In traditional Chinese medicine, practiced for thousands of years, all things—both substances as well as processes—have yin and yang qualities. Yin is feminine, yang is masculine. Yin is cold and wet, yang is hot and dry.
Yin (the black section of the symbol) represents shadows, feminine energy, and generally the more mysterious side of things. Yang (the white section of the symbol) represents the sun, masculine energy, and things that are more out in the open.
Yang is used to characterize warmth, energy, motion, loudness and light. It is represented by the color white. Yin represents things that are cooler, quieter, more still and darker. It is characterized by the color black. Example: Daytime is characterized as more Yang, whereas night is characterized as more Yin.
The yin-yang symbol (also known as the Tai Chi symbol) consists of a circle divided into two halves by a curved line. One half of the circle is black, typically representing the yin side; the other is white, for the yang side. A dot of each color is situated near the center of the other's half.
Yin characteristics: passive, negative, darkness, earth, north slope, cloudy, water, softness, female, moisture, night-time, downward seeking, slowness, consuming, cold, odd numbers, and docile aspects of things.
(in Chinese philosophy and religion) two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin ), and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang ), whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.
The taegeuk, which has long been a commonly used motif, denotes the harmony between the negative cosmic forces (yin : blue portion) and the positive cosmic forces (yang : red portion), depicting the truth of nature that all things are created and evolve through the interaction of yin and yang.
Yin: Yin is characterized as negative, passive, and feminine. It represents the energy of the Earth and moon. It is often described as receptive, dark, cool, soft, still, and contemplative. Yang: Yang is portrayed as positive, active, and masculine.
The Yin, or the dark side, is associated with everything hard, negative, cold, wet, and feminine. The Yang, or the light side, is associated with things soft, positive, warm, dry, and masculine.
Yin is a symbol of earth, femaleness, darkness, passivity, and absorption.
In feng shui, yin energy is considered to be slow, cool, wet, and dark. It is related to curves, inactivity, and softness. The energy of the moon is more yin. Other descriptive qualities include invisible and relaxed.
Food can be described as strongly yin (cold), yin (fresh), neutral, yang (warm), and strongly yang (hot). Yin food 'refreshes' the body. Almost all green vegetables are included in this category – artichokes, spinach, cucumbers and so on.
While yang and yin are not exclusively defined as “male” and “female,” and either sex can be considered yin or yang within a given context, in terms of their most general relation to one another, yin references the female and yang the male.
A person with prominent yin energy exhibits a passive attitude to life. This person is laid back and often fairly quiet in social situations. A yin person enjoys solitude and a quiet, peaceful environment. Yin people are very nurturing and enjoy creating a home (nest) for themselves and their family.
We can think about Yin as an aspect of sacred feminine energy that plays an important role in the balancing act of the universe and every living thing. Yin is the energy of spaciousness, softness, patience, slowing down, restoration, and ease.
The relativity of yin and yang in Chinese philosophy also applies to mood regulation. In one of the studies I conducted during my Masters in Beijing, I found that emotions tend to shift from one pole to another, i.e. yang emotions (joy, anger) shifting into yin emotions (sadness, fear) and vice versa.
Positive, or yang, polarities are fire and air signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Negative, or yin, are water and earth signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.
Yang types are more active, extroverted and ambitious, while Yin types are peaceful, relaxed, and easygoing. Yang people are more about radical change, dramatics, and standing out from the crowd. Yin personalities are more hesitant, emotional, and read into things.
2, 16 The individuals with Yang personality (high SPQ total score) are shown to be extroverted, sociable, flexible, carefree, irritable and emotional, and those with Yin personality (low SPQ total score) are introverted, inhibited, consistent, thoughtful, calm and stable with previous studies.
Elephant Journal summarizes the character traits of yin or yang dominance in its article entitled “Yin or Yang: What's Your Romantic Personality Type?” They describe a “yin dominant” personality as one that: places a priority on relaxation and calm. avoids conflict and is “passive” in decision making.
Some elements nourish each other and some elements control each other. Water is the most yin for example. It's slow, dark, and cold. Fire is the most yang.
Yin is a symbol of earth, femaleness, darkness, passivity, and absorption. It is present in even numbers, in valleys and streams, and is represented by the tiger, the colour orange, and a broken line. Yang is conceived of as heaven, maleness, light, activity, and penetration.
Hence we can discern two different types of yin: Petite yin is characterised by small hands and feet, small noses and delicate bone structure etc. Features that are lush yin are large eyes, full lips, and hourglass silhouettes etc. Yang, on the other hand, manifests as angularity and sharpness.
“Yang” refers to features that are more angular, sharp, long, or blunt, while “yin” features are more rounded, curved, short, or soft. “Yin” and “yang” are neutral descriptors, according to Kibbe.