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Historically, the origins of yin and yang are more mundane. Research Decodes Ancient Celtic Astronomy Symbols and Links them to Jungian ArchetypesĪ legend says yin and yang coexist at the center of the earth.
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By coexisting in perfect harmony and balance, yin and yang allowed for the birth of Pangu (the first human) as well as Fuxi, Nuwa, and Shennong (the first gods). As the elements coalesced, yin and yang formed the center of Earth. Legendary and Historical Beginnings of Yin and YangĪccording to legend, yin and yang were born from the same chaos that would eventually create the universe. Each side has a smaller circle inside it made of the opposite color. In it’s simplest form, it is represented as a circle which is divided into two tear-drop shaped elements – one of which is black and the other white. The yin yang symbol as it’s commonly referred to in the West, is also known as the Taji symbol and Tajitu. From ancient bone oracles to yoga studio kitsch, Yin and Yang continue to hold meaning for people around the world. The ancient symbol has been a foundational aspect of Chinese philosophy since at least the third century BC, perhaps even longer. Yet, the philosophy behind the concept can apply to many things. *The trigrams represented on the Korean flag are only four of the eight trigrams found in the I-Ching, or The Book of Changes, one of the oldest Confucian classics on Chinese cosmology.The complementary nature of Yin and Yang are perhaps best illustrated by the iconic black-and-white yin-yang symbol. Together, these four trigrams also symbolize the seasons and the cardinal directions. The stages between the two extremes of yang and um are represented by the two lines with a broken line between them signifying fire, and the two broken lines with an unbroken line in the middle, water. The four sets of trigrams further convey the idea of the dualism of the cosmos.* Heaven, the manifestation of the pure yang principle, is represented by the three unbroken lines a set of three broken lines placed opposite it represents the earth, the manifestation of the pure um principle. The thick round part of each comma represents the beginning of all things and the tail section represents the end so that where the yang begins, the um disappears and vice versa. The yang and um together form the to (tao in Chinese), signifying the perpetually changing opposite yet complementary forces or principles embodied in all aspects of life: light and darkness, good and evil, active and passive, masculine and feminine. The upper, red part represents the forces of yang (yang in Chinese as well), and the lower, blue part represents the forces of um (yin in Chinese). The red and blue circle in the middle of the flag is called taegeuk in Korean (t'ai chi in Chinese), which, translated literally, means "supreme ultimate." The circle is divided into two parts, each of which resembles a comma. The elements of the flag symbolize the dual forces of nature. It was created in 1882 but the symbols are among the oldest found on any nation's flag. The flag stands for the three components of a nation: the land (the white background), the people (the red and blue circle), and the government (the four sets of black bars or trigrams). The colors of the flag are red, blue, and black on a white background. The Korean flag is called taegeukgi (pronounced teh-GUK-key).