YINYANG

The yinyang is a well-known symbol in the United States. The average American could draw it, identify it (albeit at times incorrectly as "ying yang"), and even offer a vague sense of what it stands for and from what part of the world it originated. This symbol has pervaded American pop-culture. We can find it just about anywhere; on t-shirts, in graffiti art, on postcards, and perhaps most commonly, around the necks of children and young adults.

In the United States, the wearer of a yinyang necklace is by no means indicative of a Daoist (Taoist) or even of Chinese heritage. In American culture, it is more often worn as merely an accessory and could genuinely be described as a secular symbol more so than a religious symbol. This does not necessarily suggest that Americans have disrespect for Daoism or Chinese culture, but there does exist a great misunderstanding between these two cultures partly due to a fundamental difference in the understanding of religion and philosophy. Moreover, the prominence of the yinyang symbol in American culture indicates the globalization of Daoism and the lack of knowledge regarding the meaning and history of that symbol among Americans intimates the secularization of Daoism in America.

Chinese philosophy is so foreign to Americans that throughout history we have typically responded in two ways; by oversimplifying it or romanticizing it. Despite the greater opportunity for interaction between the two cultures that has come as a result of technology, there is still a general division in understanding when it comes to religion. For example; in the United States, a yinyang pendant may be worn as a fashion accessory or to represent the mystical beliefs of the Chinese people (the details of which are usually unknown to the wearer), but neither reason indicates a comprehensive understanding of the symbol in Daoism and Chinese culture and therefore one fails to understand what yin and yang really is.

Like many religious symbols, the yinyang is representative of the ideas of its creators. It is visually depicted as a circle separated into 2 halves; one black and one white (representing all opposites). Each of the halves curve into a point, the tail of one halve leading into the head of another. There is a dot within the head of each half: a white dot in the black half and a black dot in the white half. As a whole, the symbol represents the emergence and the interdependency of the two opposites; yin and yang. With the help of the yinyang symbol, Daoism teaches about the balance and cooperation of all cosmic forces. [ii]

The earliest evidence of Yin and Yang was found on "oracle bones," used in shamanistic rituals. In these early expressions, it is believed that yin and yang was simply used to describe opposite forces such as; night and day, male and female, hot and cold. However, over the centuries yin and yang became much more. Chinese philosophers, astrologers, and Religious schools of thought all contributed to the complex theories of the yinyang in Chinese philosophy today. One of the most telling explanations of the yinyang is found in the interpretation of the existence of humanity in the Huainanzi, Chinese philosophy text from the Han Dynasty:

When heaven and earth were formed, they divided into yin and yang.Yang is generated [sheng] from yin and yin is generated from yang. Yin and yang mutually alternate which makes four fields [wei, "celestial circles"] penetrate. Sometimes there is life, sometimes there is death, that brings the myriad things to completion. [iii]

Here yin and yang are depicted as the very fibers of our existence. According to this theory, the creation of the world was entirely dependent upon the interaction and cooperation of these two forces. Because yin and yang are the fundamentals of existence, all other opposites are thought to be manifestations of them. Balance of these opposites is of utmost importance to Daoism. The sacralization of the balance of yin and yang can be found all throughout the myths and rituals of Chinese culture.

One example of the balance of cosmic forces within Chinese culture is the three Chinese religions. To the majority of Americans, religion is the undivided faith and loyalty to one central, exclusive belief. For example; for Christians, it is the belief in Jesus as the spiritual savior, for Jews it is that the Messiah is yet to come. This has inevitably resulted in a history of conflict between religions. Chinese culture, on the other hand, has developed under the influence of three coexistent religions; Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. In his book The Tao of the West, J.J. Clarke makes note of some common phrases regarding the three religions of China such as; "Every Chinese wears a Confucian cap, a Daoist robe and Buddhist sandals" and "a man could be a Confucian in his active life...a philosophical Taoist in his leisure hours...and frequent the Buddhist temple to offer prayers for special intentions." [iv]

Such acceptance of multiple schools of thought is confusing to Americans and may seem disloyal or even idolatrous. While there has been some conflict between these three Chinese religions, for the most part they have come together to make up one culture. In many cases, each of the Chinese religions serves to fill in the gaps of everyday life. For example; where Confucianism may offer a man a set of values to live by and a place within society, Daoism provides a spiritual release from the demands of everyday life. While this may be confusing to the American understanding of religion, Chinese culture developed from all three religions and in order to truly understand either of them, one must study them all together.

Because yin and yang are believed to be elements of nature, the sacrilization of the balance of these two cosmic forces extends to all human beings, including political leaders. In America, our society has been legitimated by our primary religion, Christianity, and eventually by secularism. Both reflect our cultural belief that humans have a position of stature within all of nature and we have a right and responsibility to lead society by the demands of the higher power, whether it be God or The People. In Daoism, all beings, especially politicians must make choices that fit within the balance of the culture's moral and economic needs. [v] It is just as important, according to Daoism, that these choices serve to keep the balance of yin and yang. The reason for the significance of this balance can be explained by the connection between nature and cosmic forces and the role of human beings within all of it. A loss of balance of yin and yang is believed to result in disaster for the people as described in the statement of Boyang Fu in regards earthquakes that occurred during the Zhou Empire.

The qi of heaven and earth can't lose its order. If its order vanishes people will be disoriented. Yang was stuck and could not get out, yin was suppressed and could not evaporate, so an earthquake was inevitable. Now the earthquakes around the three rivers are due to yang losing its place and yin being pressed down. Yang is forsaken under yin so the source of rivers has been blocked. If the foundation of rivers is blocked the country will definitely collapse. This is because of the fact that the flowing water and flourishing land are necessities for the people's lives. If the water and land cannot sustain the people's living conditions, the country will inevitably fall. [vi]

To Americans, this correlation of natural events to human actions would be considered merely mysticism. In Daoism, a natural occurrence such as Boyang Fu's earthquakes is proof of the connection between humans and the spiritual forces.

Clearly for Americans to truly understand Chinese culture, we would have to change our most rudimentary ways of thinking. This is something that most Americans are unwilling to do and that is evident in the way the yinyang symbol is seen in American culture. Does this mean that the yinyang pendant reveals secularization? Yes and no.

America today is commonly referred to as a "Melting Pot." It is a country of many cultures and religions including and excluding, coexisting and conflicting under a government meant to protect and serve them all. The persistence of the yinyang symbol in America testifies to the globalization of Daoism, but in America, the yinyang has generally lost its meaning, and that is evidence of secularization. However, due to the nature of the "Melting Pot," most religions are becoming marginalized by secular institutions. Therefore, the secularization of Daoism in America does not necessarily reflect on the stability of the religion, but rather on the ability of American secular culture to overwhelm religion.

Moreover, the signs of the secularization of Daoism in America does not necessarily reflect upon the religion's ability to thrive elsewhere. In China's recent history, the greatest struggle for religion has been the influence of western trade and communist control. Still, according to Robert Ellwood, Chinese religions are overcoming these difficulties and growing. [vii]

The Daoist yinyang symbol is difficult to define; much like the religion it comes from. To the average American, Daoism may seem too mystic and ambiguous to truly understand it, but it is a significant component of Chinese culture and therefore it can absolutely be studied and perhaps understood. Daoism has gone through many changes and has overcome many tribulations. The very growth of yinyang symbol, and the fact that it has reached as far as America, is further evidence of the strength of the religion. Though it may become secularized in America, Daosim is such an integral part of Chinese culture that it seems unlikely that it would ever face such a fate in China.

NOTES

1. Livia Kohn, Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way. (Massachusettes: Three Pines Press, 2005), 19.

2. Ibid.

3. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Yingyang . http://www.iep.utm.edu/yinyang/.

4. J.J. Clarke. The Tao of the West. (New York: Routledge, 2000), 22.

5. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Yingyang . http://www.iep.utm.edu/yinyang/.

6. Ibid.

7. Robert Ellwood. Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions . 9th ed. (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall), 2009.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Clarke, J.J. The Tao of the West. New York: Routledge, 2000.

Ellwood, Robert. Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions . 9th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Yingyang . http://www.iep.utm.edu/yinyang/.

Kohn, Livia. Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way . Massachusettes: Three Pines Press, 2005.