By Abigail Joy Wheeler

Yin and Yang: Finding Balance and Understanding

By Abigail Joy Wheeler

Abigail Joy Wheeler is a California native from the USA with a background in international business and has been in Wuhan teaching English for almost two years. Abby is interested in culture, politics, business, leadership, and the intersections between these topics.

Foreigners in China can easily miss out on the subtle implications of “Yin and Yang” within Chinese culture. As a child raised in America, I remember seeing that white and black, curved, interlocking symbol on necklaces and tattoos. It wasn’t until I started practicing Taiji Quan (Tai Chi) and improving my Chinese that I was able to fully appreciate the significance of the concept of Yin Yang阴阳. The concept permeates Chinese philosophies, language, medicine, physical practices, politics, beliefs, and daily behavior.

In the Chinese writing system, the radicals ri 日 (sun) and yue 月 (moon) make up the characters Yin 阴 (cloudy side) and Yang 阳 (sunny side). Yet the words Yin阴 Yang 阳 have a much deeper meaning. Yin 阴 represents negative, passive, and female principles, while Yang 阳 represents Yin’s opposites—positive, active, and male. They describe a duality of sorts, but more accurately, they represent opposite forces that are continually challenging each other for balance, and in the process complementingand enriching the other. To describe the relationship between Yin and Yang, the Chinese philosopher Yu-Lan Fung (also Feng Youlan, 1895-1990) said, “When the cold goes, the warmth comes, and when the warmth comes, the cold goes.” In other words, when Yin reaches its extreme, it turns into Yang, and when Yang reaches its extreme, it becomes Yin.

I’ve found these philosophical“truths” to be quite enlightening. Dualism often baffles me, yet dualities are found all around us. Masculine and Feminine. Inhale and Exhale. Light and Dark. Sky and Earth. Life and Death. In and Out. Introvert and Extrovert. On and Off. Us and Them. I’m sure you can think of a few more examples… Liberty and Equality. Competition and Cooperation. Republicans and Democrats in the US, perhaps.

While Yin and Yang 阴阳 highlight the extremes, it is not really about the white and black, it’s about that curved line, the intersection of the two. It’s about what’s in between. It’s not about favoring one extreme above the other but about recognizing the need for the two. It’s about the coming together and the harmonious interaction of those extremes. The goal of Yin Yang 阴阳 is the process of finding balance, of recognizing the duality, and of the struggle to achieve harmony within the given realities.

The beauty behind Yin and Yang is that it can be applied to so many different scenarios in our lives—from personal to political. As a natural ambivert (someone whose personality is a mix of introversion and extraversion), I continually need to find balance between inner reflection to recharge and a community of people to engage in meaningful activities. Further, when I find myself in the midst of extraverts, I turn into a reserved, shy, soft-spoken girl. When I find myself in the company of introverts, I become the initiator, activator, and conversation starter. During the chaos of the recent US presidential election, our political parties revealed their polarizing nature. Like most young people, I’ve found myself caught in the middle of the debates. When talking to Democrats, I become the voice of the traditional conservative cause. When talking to Republicans, I become the advocate for the radical liberal agenda.

In a global climate of increasingly heightened tensions, what if we took the Chinese approach of Yin Yang阴阳 to understand our differences? What if we put ourselves in the shoes of the other? What if we became the best of the opposite extreme in order to grow from the change in perspective? Have a try. Apply the concept of Yin Yang 阴阳 to whatever polarizing situation is occurring around you. Seek harmony, understanding, and grace amidst the chaos and extremes of life. Who knows? Our lives just might be complimented and enriched in the process.