In Chinese philosophy, there exists a duality in everything,
represented by the [yin-yang] concept. The [yin-yang]
represents a balance between “Female”
This balance is applicable to a whole spectrum of situations
ranging from astronomy to Chinese medicine, from digital
technology to events in nature.
(Note that other than the common radical, the word [yin] has
the moon as its component while the word [yang] has the sun.
The sun and the moon represent two forms of light, one
dazzling bright, the other comfortable, warm glow)
This duality of [yin] and [yang] is better understood if we
look at the simplicity of extremely complex scenarios, be it
man-made or created by God.
[Yin-yang] and its endless creativity
Take the Information Technology, perhaps the most important
development in the 20th Century and beyond. A whole range of
our present day activities would not be possible without it.
Home and office computers analyse complex data, trends,
projections, reports, complete with texts, graphics, sounds,
videos, animations, as well as interaction at extremely fast
speeds. With appropriate software, we could also simulate
scenarios, carry out product development, market research,
and more importantly make decisions!
Through the Internet we connect with millions of individuals
or enterprises anywhere in the World. Communication through
websites, email, and videoconference dramatically changes
personal lives and business practices.
Few people realise that at the fundamental “machine
language” level texts, pictures, sounds, videos and
animation are known to the computer as a series of ons and
offs, plus or minus, represented as  or . A digitised
picture, for example, is represented by a matrix of dots
across the screen; each dot assigned a code representing the
colour and tone. It is obvious that in the final analysis, a
fascinating picture is no more than a matrix of dots,
represented by  or  in an organised and sequential
Once this is appreciated, it is easy to understand how image
processing software uses the speed and power of the computer
to edit pictures, whereby images could be merged,
superimposed, or modified to obtain the effects of colour,
stroke, light, shade, contrasts, smudging, and so on.
Similarly digitised voice or sounds can also be represented
by a series of  and . Modern mobile phones are
digitised, so that they can link with computers and other
digital equipment. Digital Television provides interaction
with the viewer. Indeed a whole range of hitherto unrelated
activities such as computerised graphics design, animation,
simulation, picture and sound production, MP3, printing,
artificial intelligence, on-line trading and education, is
evolving at an incredibly fast rate—based on simple  and
Indeed anything digital, from television to palm-top, from
photography to animation, arises from the simple binary,
Having looked at a an interesting contemporary application
of the centuries old concept of duality, let us see if we
could find words that adequately contain the following
notions inherent in [yin-yang] concepts.
The argument might seem to be paradoxical or contradictory
at first glance.
[Yin] and [yang] are equal and opposite
Recognition of the equality and opposing nature of the two
entities is crucial to the appreciation of balance of power,
as well as interdependence of things in nature. This applies
across the whole spectrum of parameters. For example when [yīn]
is associated with females and [yáng] associated with males
the two are equal and opposite.
[Yin] and [yang] are well defined
Every entity, parts of human body, food material, physical
concepts such as heat and cold, high and low, directions,
taste, etc., is either [yin] or [yang].
aspect in nature is distinct,
definite and consistent. For example outer surface is always
designated as [yang] and inner surface designated [yin].
[Yin] and [yang] are rooted to each other
Without [yin] there is no [yang] and without [yang] there is
no [yin]. Once again this is obvious in partnership, be it
marital or business. It follows that for it to work [yin-yang]
controls each other, restrains each other and work together
as a coherent entity. Within [yang] there is a touch of
[yin] and within [yin] there is always a tinge of [yang]. If
we take [yang] as male, the outer part, for example the skin
is [yang] while the inner part [yin] within the same entity.
[Yin] and [yang] are in dynamic equilibrium
Mutual dependence and restraint requires compromises, give
This dynamic equilibrium is only attained when the energies
are balanced, just as the force of electrons and protons
must be balanced for matter to be stable. This unity, mutual
restraint and interdependence cannot be over-emphasised.
[Yin] and [yang] evolve
of human moods or economic cycle; there are periods of ups
and downs. Periods of growth would inevitably give rise to
recession. Recession cannot last and is always followed by
Consider the following:
Success only exists where there is failure to be compared
with. Brightness is only meaningful if one has experienced
darkness. If one surface of the earth were to face the sun
all the time there would be brightness always, but probably
no one would think that it is bright, since there is no
darkness to contrast with.
Rather than dealing with familiar but simplistic, absolute
values such as good and evil, right and wrong, the real
world requires interpretation of relative values of [yin]
This is why we only appreciate happiness when we can compare
it to sadness. If there were only good people in this world,
how would one know what is it to be good?
In practice [yin]
relative values. In other words there is simply no absolute
truth or value. Duality or polarity refers to different
facets of the same feature. They refer to both sides of the
same coins, not different coins.
This view of life permeates all aspects of Chinese thinking.
In practical terms