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Discover Daoism
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Discover Daoism
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YinYang, one inseparable word in Chinese ancient philosophy as understanding and interpretation of nature, human and everything upon. It is a concept, an idea, a guidance in use throughout Chinese history and now it has spread beyond boarders.
It first appeared in the Book of Change, “易有太极，是生两仪。。。”-“Yi, the change has Taiji from which created YinYang.” Taiji contains the changing force which is YinYang. Everything has YinYang in itself.
Somethings represent Yin, like moon reflecting only the light from the Sun which represent Yang; valleys absorb water and shadows are the symbol of Yin while mountains stand out for fire, sunlight and thunders are the symbol of Yang, but valleys and mountains have also their own YinYang characters.
Yinyang concept is also one of the fundamental theories in traditional Chinese medicine, TCM. There is a practice called “Yangsheng 养生” in TCM which means nurture life. This practice is based on the YinYang 阴阳 theory and another important theory Wuxing 五行, the five elements.
TCM believes that human body as whole functions as YinYang forces interact with each other to create life, to make the body healthy. YinYang inside of the body needs to be nurtured and kept in balance.
Wuxing theory in TCM believes that there are 5 major organs - liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney aligned with natures 5 elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, water in 5 seasons – spring, summer, long-summer, autumn, winter respectfully. The 5-organs Wuzang 五脏 have 6 sub-organ systems Liufu 六腑 which are YinYang aligned to each other – liver to gut, heart to small intestine, spleen to stomach, lung to large intestine, kidney to bladder and 1 channel system san jiao 三焦 which carry through fluids, energy and informations in the body. Wuzang (5-organs) function as storage for energy, fluids and spirits(the drive) Jing Qi Shen 精气神 and Liufu (6 sub-organ systems) function as detoxify purify mechanisms. So Wuzang presents Yin as to store and Liufu presents Yang as to transfer; within Wuzang, heart and lungs are Yang, spleen, kidney and liver are Yin. Paired organs influence each other, as all organs work in Wuxing system with mutual promotive and restrain forces to reinforce and neutralize in order to keep whole body in balance.
Healthy body comes from the balance living – balanced diet, balanced sleep and balanced exercise. In order to bring it in balance, the body needs to follow a healthy path of 五行 Wuxing, 5 elements; 五脏 Wuzang, 5-organs; 五味 Wuwei, 5 tastes; 五季 Wuji, 5 seasons; 五色 Wuse, 5 colors (of food).
There is also a path within 24-hour living schedule of the body: 12 Shi Chen 时辰 (1 Shi Chen is 2 hours)
