The properties of things signified by yin and yang are quite abstract. in order to make the meaning of yin and yang explicit, people in ancient China used specific things, namely water and fire, as metaphors to analogize. Since water and fire are opposite to each other in nature and reflect the basic characteristics of yin and yang, they are used as the signifiers of yin and yang in Huangdi Neijing. Comparatively speaking, fire is warm, bright, active and up-flaming; while water is cold, dim, static and downward-moving. That is why it is stipulated in Huangdi neijing that "water is yin and fire is yang".
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 00:52:36 +0000
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