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The Philosophy of Yin/Yang

Figure 1 is a well known and popular symbol in Chinese philosophy. It has the following meanings:

1. Yin and Yang balance each other.
2. Yin and Yang comes from each other.
3. Extreme Yang transmutes to Yin and vice versa.

Figure 1

However, there is another Yin/Yang symbol as shown in Figure 2. Most of the meanings of Figure 1 applies to Figure 2 with the additional of the following:

• Yin and Yang change to each other with circular motions.
• Tai Chi comes from Wuji (center circle on picture 2) and will go back to Wuji from the opposite direction.

As you can see, Figure 1 is in a non-moving (still) state while Figure 2 indicates the motion of the progression of Yin and Yang.

Figure 2

Figure 3 is the modification made by the late Bruce Lee, founder of Jeet Kune Do, to the Yin/Yang symbol in Figure 1. Due to the limitations of Figure 1, he added two arrow symbols to create his own Jeet Kune Do logo which means Yin/Yang changing by circular motion. The Chinese words around his logo roughly translates to "The way is no way, the limit is no limit."

Figure 3

Yin/Yang is a pair of mutually complementary forces that are at work in and behind all phenomena. This principle of Yin/Yang is also the basic structure of Gung Fu - known in the Western world as Kung Fu - the mother of martial arts. The Yang (whiteness) principle represents positiveness, firmness, maleness, substantiality, brightness, day, heat, etc. The Yin (blackness) principle is the opposite. It represents negativeness, softness, femaleness, insubstantiality, darkness, night, coldness, and so forth. The basic theory in Tai Chi is that nothing is so permanent as never to change. When activity reaches the extreme point, it becomes inactivity, and inactivity forms Yin. Extreme inactivity returns to become activity, which is Yang. Activity is the cause of inactivity and vice versa. From this one can see that the two forces, although they appear to conflict, in reality are mutually interdependent; instead of opposition, there is cooperation and alternance.

The application of the Principle of Yin-Yang in Gung Fu is expressed as the Law of Harmony. It states that one should be in harmony with, not rebellion against, the strength and force of the opponent. This means that one should do nothing that is not natural or spontaneous. The important thing is not to strain in any way. When opponent "A" uses strength (Yang) on "B", "B" must not resist him back with strength (in other words, do not use positiveness [Yang] against positiveness [Yang]), but instead yield to him with softness (Yin), and lead him to the direction of his own force (negativeness [Yin] to positiveness [Yang]). When A's strength goes to the extreme, the positiveness (Yang) will change to negativeness (Yin), B then taking of his "unguarded moment" and attack him with force (Yang). Thus the whole process is without being unnatural or straining. "B" fits his movement harmoniously and continuously into that of "A" without resisting or striving.

- Bruce Lee

Thus, regarding the martial arts, not all styles or systems of fighting and defending oneself follows the Law of Harmony as stated by the Yin/Yang principle. Some styles favor the feet. Some the hands. Others are more on attack while others spend their time on only defensive techniques. These systems are only the half of one whole. They are either Yin or Yang. To achieve balance with nature - for an opponent is part of nature - one must keep in mind that in order to survive in the street he must have a good sense of when to use his defensive and offensive skills. Learning defensive skills only, which is pure Yin is going to extremes. The same is true when learning only attacking techniques, which is pure Yang. Martial artists must learn the value of harmoniously blending the two into one whole circle so that an opponent may not distinguish which part is Yin and which part is Yang. Defensive offense and offensive defense.

Some misconceptions have arisen regarding the true meaning of Yin/Yang. Others even try to create their own interpretation of this symbol. A friend of mine, who founded his own system of martial art (I just can't understand why others still try to create or re-create a style of martial arts), offers his own interpretation, thus making an entire mess. Figure 4 represents his idea. A symbol for fire is added behind the Yin/Yang logo. For him Yin/Yang represents the world we live in and adding fire brings light to our darkened world. As we can see, the addition of the fire symbol just doesn't make any sense at all. This is what he believes about Yin/Yang. And this is what he teaches his students. It is adding confusion to a once harmonious universe.

Figure 4