Yin-Yang
/jɪnˈjæŋ/noun
A concept from Chinese philosophy representing dualism and balance between opposite forces.
Did you know?Yin-Yang is not just a symbol of balance; its roots in Taoism suggest that all existence is a dance of opposites, each containing a seed of the other!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Sino-Tibetan
PST
*ɯ̥ɯn
“darkness, shadow”
Old Chinese
OC
陰 (Yin)
“the shady side (of a hill), dark, feminine”
Old Chinese
OC
陽 (Yang)
“the sunny side (of a hill), bright, masculine”
Medieval Chinese
MC
陰陽 (Yin-Yang)
“the dual forces of nature, representing balance”
Modern Chinese
MC
阴阳 (Yin-Yang)
“the philosophical concept of dualism in nature, symbolizing interdependence and balance”