The meaning of yin and yang

Philosophical Meaning of Yin and Yang: Yin and Yang are the basic categories of China's ancient philosophy. Qi is one thing and two bodies, divided into yin and yang. Yin and Yang are the attributes of the unity of opposites of Qi itself, which means the unity of opposites. The so-called "Yin and Yang are divided into two" (Yin and Yang Meridian). Yin and Yang is a dialectical relationship, which is both opposite and unified. The unity of opposites between Yin and Yang is the universal law of the universe: Yin and Yang not only run through China's ancient philosophy, but also combine with astronomy, calendar, medicine, agriculture and other specific disciplines-and become the theoretical basis of each specific discipline, promoting the development of each specific discipline. The opposition, mutual root, growth and decline and transformation of Yin and Yang constitute the contradictory movement of Yin and Yang, which has become the basic content of Yin and Yang theory.

The difference between yin and yang and contradiction: although yin and yang have the meaning of unity of opposites, they are essentially different from the contradictory category of materialist dialectics. This difference is manifested in:

(1) Limitations of the category of yin and yang: materialist dialectics holds that the opposites contained in everything are contradictions. In the category of contradiction, there is no other restriction on the nature of opposition except the unity of opposites. Unity of opposites is the most common phenomenon in the universe. Therefore, the category of contradiction is applicable to all fields, and it is the most abstract and general generalization of things and phenomena. The category of Yin and Yang has both the nature of unity of opposites and some other special provisions, which belong to a specific contradiction. Yin and Yang are relational categories that express certain trends and sexual characteristics of things. Therefore, although Yin and Yang are all-encompassing and universal, in the infinite universe, Yin and Yang are, after all, a limited and concrete form of contradiction, whose connotation and extension are far less than the scope of contradiction, and its scope of application is as follows: fixed boundaries can only explain and summarize things and phenomena in the universe to a certain extent, and cannot be used to explain social phenomena. In addition, for materialist dialectics, the two sides of specific contradictions, such as master and slave, which is master and which is slave, depend on the specific situation. The theory of yin and yang holds that in the contradiction of interdependence between yin and yang, under normal circumstances, yang is dominant and yin is subordinate, that is, yang dominates and yin follows. Among the yin and yang of the human body, it is emphasized that yang is the foundation, yang is the solid, and yin must follow it. "In places where Yin and Yang are important, Yang is dense ... Yang can't be dense, and Yin can't exist." "If Yang is in the sky and the sun, it will lose its place too early, so heaven should be clear with the sun" (Su Wen, Anger and Heaven). Yang is the dominant factor in life. If it is abnormal and unstable, people will die young. Therefore, in the treatment of diseases, it is advocated that "both qi and blood should be emphasized, and qi should be supplemented first and then blood should be supplemented; Both yin and yang are needed, and supplementing yang is yin deficiency (on fire, water and yin). In a word, the theory of Yin and Yang specifically defines the nature of the two sides of the contradiction, one belongs to Yin, the other belongs to Yang, and Yang is dominant, and Yin is obedient. Generally speaking, this master-slave relationship is fixed, which also shows the particularity and limitations of Yin-Yang theory.

(2) Intuitiveness of the category of Yin and Yang: The contradictory category of materialist dialectics is based on a high degree of scientific abstraction and is the fundamental law of the universe. However, due to the limitation of the level of scientific development at that time, the category of Yin and Yang could not go beyond the breadth and depth of intuitive observation, and there was no strict scientific expression, which often contained certain speculative elements.