yin and yang
Balance of opposites
Yin and yang are complementary forces in Chinese philosophy—opposite yet interdependent principles that together form a whole.
Yin is associated with darkness, cold, passivity, and the feminine; yang with light, heat, activity, and the masculine.
The familiar black-and-white symbol shows each containing a seed of the other.
In casual use, yin and yang describes any balanced duality: They're the yin and yang of the partnership.
State of opposing forces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- binaryConsisting of two parts
- twofoldConsisting of two parts
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
pairing · dyad · antithesis · masculine and feminine · hot and cold · active and passive · sun and moon · night and day
Nameless cosmic principle
- LaoziTaoism's legendary founder
- ChiTwenty-second Greek letter
- I ChingChinese divination classic
- Tao Te ChingAncient wisdom text on virtue
State of balance
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- equipoiseEqual distribution of weight
symmetry · homeostasis · poise · equanimity · moderation · stability · centering · wholeness
Reciprocal reliance between entities
- interplayReciprocal action between things
- reciprocityMutual exchange of actions
- mutualityShared dependence or exchange
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
coexistence · synergy · unity · integration · entwined · fusion · wholeness · completion
polarity
State of opposing forces
dualism · pairing · dyad · antithesis · masculine and feminine · hot and cold · active and passive · sun and moon · night and day · hard and soft
Tao
Nameless cosmic principle
equilibrium
State of balance
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- proportionComparative relation of parts
equipoise · symmetry · homeostasis · poise · equanimity · moderation · stability · centering · wholeness · alignment
interdependence
Reciprocal reliance between entities
- interplayReciprocal action between things
- reciprocityMutual exchange of actions
- mutualityShared dependence or exchange
symbiosis · coexistence · synergy · unity · integration · entwined · fusion · wholeness · completion · counterpart
circle
Curved closed shape
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
- dotsSmall circular marks
- swirlRotating, curving movement
emblem · icon · motif · mandala · tattoo · pendant · amulet · insignia
- Dualityduality, dual nature, two sides, dichotomy, polarity
- oppositesopposite, opposites, antonym, antonyms, inverse
- East Asian Culturechopsticks, tea ceremony, origami, qi, kung fu
- contrastsopposites, antithesis, polarity, dichotomy, duality
- trade-offstrade-off, pros and cons, double-edged sword, mixed blessing, give and take
- TaoismTao, Taoism, Daoism, Laozi, Lao Tzu
yin and yangdiscord
Lack of agreement
conflict · chaos · disharmony · imbalance · strife
yin and yangdualism
Philosophy of opposed pairs
good versus evil · either/or · dichotomy · polarization · us versus them