Yin and Yang are aspects of a whole (called T'ai Chi). These aspects can of course also be wholes, but from a different level of analysis. Thus yin and yang can be used to represent any elements of a dichotomy in that they serve as 'holders' into which we 'pour' the two elements of the dichotomy (they are a template or mold).
Aspects have three basic forms:
Static Relational - like the diameter of a circle to it's circumference.
Dynamic Relational - like the Earth's movement around the Sun.
Removeable - These are considered as parts that, when removed from the whole, can serve as wholes in their own
right.
The last form is of interest in that the manner of perception, or one's intent, will decide whether the parts are seen as aspects or as wholes. (For a perspective on this see Particles and Waves)
Yin and yang have some 'fixed' values (eg yin to contract and yang to expand) which help the user determine which goes where, but at the same time the nature of the elements of a dichotomy are controlled by context. Thus male can be yin but is more often linked to yang, as female can be yang but is more often linked to yin. As an example of possible pairings that fall within the context of yang and yin the this link expresses brain biases. Please note that these serve as biases or as absolutes; it is all a matter of one's perspective and intent.
The I Ching shows the 'reality' of the pairings in the above link in that the elements of a dichotomy are mixed in different ways and thus the 'ideals' are projecting into 'reality' which is more of a continuum than discrete. Within the I Ching we can use the same dichotomy for each line or we can find replacement dichotomies for each line as long as they are within the context of the previous line's dichotomy. Either way we get the same result, and it is this 'feature' that gives use 'meaning'.
The above-mentioned feature enables us to make analogies across many disciplines since all disciplines with dichotomous roots are metaphors for describing wholes and their aspects; thus the I Ching is an example of the categorization of wholes and their aspects by dichotomous means and so many people 'see' other disciplines within it (eg Mathematics). What they are in fact 'seeing' is the dichotomy template, a structure I propose that has neurological form as an abstract sense, rather than just a process of 'mapping' we have learnt. (See Abstract to "The Sense of Dichotomy")
Backspace, or click GO/Back, to return to previous page
OR
Return To IC+ HomePage