The Taijitu
Probably one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Daoism is the taijitu. It’s also commonly referred to as the “yin-yang”, or tai’chi symbol. Recently someone asked me if the depiction of the symbol with the dark side rising was “bad”. I think this stems from a common misconception which seems to be prevalent in Western thought. Dark is bad, light is good. If you depict the dark side on the left, giving the appearance that its swirling into a top, or dominant position, then it is implying that the bad is stronger or somehow overcoming the good.
Yin, is represented by the dark color and means “shady place” while yang is the lighter color and means “sunny place”. The swirling symbol containing these two concepts is called the taijitu and means “diagram of the supreme ultimate”.
The idea being conveyed is that all things are comprised of duality. There cannot be shadow without light. There cannot be men without women. Concepts such as good cannot exist without a complementary concept of bad. However this should not be taken as the dark represents intrinsically undesirable traits. After all, Yin classically represents “female” and Yang represents “male”. To infer that the female is negative from this or that the male is superior is missing the point.
Yin and Yang are both equal parts of the whole. They cannot exist without each other. The taijitu is purposefully represented to suggest a swirling motion. This means that all positions of the interaction are constantly changing which relates the idea of balance.
In Western thought however, we like static symbols. A five pointed star takes on different meaning to some if the single point is depicted at the top instead of the inverted position. One is considered positive and the other is considered negative. The same is common with the Christian cross. Inverted, it is commonly seen as representing the opposite. This is a distinct difference from the purpose of the taijitu. There are no different meanings no matter how it is “turned” when presented.
It’s important to keep in mind that all symbols are neutral. The only “meaning” they bear is what is applied to them by the viewer. This is best illustrated by the swastika. It’s commonly known that the symbol existed long before the Nazi party adopted it. Yet because of its use to represent an ideology which brought us one of the most horrific periods of modern history, it’s practically universally recognized as being negative.
Daoism is not a system that promotes one concept over the other. It recognizes that duality is a core element of nature. We do not strive to abolish yin or yang as they are dependent upon each other. There is no “inverted” position of the taijitu. The motion it is meant to depict implies there is not a static position.
People can certainly infer whatever meaning they want on a symbol for themselves and no one can stop them. However that meaning comes from them, not the symbol, nor from Daoism.
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