Ep. 106: Yin and Yang in Chinese Temples

Oct 06, 2021

∙ Paid

Everybody knows the image above, the "Yin and Yang" of Daoism (Taoism). But this is far from the only way this "pair of opposites" is depicted.

First, let's put together a series of "pairs" that are implicit in the idea of Yin and Yang.

Yin and Yang

negative and positive
passive and active
female and male
the moon and the sun
covert and overt
hidden and open
the north side of a hill (shady) and the south side of a hill (sunny)
the south bank of a river/gully (shady) and the north bank of a river/gully (sunny)
the reverse side of a stele and the obverse side of a stele (think "tails" and "heads")
overcast and sunny
winter and summer
disorder and order (chaos and cosmos)

You get the picture, right? Now, how do we portray such traits? Let me share four that I've noticed in my travels.

-------

This post is for paid subscribers