Introduction to Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements

“The Dao begets One, the One begets Two, the Two begets Three, the Three begets the ten thousand things. All things shoulder yin and embrace yang. Yin and yang mingle to beget harmony.”

Dao De Jing

The heart of Chinese metaphysics is yin and yang, and the five elements. From divination to music, martial arts to medicine, these concepts permeate many traditional Chinese fields of study. They are especially important in feng shui, bazi, and qimen dunjia. Any serious studies into these arts begins and ends with these ideas.

Over the next few posts, we will provide an overview of yin, yang, the five elements, and how they are applied in Chinese metaphysics. Here, we will explore the essence of yin and yang.

Yin and yang represent the dual polarities of the universe. While they are polar opposites, they also exist in harmony. Within each lies the seed of the other.

This concept is articulated in the Dao De Jing. The Dao births Primeval Qi, the emergence of reality from emptiness. From this Primeval Qi comes duality: Elementary Yin and Elementary Yang.

Yin (阴) and yang (阳) represent a set of basic qualities. They should be seen not as standalone ideas, but as two sides of the same coin—the two poles of the same universe. The following expresses some of these qualities:

Yin: Dark, Moon, Female, Passive, Cool, Hidden, Soft, Negative, Curved, Gentle, Receiving

Yang: Light, Sun, Male, Active, Hot, Open, Hard, Positive, Straight, Firm, Transmitting

Yin and yang are not static entities. They are constantly flowing, constantly changing, each transforming into the other, each containing the seed of the other. At the moment one polarity dominates, it contains the seed of the opposite polarity, ready to spring into life. The curved line between yin and yang symbolises the constant interaction between them, as opposed to a strict demarcation.

The combination of yin and yang creates something that is greater than both. This is the Three expressed in the Dao De Jing, which is called Mean Qi.

In Chinese five element theory, the proportion of yin and yang determines what kind of energy is produced. Earth is neither inherently yin nor yang, and so serves as the centre of all things. Metal is lesser yin and water is greater yin, while wood is lesser yang and fire is greater yang.

The elements are not necessarily pure yin or yang, especially metal and wood. Rather, think of these elements as possessing the properties of both yin and yang, expressed in different degrees. This concept will be further explored in the next post.

The five elements form the basis of Chinese metaphysics. Bazi, qimen dunjia and feng shui all rely on five element theory, be it to profile a person, to forecast a course of action, or to study a property. Understanding the interactions between the elements, and how one changes into another, allow for deeper understanding of the subject.

This concept is taken further in the eight trigrams. Each trigram is composed of three lines, and each line can be either yin or yang. There were eight possible permutations, leading to the eight trigrams. The eight trigrams can be paired to form 64 hexagrams, which in turn represent the infinite permutations of the universe. At the same time, the eight trigrams can still be classified into the five element schema.

The trigram of Li is associated with fire. The trigram of Kan is linked to water. Qian and Dui are metal, Zhen and Xun are wood, and Gen and Kun are earth. When analysing the interactions between the trigrams and what they represent, such as the palaces of qimen dunjia or the cardinal directions in feng shui, practitioners also rely on five element theory.

Chinese metaphysics stems from Daoism. Change, flow and balance are critical components of Daoism. These ideas are expressed in the non-dual duality of yin and yang. They are opposites, yet part of the same whole. They are constantly changing, yet remain constants. When combined, they become something greater than themselves. When there is too much of one pole, the seed of the other will naturally arise, bringing the universe back into balance. By aligning yourself with the flow of the universe, you can achieve your full potential.

In our next post, we will dive deeper into the five elements, and what they represent. Stay tuned!

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