ascending
Yin ascending and yang descending, intercourse
and combination of yin and yang
Origin of things
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Yang
Yin
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Opposition and restriction between yin and yang

• It means that yin and yang, opposite in
  nature, struggle against, restrain and repel each
  other.

e.g. upper, left, heaven, water, warm.
lower, right, earth, fire, cold
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Interdependence and complementation between yin
and yang

• It indicates that yin and yang depend on
  and root in each other.

a. Either of two opposite aspects of yin and
yang takes its opposite as a prerequisite for its
existence, and neither can exist alone in
isolation.
Without the heaven, there would be no the earth
b. Yin and yang could generate, promote and
foster each other.
Qi belongs to yang and blood to yin. Qi is the
marshal of blood and blood is the mother of qi
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Waning and waxing and equilibrium of yin and yang

• It means that the two aspects of yin and
  yang are always kept in a relative dynamic
  equilibrium to a certain range in the constant
  movement and change in which one wanes
  (decreases) while the other waxes (increases)

Opposition and restriction of yin and yang
Alternate waning and waxing
Waning and waxing of yin and yang
interdependence and complementation of yin and
yang
simultaneous waning and waxing
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Yin waning leading to yang waxing
e.g. variation of the four seasons
Yang waning leading to yin waxing
Alternate waning and waxing
Yin waxing leading to yang waning
Yang waxing leading to yin waning
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Yin waning while yang waning
Yang waning while yin waning
human
simultaneous waning and waxing
Eating food
Yin waxing while yang waxing
hungry
Yin is insufficient
Yang waxing while yin waxing
Yang qi is deficient
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Inter-transformation between yin and yang
Develops to a certain stage
Waning and waxing of and yang
Inter-transformation between yin and yang
The given conditions are meet
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Natural harmony of yin and yang

• It refers to that two aspects of yin and
  yang are able to and tend to automatically
  maintain and reestablish the state of harmony and
  equilibrium.

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Application of theory of yin and yang in TCM

• (1) To explain morphology and structure of the
  human body

e.g. chest and abdomen, lower part, yin
meridians, blood. back,
upper part, yang meridians, qi
(2) To explain physiological functions of the
human body
e.g.
Yin qi
Yang qi
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Application of theory of yin and yang in TCM
(3) To explain pathological changes of the human
body

• preponderance of yin or yang

• decline of yin or yang

• simultaneous of yin and yang

• inter-transformation and repelling of yin and
  yang

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Application of theory of yin and yang in TCM

• (4) To guide clinical diagnosis

It is to differentiate yin or yang properties
of a certain syndrome
(5) To treat diseases
Reducing excess
e.g.
To determine the therapeutic principles
Supplementing insufficiency
To generalize properties and actions of Chinese
drugs