Yin and Yang

The theory of Yin and yang is the basis of the old Chinese philosophy. Yin originally means dark side of the mountain and yang means the sun side. On the body the yang meridians are on the side that is normally in the sun (the back) and the yin meridians are on the shadow side (the front).

Yin and yang are manifested everywhere and all movement and changes are in between them. These movements we call ‘life’. We use the words yin and yang to describe this life. Yin and yang are no definitions, but a method to describe changes. A man is more yang than a woman. But a young woman is more yang than an old woman. Yin and yang describe relationships. There is no absolute yang or absolute yin.

A few characteristics of yang and yin are:


Every yin organ is related to a yang organ with a similarly function. Lung/large intestine: excretion and inhalation spleen/stomach: storage kidney/bladder: purifying heart/small intestine: quality of the blood liver/gallbladder: distribute energy.