Yáng is difficult to define without Yin, since these two qualities are defined by complementarity. The famous tai chi sign clearly illustrates this close interweaving of yin and yang. Originating in the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, this symbol represents a model of all the phenomena of creation, explaining both the complementary nature of the forces involved, and their capacity for adaptation and transformation. Yin and Yang are thus inseparable from life in general, and movement in particular.
The yáng represented in white (or red) is the emblem of Heaven, masculinity, action, immateriality, warmth and lightness….
Yin, represented in black, is a quality that can take many forms. It is the emblem of Earth, femininity, receptivity, materiality, cold, density (heaviness)…
According to Taoist philosophy, yin and yang complement each other: as yang increases, yin decreases and vice versa. And the points present in each of the opposites – white point (Yang) in Yin and black point (Yin) in Yang – mean that each carries the seed of the complementary quality.
This model is used in TCM – along with that of the five elements – to identify and treat any energy imbalances that may be the source of pathologies.