Yin and Yang artwork
World History Encyclopedia

Yin and Yang

  • 04:37
  • September 7th 2020

Yin and Yang written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Sarah Annalise Hack: https://www.worldhistory.org/Yin_and_Yang/


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The principle of Yin and Yang is that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites, for example, female-male, dark-light and old-young. The principle, dating from the 3rd century BCE or even earlier, is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and culture in general. The two opposites of Yin and Yang attract and complement each other and, as their symbol illustrates, each side has at its core an element of the other (represented by the small dots). Neither pole is superior to the other and, as an increase in one brings a corresponding decrease in the other, a correct balance between the two poles must be reached in order to achieve harmony.

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