| Lao Tzu also spelt as Lao Tze, Lao Tsu, Laozi, | | | | and the feminine. The symbol includes a small black |
| Laotze etc was identified as the Father of Taoism - | | | | spot in the white swirl, and a corresponding white |
| the keeper of the Imperial Library and was famous | | | | spot in the black swirl to depict coherence and |
| for his wisdom. | | | | accommodation nature of human extremes. 'yin' and |
| The Yin Yang symbol are well known Taoist symbol | | | | 'yang' therefore clearly symbolize two polarized |
| and represents universal balance of opposites, which | | | | forces in nature such to Taoism belief that all humans |
| when equally present, all is calm, though any | | | | intervene in nature and upset this balance. |
| alterations to outweighed another, leads to confusion | | | | On spiritual matters, Taoists take man as a |
| and disarray. Theories exist within Taosim such as | | | | microcosm for the universe, with human body tying |
| the astronomical observations derived from records | | | | directly with five elements correlating with the five |
| of the shadow for a whole year. The two swirling | | | | organs, the five directions and the seasons and that |
| shapes inside the symbol create an impression of | | | | by man understanding himself he gains knowledge of |
| alternating but fitting change with the universe as a | | | | the universe. For Taoists, rituals, exercises, and |
| constant factor. Traditional beliefs allude to Yin the | | | | substances positively affect man's physical and |
| darker end representing the breath that formed the | | | | mental health. Taoism has about 20 million followers, |
| earth, while Yang for light symbolizes the breath that | | | | centered in Taiwan. Some live in North America and |
| formed the heavens. Could also represent both as | | | | Canada, where it's had a significant impact on culture |
| 'yin' night and 'yang' day. One source teach and | | | | in areas such as acupuncture, herbal, holistic medicine, |
| represent 'yin' through feminine perceptions as being | | | | meditation and martial arts. |
| soft, cool, calm, introspective, and healing yet "yang" | | | | Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are discussed as |
| being masculine, is hard, hot, energetic, moving, and | | | | some of the three greatest religious groupings |
| aggressive. | | | | making China, though Taoism has never been a |
| Yin and Yang have also been described as negative | | | | unified religion, it consisted of numerous teachings |
| and positive energy poles, sunny and shady sides of | | | | with basis on various revelations making different |
| a hill, the firm and the yielding, the strong and the | | | | branches to have very distinct beliefs. Certain core |
| weak, the light and the dark, the rising and the falling, | | | | beliefs cut across this practice and are shared by |
| heaven and earth, are associated with the masculine | | | | almost all sects. |