With a well-recognized symbol, the concept of yin and yang evolved in the Taoist religion. The terms yin and yang originally referred to the dark and sunlit sides of a mountain, respectively. The key understanding is that the shadowy and sunny sides of the mountain combine to make a unified whole. The two sides are different, but they are not separate and do not struggle with one another. One does not exist without the other; they are interrelated. Complementary opposites, such as male and female, are at the heart of Yin-Yang philosophy. Taoists believe that these paired opposites are always attempting to find a balance. It is difficult to find a single word in English to express this philosophy; the closest translation would be balance.

Seasons also have Yin-Yang energy. The fall season, in particular, is considered a time of transition. As temperatures cool down, Yin energy (cool) increases and Yang energy (heat) decreases. Fall winds blow away humidity, and as a result, the body’s fluid balance is depleted, which is believed to lead to dry coughing and sore throats. As the weather changes, the body’s immune system is weakened and struggles to come into balance, which could make it easier to catch a cold.

What is the significance of the Yin-Yang symbol?

The outer circle represents "everything," while the black and white shapes within the circle represent the interaction of two energies, called "Yin" (black) and "Yang" (white), which cause everything to happen. The reversed dots in each side represent the idea that a seed of light (Yang) lies within the dark (Yin) and a seed of dark (Yin) lies within the light (Yang). They are not completely black or white, just as things in life are not completely black or white. For example, in every female there are some aspects of male and vice-versa. The familiar "black fish, white fish" design gives a sense of continual movement of these two energies and expresses the interrelationship of apparent opposites.

Examples of Yin-Yang

Taoist philosophy views the universe as a whole divided into parts by terms that are complementary-paired concepts. Here are a few examples of Yin-Yang pairings:

	Yin:		Yang:
	Female		Male
	Downward		Upward
	Cold		Hot
	Passive		Active
	The Moon		The Sun
	Winter		Summer