Principles of Yin and Yang


The opposition of Yin and Yang.

  • Rest - Movement
    Resting belongs to Yin, movement belongs to Yang. A calm human being is Yin in contrast to a restless human being, who is Yang.

  • Passivity - Activity
    Passive behavior is Yin in contrast to active behavior, which is Yang.

  • Quiet - Loud
    Quietness or low sounds are Yin in contrast to loud sounds, which belong to Yang. In the same manner, does a low voice corresponds to Yin and a loud voice to Yang.

  • Below - Above
    The earth is Yin in contrast to heaven, which is Yang. An illness, that manifests in the upper body pertains to Yin in contrast to an illness, that manifests in the lower body which would be Yang (clinically this refers to a Wind- or Heat-diseases in the upper body. On the contrary if Cold manifests in the upper body, then it is considered a Yin disease).

  • Darkness - Light
    The dark night is Yin in contrast to the bright day, which is Yang. Dark urine can be a symptom of Yin Deficiency, light or bright colored urine can be a symptom of Yang Deficiency.

  • Cold - Heat
    Cold climate pertains to Yin in contrast to hot climate, which is Yang. In Coldness, Yin dominates, so that Yang is not able to warm the body any longer. In Heat, Yang dominates, so that Yin is not able to cool the body any longer.

  • Dampness - Dryness
    Yin represents the Body Fluids. Dampness corresponds to an accumulation of cloudy fluids, which corresponds to a Yin disease (which could be caused by underlying Yang Deficiency). In Dryness the Body Fluids are consumed, which corresponds to Yin Deficiency.

  • Manifestation - Energy
    Manifestation, the more dense state of aggregation, corresponds to Yin in contrast to energy, the subtle state of aggregation, which is Yang.

  • Blood - Qi
    Bood is more substantial than Qi. Therefore, Blood corresponds to Yin and Qi to Yang.

  • Contraction - Expansion
    The quality of Yin is contraction (for example with Cold) whereas the quality of Yang is expansion (for example with Heat).