Theory of Yin and Yang in TCM - Beijing University of TCM

Theory of Yin-Yang
Shuran Ma
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
• Basic concept of yin-yang
• Basic components of the theory of yin-yang
• Application of the theory of yin-yang in TCM

Basic concept of yin-yang
Basic concept of yin-yang
• Yin and yang are the summarization of the
• Heaven-earth;
attributes of two opposite aspects of correlative
things or phenomena in nature. They not only

• Man-woman
stand for two opposite things or phenomena, but • Shady side or sunny side of a hill
also can be used to analyze two opposite aspects
• North side or south side of a
within one thing, which represents the principle
river
of the unity of two opposites.
• 《 Classified Canon 》：“yin-yang，one divides
into two.”
Principle:本质，本义；根源
Evolution of basic concept of yin-yang
At first only means towards and back of sunlight：
the sunny side－－yang，the shady side －－yin
mountain south－－yang
mountain north----yin
River south-----yin?or yang?
River north---- yang?or yin?
Yang can convert water to gas

Yin can convert gas into water
Dewdrop-----early moring
No Dewdrop-----at noon
The Water Becomes Vapour
When the sun rises
Concept of light in the daytime and dark at night
daytime -----yang
dark at night-----yin
yang yin
• Towards sun refers to yang, back of it means yin—original

concept of “light and dark”
 Towards sun：warm, day, lightness, earth-qi evaporate upward,

move in the day, south-- yang
 Back of sun ： cold and cool, night, darkness, heaven-qi drop

downward, quiet at night, north-- yin
• Increase connotation of the property of heat and cold, day and

night, up and down, rise and drop, south and north, dynamic and
static.
• At first yin-yang only refers to towards and back of sunlight, towards sun refers to yang,
back of it means yin
• Then extend in meaning of cold and warm in climate, up and down, left and right,
internal and external in location, movement and silence and all the phenomenon of
pros and cons优点和缺点
• Everything in the world contains two opposites----yin and yang. The world is the
outcome of the unity of opposites of yin and yang and their contradictory movement.
矛盾的运动
《Lao Zi》：“Everything has both two aspects of yin-yang .”
《Lao Zi》：All things carry the yin at at its back and hold yang in front.
《Yi Zhuan》：“Each Yin-yang means doctrine of ‛dao’.”
Theory of yin-yang
• Yin-yang theory illustrates the initiation and development of things and the
law of change by using the unity of opposites between yin and yang.
• 《Plain Questions》:“yin and yang serve as the law of the heavens and
the earth, the fundamental principle of all things, the parents of changes,
the beginning of birth and death and the storehouse of spirits（shenming
）. ” (shenming:intrinsic power of an object responsible for the movement and
transformation of an object)
• Yin-yang theory holds that the world is material; everything in the world
contains two opposites----yin and yang. The world is the outcome of the unity
of opposites of yin and yang and their contradictory movement.
Features of Yin and Yang
• Relevance（相关性）--one category, one level
• Property Stipulation（规定性）-- must be based on the

predetermined conditions, as outlined in the table below, and
cannot be reversed
• Generality（普遍性）--various changes of all the different kinds

of things can be generalized by the law of unity of opposites
between yin and yang
• Relativity （相对性）-- --the property of yin and yang is not

absolute and unchangeable, but rather it is relative and
changeable
• Relevance （相关性）-- one category, one level
 the opposite things and phenomena differentiated by yin and
yang must belong to one category, one level
 not belong to the same category or the same aspect, the same
level so cannot be differentiated by yin and yang
For example: up-down，male-female，water-fire，qi-blood，can
be used to differentiate yin and yang
For example: apple-pencil，table-rice，cannot be used to
differentiate yin and yang
Appliance ，tool ，utensil——pencil，table
• Property Stipulation （规定性）-- must be based on the predetermined
conditions, as outlined in the table below, and cannot be reversed
tem hu brig
prope tim sea
location pera mid htne State of motion Functional status
rty e son
ture ity ss
Spri
ng, m hype
u outs le sout heav war qui excit gasi
yang day su dry light rise ov rfun
p ide ft h en m ck e fy
mm e ction
er
Aut
d
ri um sil
o insi nort nig moi dro slo inhib rece for
yin g earth n, cold dark en
w de h ht st p w it ssion m
ht win ce
n
ter
• Generality （普遍性）-- various changes of all the different
kinds of things can be generalized by the law of unity of
opposites between yin and yang
 Generality refers to the fact that differentiating things by yin
and yang are not limited to specific things, but exists
generally in various things which are both opposite and
complementary to each other in the natural world
 《Plain Questions》:“yin and yang serve as the law of the
heavens and the earth, the fundamental principle of all
things, the parents of changes, the beginning of birth and
death and the storehouse of shenming. ”
• Relativity （相对性）-- --the property of yin and yang is not
absolute and unchangeable, but rather it is relative and
changeable
 Different comparison object，different property of yin and
yang：water-ice，water-vapour
 mutual transformation：yin and yang can be mutually
transformed into its opposite under certain circumstances.
Such as：The cold abundance results in heat and the heat
abundance results in coldness，Yang in its extreme gives
rise to yin，yin in its extreme will give rise to yang.
 infinite divisibility ：yang within yin, yin within yang，yin-yang
can be divided among yin-yang
Infinite divisibility of yin-yang
noon For example:

yang within yang yin within yang √ daytime is yang, and night is
yin.
√ In daytime, morning is the
morning dusk
yang within yang, and
afternoon is the yin within yang.
√ at night, the former half of
yang within yin yin within yin
the night is yin within yin, and
midnight
the latter half of the night is
yang within yin.
Basic components of the
theory of yin-yang
Interaction and Inter-accommodation between Yin and Yang交感互藏
√ The interaction between yin and yang is the prerequisite for the generation
and changes of all things on earth.
√ Ancient Chinese philosophers hold that the generation and changes of all things
on earth depend on the interaction between yin and yang.
√ Just as stated in the chapter of Discourse on Ritual Principles in Xunzi
√ 《荀子•礼论》 : “when the heaven and the earth conjoin, the myriad things are
begot; when the yin and yang principles combine, transformations and
transmutations are produced ““天地合而万物生，阴阳接而变化起。
√ It is stated in “On Taiji Diagram“《太极图说》 In a harmonious state

“ Yang-qi and yin-qi interact, and the myriad
things are begot”. “二气交感，化生万物” yin-qi Yang-qi
√ These classical texts illustrate that the interaction
the interaction and combination
and combination of yin and yang in a
harmonious state are the primordium for the generation and changes of all things
generation and changes of all things on the earth.
√ The emergence of the vital human body and its
earth heaven
continuity from generation to generation is also
the result of the interaction between the heaven
female male
and the earth, yin-qi and yang-qi. It is produced
by the interaction between male and female.
The emergence of the vital human
body and its continuity
√ The inter-accommodation of yin and yang is the motivational source of the interaction
between yin and yang.
√ Anything or any phenomenon in nature contains elements of two different attributes

of yin and yang.
√ That is to say, one object or phenomenon pertains to yin, but it also contains elements
of yang; while another object or phenomenon pertains to yang, but it can also contain
elements of yin.
√ The hidden elements of yin within yang and yang within yin have important regulating
and controlling functions on the tendency of an object to move in a certain way.
heaven-qi
For example,
√ heaven-qi pertains to yang, and the reason
why it has a tendency to fall downward
yang-qi yin-qi
instead of rising up is that heaven-qi contains
yin-qi, and when the yin-qi accumulates to a will drop in the form of rain
certain degree, it will drop in the form of rain.
√ Conversely, earth-qi pertains to yin, and the rise to form clouds
reason why it has a tendency to rise up instead
of falling downward is that when the yang-qi
contained in it accumulates to a certain degree
it will rise to form clouds.
yang-qi yin-qi
earth-qi
Opposition and Restriction between Yin and Yang
• Concepts
 Opposition：means contrary，such as：cold and heat、light and dark、
water and fire and so on
 Restriction：yin and yang with opposite properties suppress and restrict
mutually in one unit
• Meanings
√achieve a dynamic equilibrium through mutual restriction and mutual
struggle
√ Such as：“treating cold with hot drugs，treating hot with cold drugs”
√ 《Doctor Change in A Supplement in Classification Classic》《类经附翼·医
易》“Those being too dynamic should be restrained by stillness, and
those of yin predominance can be overcome by yang”
Mutual Rooting and Reciprocity of Yin and Yang
• Concept
 Mutual rooting：Yin and yang are mutually rooting. Yang is rooted in yin, and yin is
rooted in yang
 For example, the upper belongs to yang and the lower to yin, without the lower there
would be no upper because there is no point of reference for comparison
 Reciprocity: means the relationship of mutual generation and promotion
 Take qi and blood as an example, qi pertains to yang while blood belongs to yin. Qi can
promote the production of blood and is also contained in blood.
 Meanings：《Classified Canon 》“yang generated in yin， yin generated in yang”
“the solitary yin and solitary yang cannot exist in isolation”

Waning-Waxing and Equilibrium between Yin and Yang
• Concept：a dynamic balance of waning-waxing and equilibrium between yin and yang.
Waning means to decrease and decline, and waxing means to increase and rise.
• Such as：temperature of four seasons change:
winter spring summer：yin decreases and yang increases
summer autumn winter：yang decreases and yin increases
• Forms：opposition and restriction between yin and yang：yin decreases and yang increases,
yang decreases and yin increases
mutual rooting and reciprocity of yin and yang causes：yin decreases and yang
decreases, yang increases and yin increases

Mutual Transformation between Yin and Yang
• Concept： the property of yin or yang can transform into the opposite aspect under
certain conditions
• Such as：The cold abundance results in heat and the heat abundance results in coldness，
Yang in its extreme gives rise to yin，yin in its extreme will give rise to yang
 《Plain Questions》：““The extreme yin will turn into yang and the extreme yang will
turn into yin. So yin dominates over cold and yang dominates over heat. That is why
extreme cold leads to heat and vice versa. That is why it is said that cold generates heat
and heat produces cold. This is the mutual transformation of yin and yang.”
Mutual Transformation between Yin and Yang
 《Major Discussion on the Theory of Yin and Yang

and the Corresponding Relationships among All
the Things in Nature in Plain Questions》：“The
cold abundance results in heat and the heat
abundance results in coldness.”
• Inherent requirement ： mutual rooting and
reciprocity of yin and yang
• External conditions ： yin and yang develop into
extreme，heavy, very, even
Intrinsic Basis of Waning-Waxing and Transformation
Yin stored in yang, mutual rooting and reciprocity of yin and yang, yang is likely to
transform into yin
Solitary Solitary
yang yang yin
yang yin yin
Waning-Waxing balance transformation

Application of the theory of
yin-yang in TCM
Applications of the Yin-yang Theory in TCM
• Explaining the Structure of the Body—life cannot do without yin-

yang (Life is visible from Yin and Yang)
• Explaining Physiological Function--Only when yin is at peace and

yang is compact can essence-spirit be normal
• Explaining Pathological Changes—disorders of yin-yang
• Guiding Clinical Diagnosis--when the skilled diagnosticians examine

the countenance and feel the pulse, they differentiate yin and yang
first
• Guiding Treatment of Diseases--To observe carefully where the

disorder of yin and yang affect, and to regulate it, in order to
achieve the goal of re-establishing the balance
Explaining the Structure of the Body
• body surface（yang）
 the upper part of the body pertains to yang while the lower part to yin
 the left part of the body pertains to yang while the right part to yin
 the body surface pertains to yang while the interior of the body to yin
back--yang
back, waist--yang
waist--yin
 Chest, back, waist, abdomen
chest--yang
chest, abdomen--yin
abdomen--yin
• In the body（yin）
five zang-viscera--yin（internal，store essential and spiritual qi)
（1）zang-and-fu viscera
six fu-viscera--yang（external，transport and transform foodstuffs）

heart： yang within yang
liver : yang within yin

In five zang-viscera spleen：extreme yin within yin
lung：yin within yang
kidney：yin within yin
three yang meridians of hand and foot--yang
（2）main and collateral channels
three yin meridians of hand and foot--yin

Explaining Physiological Function
• paradoxical movement between substance and functions
 Yang-qi（yang）--promote metabolism of substance（stomach-qi--qi, blood, water fluid）
 Yin-essence（yin）--material basis of functional activities（ qi, blood, water fluid--stomach-

qi ）
• contradictory relation among substance：qi-yang，blood-yin；water-yang，fluid-yin
• paradoxical movement among functions：excite（yang）；inhibit（yin）
rise、out（yang）
interdependence between ascending and
The basic form of
descending
life activity
，opposite and complementary to each other
drop、in（yin）
Explaining Pathological Changes
1. Illustrating the nature of disease and yin-yang attributes of healthy-qi and evil-qi
wind, summer-heat, hotness---yang

Yin-yang six climatic evils( yang）
cold, dampness----yin
property of
pathogenesis
(pathogens)
Diet daily life, disorders of emotions（yin）
evil-qi
1. Illustrating the nature of disease and yin-yang attributes of healthy-qi and evil-qi
Yang-qi qi-Yang
Yin-yang Basic
property of qi substanses
healthy-qi
Yin-qi Essence,fluid, blood-Yin
2. Explaining the mechanism of

pathological changes
（1）Superiority of yin or yang
（2）Inferiority of yin and yang
（3）Mutual Impairment of Yin and Yang
（4）Transformation of Yin and Yang

（1）Superiority of yin or yang：the pathological state that either yin or yang has exceeded so as to go beyond
the physiological limit.
1）Superiority of yang：Superiority of yang resulting in heat, or predominance of yang making yin suffer
 concept ： the pathological changes caused by a yang pathogen invading the human body or
“pathogenic factors transforming into heat” which is manifested as a superabundance of yang-heat.
 characteristics： Superiority of yang resulting in heat——excess heat syndrome
 causes： a yang pathogen invading the human body ； pathogenic factors transforming into heat ；five
emotions causing fire ； qi depression 、 phlegm, blood stasis 、 dyspepsia( 消化不良 ) 、 parasitic
malnutrition(寄生虫营养不良) transform into heat
 performance：high temperature, coma昏迷，delirium谵语，profuse sweating，constipation--
 superiority of yang resulting in heat
thirstily、oliguria少尿-- predominance of yang making yin suffer

（1）Superiority of yin or yang：the pathological state that either yin or yang has
exceeded so as to go beyond the physiological limit.
2）Superiority of yin：Superiority of yin resulting in cold, predominance of yin making yang suffer
 concept：the pathological changes caused by a yin pathogen invading the human body or
“pathogenic factors transforming into cold” which is manifested as a superabundance of
yin-cold
 characteristics：Superiority of yin resulting in cold——excessive cold syndrome
 causes：evils of cold-dampness；eat something cold and raw too much
 Performance a cold body and limbs，no sweating-- superiority of yin resulting in coldness
 clear stool--predominance of yin making yang suffer

Superiority of yang excess
heat
Superiority resulting in heat, or syndrome treating heat with
of yang predominance of yang cold drugs
making yin suffer treating excess
Superiority
of yin or syndrome with
yang excessive purgative
Superiority of yin
cold method
Superiority resulting in cold, treating cold
syndrome
of yin with hot drugs
predominance of yin
making yang suffer
Max
Min
Balance between Superiority of yang Superiority of yin

yin and yang
（2）Inferiority of yin and yang： the pathological changes resulting from the
decline of yin or yang of human body to varying degrees but below the normal
level
1） Inferiority of yang ：Deficiency of yang leading to cold
 concept：deficiency of yang-qi of body， deficient yang fails to restrain yin
with a relative exuberance of yin-cold
 Characteristics：Deficiency of yang leading to cold——virtual cold syndrome
 Causes： Be congenitally deficient先天不足；acquired fails to be nourished—
disorders of eating，overwork；prolonged illness
 Performance： pale complexion，extreme chilliness
diarrhhea，spontaneous sweating
Fuzilizhong pills
（2）Inferiority of yin and yang： the pathological changes resulting from the decline of yin
or yang of human body to varying degrees but below the normal level
2） Inferiority of yin：Deficiency of yin leading to heat
 concept： Deficiency yin cannot restrain yang, so that the yang functions become
relatively hyperactive, so there appears the signs of heat.
 Characteristics：Deficiency of yin leading to heat——virtual heat syndromes
 Causes：long period of heat disease injures yin；five emotions causing fire injuring yin;
prolonged illness injures yin
 Performance：hot flashes, night sweats, feverish sensation over the five centers of
 the body , a dry mouth, a reddened tongue with very little tongue fur and a
 thready, rapid pulse
 Zhibaidihuang pills
Deficiency of
Inferiority yang leading deficiency- tonifying yang
to cold and cold
of yang for the virtual
hyperactivity cold
of yin syndromes
reinforcing
Inferiority of the
yin and yang deficiency
Deficiency of
deficiency
Inferiority yin leading to tonifying yin
-heat
of yin heat and for the virtual
hyperactivity heat
of yang syndromes
Max
Min
Balance between Inferiority Inferiority

yin and yang of yang of yin
（3）Mutual Impairment of Yin and Yang：Owing to the mutual rooting and morning
mutual promotion between yin and yang, when yin or yang deficiency reaches a
certain degree, yin impairment involving yang, or yang impairment involving yin
will appear.
1）Yin impairment involving yang
 concept：when yin deficiency reaches a certain degree, yang-qi cannot night

be generated and yang-deficiency might appear
 Performance：deficiency of kidney-yin（soreness and weakness of waist
and knees, a feverish sensation over the five centers）
deficiency of kidney-yang（fear of cold 、curling up ）
 Treatment：in the morning—nourish yang，at night—nourish yin

Impairment Yang
of Yang impairment
involving
Mutual Impairment yin
of Yin and Yang Deficiency of Nourish
Yin yin-yang yin-yang
Impairment impairment
of Yin involving
yang
Reinforcing Reinforcing
Yang from Yin Yin from Yang
Max
Min
Inferiority Deficiency Inferiority Deficiency

of yang of yin-yang of yin of yin-yang
（4）Transformation of Yin and Yang：the pathogenic changes such as superiority of yin and
yang, inferiority of yin and yang, and mutual impairment of yin and yang, under certain
conditions, may transform itself into its opposite
1）Yang syndrome transforming into yin syndrome
high fever, thirst, rapid pulse （Zixue pills紫雪丹）
lowering of the temperature, extreme cold limbs, and a faint pulse hardly detected（Dushen
soup独参汤）
2）Yin syndrome transforming into yang syndrome
Yin syndrome transforming into yang syndrome （Ganmao Qingre Granules感冒清热颗粒）
sore throat, yellowish snivel, yellowish sputum（Sangju ganmao tablet 桑菊感冒片）

Guiding Clinical Diagnosis
1. Guide diagnostic method--Four Diagnostic Methods Differentiated by Yin and Yang
 Inspection: a bright color ——yang
 a dark and gloomy color —— yin.
 Listening: loud, deep, rich voice ，high tone, talkativeness ，restlessness ——yang；
 a low and feeble voice, reserved and restful —— yin.
 Inquiry: a preference for cold and an aversion to heat ——yang；
 a preference for heat and an aversion to heat —— yin.
 Pulse: a superficial, large, surging, and slippery pulse pertains —— yang
 a deep, small, thready and choppy pulse —— yin.

urinary bladder kidney

2. Guide Patterns Differentiation -- Patterns

Differentiated by Yin and Yang
 eight principles for pattern differentiation：yin and

yang, external and internal, cold and heat, and
deficiency and excess
 External, excess and heat patterns ——yang
 Internal, deficiency and cold patterns —— yin

Guiding Treatment of Diseases
• 《Chapter of Discussion on the Most Important and Abstruse Theory in Plain Questions》
“To observe carefully where the disorder of yin and yang affect, and to regulate it, in
order to achieve the goal of re-establishing the balance.“
1. Determining the Therapeutic Principle——regulate yin-yang
• regulate yin-yang
the superiority of yin——heat what is cold

the superiority reducing the
of yin or yang surplus
the superiority of yang——cool what is hot
inferiority of yin—enriching yin to inhibit yang—

tonifying yin for the virtual heat syndromes
inferiority of yin reinforcing
or yang the
deficient
inferiority of yang—supplementing yang to restrain
yin—tonifying yang for the virtual cold syndromes
• Reinforcing Yang from Yin（阴中求阳）
 Concept：when tonifying yang, use some medicine of

tonifying yin properly , suitable for virtual yang
syndrome
• Reinforcing Yin from Yang （阳中求阴）
 Concept：when tonifying yin, use some medicine of

tonifying yang properly , suitable for virtual yin
syndrome
• “who is good at tonifying yang，must reinforce yang from yin ，then

yang generated infinitely due to the help of yin ; who is good at kidney-yang deficiency
tonifying yin ， must reinforce yin from yang ， then yin generated
infinitely due to the help of yang”
《Jing-yue complete works 》（《景岳全书》）
• Such as：yougui pill —suitable for syndrome of kidney-yang deficiency
Nourish yang（tusizi、lujiaojiao、duzhong、fuzi、rougui）
kidney-yin deficiency
Nourish yin（shudi、shangyao、shanyu、gouqi、dangui）
zuogui pill —suitable for syndrome of kidney-yin deficiency
Nourish yin （shudi、shanyao、shanyu、gouqi 、guiban）
Nourish yang （tusizi、lujiaojiao、chuanniuxi）
2. Summary of the Properties of Medicinals
 Use the bias of medicine to correct the bias of body
 four natures：warm, hot——yang；cold, cool——yin
monkshood ——warm, hot Coptis chinensis ——cold, cool

The five flavors ： acrid, sweet and bland——yang ；sour, bitter and salty——yin
medlar
Scallion——acrid
枸杞—— sweet Poria cocos ——bland
Direction of application ：Ascending, floating——yang；descending, sinking——yin
Ascending, floating descending, sinking

ascending and floating actions
• Ascending, descending, floating and sinking:
√ elevating yang
• refers to the directional tendencies of the medicinals after
√ relieving the exterior
entering the human body.
√ expelling wind and cold
• Herbs with actions of elevating yang（升阳）, relieving
√ vomiting and expectorating
the exterior（解表）, expelling wind and cold（发散风寒）,
√ opening the orifices
vomiting and expectorating（吐痰）, and opening the
orifices （开窍）have properties that are mostly
ascending and dispersing outward toward the exterior; belong to yang
they are characterized by ascending and floating actions,
so they belong to yang.
ascending and floating actions
• herbs with actions of purging, clearing heat,
promoting urination, tranquilizing the mind with √ purging清除
√ promoting urination利尿
herbs that possess a heavy quality, subduing
√ tranquilizing the mind with herbs that
yang to quench wind, promoting digestion and
possess a heavy quality重镇安神
removing food retention, correcting rebellious qi, √ subduing yang to quench wind潜阳熄风
and astringing have properties that are mostly √ promoting digestion and removing
descending and moving inward toward the food retention消食导滞
interior; they are characterized by sinking and √ correcting rebellious qi 降气

√ astringing 收涩
descending, so they belong to yin.
belong to yin
to treat a disease
In summary, to treat a disease, one must first
first determine the therapeutic determine the therapeutic principle
principle based on the superiority or based on

superiority or inferiority of yin or yang of the syndrome
inferiority of either yin or yang of the
choose
syndrome, and choose the
corresponding medicinals
corresponding medicinals based on
based on
the yin-yang attributes in order to the yin-yang attributes of the medicinal
regulate the imbalance of yin and in order to
yang caused by the disease. Use the bias of herbs to regulate the imbalance of yin and yang
Following this method
Following this method will achieve
will achieve the goal of healing diseases
the goal of healing diseases.
review
• The formation of yin-yang
• Basic concept of yin-yang
• Basic contents of the theory of yin-yang
• Application of the theory of yin-yang in TCM

Home work
• What is the Basic concept of yin-yang？
• How many Basic contents of the theory of yin-yang？
• Please explain the application of the theory of yin-yang
in pathology and treatment.

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Theory of Yin-Yang

• Basic components of the theory of yin-yang

• Application of the theory of yin-yang in TCM

things or phenomena in nature. They not only

• 《 Classified Canon 》：“yin-yang，one divides

River south-----yin?or yang?

River north---- yang?or yin?

Yang can convert water to gas

• Towards sun refers to yang, back of it means yin—original

 Towards sun：warm, day, lightness, earth-qi evaporate upward,

 Back of sun ： cold and cool, night, darkness, heaven-qi drop

• Increase connotation of the property of heat and cold, day and

• Property Stipulation（规定性）-- must be based on the

• Generality（普遍性）--various changes of all the different kinds

• Relativity （相对性）-- --the property of yin and yang is not

noon For example:

and changes of all things on earth.

√ Just as stated in the chapter of Discourse on Ritual Principles in Xunzi

√ It is stated in “On Taiji Diagram“《太极图说》 In a harmonious state

√ Anything or any phenomenon in nature contains elements of two different attributes

 Reciprocity: means the relationship of mutual generation and promotion

 Meanings：《Classified Canon 》“yang generated in yin， yin generated in yang”

“the solitary yin and solitary yang cannot exist in isolation”

• Such as：temperature of four seasons change:

winter spring summer：yin decreases and yang increases

summer autumn winter：yang decreases and yin increases

yang decreases and yin increases

decreases, yang increases and yin increases

 《Major Discussion on the Theory of Yin and Yang

Waning-Waxing balance transformation

• Explaining the Structure of the Body—life cannot do without yin-

• Explaining Physiological Function--Only when yin is at peace and

• Explaining Pathological Changes—disorders of yin-yang

• Guiding Clinical Diagnosis--when the skilled diagnosticians examine

• Guiding Treatment of Diseases--To observe carefully where the

six fu-viscera--yang（external，transport and transform foodstuffs）

liver : yang within yin

（2）main and collateral channels

three yin meridians of hand and foot--yin

• paradoxical movement between substance and functions

 Yang-qi（yang）--promote metabolism of substance（stomach-qi--qi, blood, water fluid）

 Yin-essence（yin）--material basis of functional activities（ qi, blood, water fluid--stomach-

• contradictory relation among substance：qi-yang，blood-yin；water-yang，fluid-yin

• paradoxical movement among functions：excite（yang）；inhibit（yin）

wind, summer-heat, hotness---yang

2. Explaining the mechanism of

（1）Superiority of yin or yang

（2）Inferiority of yin and yang

（3）Mutual Impairment of Yin and Yang

（4）Transformation of Yin and Yang

 characteristics： Superiority of yang resulting in heat——excess heat syndrome

 performance：high temperature, coma昏迷，delirium谵语，profuse sweating，constipation--

 superiority of yang resulting in heat

thirstily、oliguria少尿-- predominance of yang making yin suffer

 characteristics：Superiority of yin resulting in cold——excessive cold syndrome

 causes：evils of cold-dampness；eat something cold and raw too much

 clear stool--predominance of yin making yang suffer

Balance between Superiority of yang Superiority of yin

2） Inferiority of yin：Deficiency of yin leading to heat

 Characteristics：Deficiency of yin leading to heat——virtual heat syndromes

 thready, rapid pulse

Balance between Inferiority Inferiority