The Yin and Yang of Masculine and Feminine

August 18, 2017 1 0 Lifestyle, Relationship

By Penelope Rodriguez, WPUNJ student writer

According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, there are two complementary principles of
Chinese philosophy, those of Yin and Yang. They examine the principles that all things exist
as inseparable and contradictory opposites. Examples, provided by Dictionary.com, show
that Yin Yang can vary from hot-cold, high-low, female-male, and positive-negative.

Dictionary.com also defines Yin and Yang separately, stating that Yin is “negative, dark and
feminine,” and Yang is, “positive, bright and masculine.”

The interaction between Yin and Yang is thought to maintain the synchronization of the
universe and to inspire everything within it. Yin and yang has fundamental philosophies
behind history, culture, religion, government and business. There are plenty of differences
between females and males through the principles of Yin and Yang.

Yin and yang create a perfect balance, the concept of duality. In a Chinese Cultural Study ,
women have yin energy while men are considered to be more yang. Women are sweet,
weak, and are a positive force of preservation of life. Men are dominating, aggressive and
protective towards their yin.

The website, Human Sexuality in the Chinese Culture states that China’s gender roles face
challenging views leaving women at home while men were able to have a sense of freedom.
Since women were obedient to their fathers, the “man of the house,” it continued as
tradition to also obey husbands. Similar to other cultures, this article from Human Sexuality
in the Chinese Culture, explains that women at young ages are married young: They are
expected to cook, clean, and provide for their husbands.

Women as Yin

In this article in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Ban Zhao (45-120 C.E.), author of
Nüjie (Admonitions for Women), is quoted as believing that, “women should be
conservative, humble, and quiet in expressing ritual or filial propriety as their virtue.”
In the same way, a woman’s speech should not be “flowery” or persuasive, but yielding and
circumspect. Ban Zhao also implied that women should pay close attention to her
appearance. A woman “must” be clean and proper, and act especially carefully around
guests and in public. Her work consists mainly in household practicalities, such as weaving
and food preparation.

As tradition expands over the years, countries attempt to modernize their traditions.
Traditions for women of being stay at home wives are decreasing. Women are marrying
later, getting an education, and working in the labor force. China is one of the most
populous countries. According to catalyst.org, 48.6% of China’s population are composed of
women, 72% of those that are mothers are working, 50% are enrolled at secondary schools,
64% work in the labor force. Women are now contributing to the household income being
viewed equally to men.

Men as Yang

Under the yin and yang perspective, being a man in China comes with a lot of baggage. As
head of the household, men are expected to control every aspect of their family’s life.

Tania Branigan, lead writer and China correspondent for the Guardian, writes that in many
cases, they are also responsible for maintaining their family’s blood line. Husbands being the
yang means that they are dominant, insistent and responsible for taking care of yin. Men
carry the family name and are more respected. Because of this, males have to assure that
their child is birthed male.

International Business Times writer, Michelle Florcruz, reported that in China, there are
schools in which boys and girls spend 30 minutes developing their masculine traits. Boys
play with pint-size versions of sports equipment, like baseballs, golf clubs, race cars and
bows and arrows.

Although yin and yang are a natural occurring balance within the Chinese culture, it must
not be taken to the extreme to say that men and women are equal. Yes, they create
harmony and balance but their roles cannot determine gender equality within the culture.
Their “balance” is women are to implement to clean, cook, and other duties while men
provide, sexually and physically.