Yin & Yang

[Guest guest]

Well here's my penny's worth on Yin and Yang (taken from an article

i wrote). Does anyone else wanna add to it?

 

TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

and is based upon the theory of Yin and Yang as introduced by the

Huang Di Nei Jing. Yin and Yang originates from original Qi.

Original Qi or Yuan Qi, originally transformed into the Qi of heaven

and earth and underlies the entire theoretical infrastructure of

Chinese medicine. In its primordial state, the existence of original

Qi meant that all things were One. The Qi of Yin and Yang retains

this connective or unifying potential (Zhang and Rose 1999, p50).

 

In Yin-Yang theory, everything within the world is made-up of two

opposing forces, each containing the seed of its opposite (Figure

1). The seed or eye grows at equal rates within each sphere until it

limits are achieved. This allows a constant state of dynamic flux

and balance. As Suwen, Chapter 5, states: " Yin-Yang principles guide

all things. In the mutual victory or defeat of Yin-Yang, the

situation will be of numerous varieties, so, Yin-Yang are the

parents of variations " (Wu and Wu 1997, p31). Rephrased, this says

that Yin-Yang interaction shapes everything and decides all

outcomes. All situations and things of any kind depend on the

relative strength or weakness of Yin and/or Yang, i.e. Yin-Yang

interaction is the origin of all change or no change; it decides the

outcome of everything. Everything on earth and in heaven is created

from Qi and the qualities of Qi as described by Yin and Yang are

rigorously expressed in all creation (Zhang and Rose 1999, p67).

Therefore, everything contains the essence (seed) of the whole.

 

Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the

holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication

with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. As Gerber (1996, p48-9)

points out, the holographic principle prescribes to the theory

that " every piece contains the whole " and can be seen in the

cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every

cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint.

 

Attilio

[Guest guest]

Your article is great Attilio!

 

Here's another penny:

 

One great abstraction that I really have enjoyed regarding Yin Yang is the

opposing directions of

Yang - ACCELEREATION (=increased distance/movement, more chaos/space), and

Yin - DECCELERATION (=less distance/movement, more structure/mass)

 

Holger

 

Från: " " <attiliodalberto

Svara till: Chinese Medicine

Datum: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 16:38:16 -0000

Till: Chinese Medicine

Ämne: Yin & Yang

 

 

Well here's my penny's worth on Yin and Yang (taken from an article

i wrote). Does anyone else wanna add to it?

 

TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

and is based upon the theory of Yin and Yang as introduced by the

Huang Di Nei Jing. Yin and Yang originates from original Qi.

Original Qi or Yuan Qi, originally transformed into the Qi of heaven

and earth and underlies the entire theoretical infrastructure of

Chinese medicine. In its primordial state, the existence of original

Qi meant that all things were One. The Qi of Yin and Yang retains

this connective or unifying potential (Zhang and Rose 1999, p50).

 

In Yin-Yang theory, everything within the world is made-up of two

opposing forces, each containing the seed of its opposite (Figure

1). The seed or eye grows at equal rates within each sphere until it

limits are achieved. This allows a constant state of dynamic flux

and balance. As Suwen, Chapter 5, states: " Yin-Yang principles guide

all things. In the mutual victory or defeat of Yin-Yang, the

situation will be of numerous varieties, so, Yin-Yang are the

parents of variations " (Wu and Wu 1997, p31). Rephrased, this says

that Yin-Yang interaction shapes everything and decides all

outcomes. All situations and things of any kind depend on the

relative strength or weakness of Yin and/or Yang, i.e. Yin-Yang

interaction is the origin of all change or no change; it decides the

outcome of everything. Everything on earth and in heaven is created

from Qi and the qualities of Qi as described by Yin and Yang are

rigorously expressed in all creation (Zhang and Rose 1999, p67).

Therefore, everything contains the essence (seed) of the whole.

 

Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the

holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication

with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. As Gerber (1996, p48-9)

points out, the holographic principle prescribes to the theory

that " every piece contains the whole " and can be seen in the

cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every

cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint.

 

Attilio

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

>>>This is not strictly true, it is a kind of a new age interpretation

Alon

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi,

You were doing fine on yin/yang until the end bit:

 

'Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the

holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication

with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. As Gerber (1996, p48-9)

points out, the holographic principle prescribes to the theory

that " every piece contains the whole " and can be seen in the

cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every

cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint. '

 

These statements are just bits of meaningless New Age pop-science and

have nothing to do with TCM.

The term " holographic principle " is a specific term for a theory which

tries to explain how the 2D event horizon of a black hole contains all

the information of 3D objects which have been sucked into it. The

holographic principle is a speculative conjecture by Gerard 't Hooft

of quantum gravity theories that all of the information contained in a

volume of space can be represented by a theory that lives in the

boundary of that region. In other words, if you have a room then you

can model all of the events within that room by creating a theory that

only takes into account what happens in the walls of the room.

 

This theory about quantum gravity is not the same as " every piece

contains the whole " . To link this with DNA is a non-sequitur. The

reason the same DNA is contained in a person's cells is for accurate

cell replication - a cut or graze repairs itself with skin, not fish

scales. What has any of this got to do with Yin/Yang, specifically?

 

It's fine to brain-storm or speculate in a philosophical way, but I do

object to this sort of rubbish being stated as some sort of proven

" fact " . This is how the New Age mish-mash of all sorts of

half-understood science mixed up with misconceptions about historical

cultures gives CAM a bad name.

 

Godfrey Bartlett

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine , " Alon Marcus "

<alonmarcus@w...> wrote:

> TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

> >>>This is not strictly true, it is a kind of a new age

interpretation

> Alon

 

So is dry needling, T.E.N.S., electric, ear and laser acupuncture as

there all new inventions.

 

Attilio

[Guest guest]

Agreed. Nice one Holger and thanks Attilio for kicking off this thread.

Basic theory is never discussed to exhaustion because something new always

comes up. One day we may even cover ground that Alon has not walked upon

(Alon is very knowledgeable - Hi Alon ;-) I'd also like to take up something

by acu-quiche Godfrey Bartlett who said:

 

> These statements are just bits of meaningless New Age pop-science and have

nothing to do with TCM. The term " holographic principle " is a specific term

for a theory which tries to explain how ...

 

What follows by Godfrey is I might respectfully add just 'technobabble' -

may I refer you to the following URL for a more general exposition of the

holographic principle: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/holo/ Put

simply this principle asserts that bags of information about many dimensions

(e.g. a 3D image) can be 'tucked away' in fewer dimensions (e.g.a 2D

'photographic negative' ).

 

Godfrey and Alon, you do not get us any closer to the meaning added* Attilio

was justified in promoting

 

By applying the term 'holographic principle' to Yin and Yang Attilio was

using modern notions found in Physics to underpin the insights of the

ancient seers who gave us TCM.

 

I'll go along with that because the holographic principle and a few other

Physics notions help to explain some dynamic processes within TCM that elude

rational explanation. Take for example the separation of Yin and Yang which

is the cause of disharmony. The syndromes that express this separation are

basic to TCM, but has anyone wondered how this separation takes place ?

Ageing ? Loss of original essential Qi and weakening of the bond between Yin

and Yang ? OK - that is descriptive it does not explain the dynamic. Put

this in a modern context and you have a perfectly good explanation of why

Yin and Yang separate. I'll deal with that in another email if anyone wishes

to take up the thread.

 

Sammy.

 

* meaning added: as in value added when we talk about taxation of some

commodity which having been 'worked' upon by some process is more valuable

than it was previously.

 

 

Holger Wendt [holger.wendt]

20 September 2003 20:57

Chinese Medicine

Re: Yin & Yang

 

 

Your article is great Attilio!

 

Here's another penny:

 

One great abstraction that I really have enjoyed regarding Yin Yang is

the

opposing directions of

Yang - ACCELEREATION (=increased distance/movement, more chaos/space),

and

Yin - DECCELERATION (=less distance/movement, more structure/mass)

 

Holger

 

Från: " " <attiliodalberto

Svara till: Chinese Medicine

Datum: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 16:38:16 -0000

Till: Chinese Medicine

Ämne: Yin & Yang

 

 

Well here's my penny's worth on Yin and Yang (taken from an article

i wrote). Does anyone else wanna add to it?

 

TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

and is based upon the theory of Yin and Yang as introduced by the

Huang Di Nei Jing. Yin and Yang originates from original Qi.

Original Qi or Yuan Qi, originally transformed into the Qi of heaven

and earth and underlies the entire theoretical infrastructure of

Chinese medicine. In its primordial state, the existence of original

Qi meant that all things were One. The Qi of Yin and Yang retains

this connective or unifying potential (Zhang and Rose 1999, p50).

 

In Yin-Yang theory, everything within the world is made-up of two

opposing forces, each containing the seed of its opposite (Figure

1). The seed or eye grows at equal rates within each sphere until it

limits are achieved. This allows a constant state of dynamic flux

and balance. As Suwen, Chapter 5, states: " Yin-Yang principles guide

all things. In the mutual victory or defeat of Yin-Yang, the

situation will be of numerous varieties, so, Yin-Yang are the

parents of variations " (Wu and Wu 1997, p31). Rephrased, this says

that Yin-Yang interaction shapes everything and decides all

outcomes. All situations and things of any kind depend on the

relative strength or weakness of Yin and/or Yang, i.e. Yin-Yang

interaction is the origin of all change or no change; it decides the

outcome of everything. Everything on earth and in heaven is created

from Qi and the qualities of Qi as described by Yin and Yang are

rigorously expressed in all creation (Zhang and Rose 1999, p67).

Therefore, everything contains the essence (seed) of the whole.

 

Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the

holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication

with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. As Gerber (1996, p48-9)

points out, the holographic principle prescribes to the theory

that " every piece contains the whole " and can be seen in the

cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every

cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint.

 

Attilio

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sammy,

 

Go on, then - I'd be interested in your explanation of the dynamics of yin/yang

separation.

 

AS far as the holographic principle is concerned , I suspect that this may have

been originated by the physicist David Bohm, discussed in his very important

work called Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Having read Bohm, admittedly

about 20 years ago, I'm not sure I see the direct, or any detailed, relationship

between yin-yang and this theory, beyond in a very generalised manner that I'm

not sure adds a lot to detailed discussion of yin/yang. Perhaps one could say

that yin-yang can be considered to operate within the implicate order, but I get

the feeling that one is not really adding much precise thought to these issues.

Although, come to think of it, it is possible to relate aspects of Implicate

order with the Chinese numerological significance of the number Eight, as found

in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, relating to the Pre-Heavenly realm,

insofar as there is an acknowledgement that there are aspects of reality that

cannot be explicated with too much or definitive precision.

 

I don't want to sound pretentious, and I'm not a professional scholar of Chinese

thought - perhaps one of the discussion group members who is would be interested

in taking up this thread.

 

Best wishes,

Wainwright

 

 

-

ga.bates

Chinese Medicine

Sunday, September 21, 2003 1:44 PM

RE: Yin & Yang

 

 

Agreed. Nice one Holger and thanks Attilio for kicking off this thread.

Basic theory is never discussed to exhaustion because something new always

comes up. One day we may even cover ground that Alon has not walked upon

(Alon is very knowledgeable - Hi Alon ;-) I'd also like to take up something

by acu-quiche Godfrey Bartlett who said:

 

> These statements are just bits of meaningless New Age pop-science and have

nothing to do with TCM. The term " holographic principle " is a specific term

for a theory which tries to explain how ...

 

What follows by Godfrey is I might respectfully add just 'technobabble' -

may I refer you to the following URL for a more general exposition of the

holographic principle: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/holo/ Put

simply this principle asserts that bags of information about many dimensions

(e.g. a 3D image) can be 'tucked away' in fewer dimensions (e.g.a 2D

'photographic negative' ).

 

Godfrey and Alon, you do not get us any closer to the meaning added* Attilio

was justified in promoting

 

By applying the term 'holographic principle' to Yin and Yang Attilio was

using modern notions found in Physics to underpin the insights of the

ancient seers who gave us TCM.

 

I'll go along with that because the holographic principle and a few other

Physics notions help to explain some dynamic processes within TCM that elude

rational explanation. Take for example the separation of Yin and Yang which

is the cause of disharmony. The syndromes that express this separation are

basic to TCM, but has anyone wondered how this separation takes place ?

Ageing ? Loss of original essential Qi and weakening of the bond between Yin

and Yang ? OK - that is descriptive it does not explain the dynamic. Put

this in a modern context and you have a perfectly good explanation of why

Yin and Yang separate. I'll deal with that in another email if anyone wishes

to take up the thread.

 

Sammy.

 

* meaning added: as in value added when we talk about taxation of some

commodity which having been 'worked' upon by some process is more valuable

than it was previously.

 

 

Holger Wendt [holger.wendt]

20 September 2003 20:57

Chinese Medicine

Re: Yin & Yang

 

 

Your article is great Attilio!

 

Here's another penny:

 

One great abstraction that I really have enjoyed regarding Yin Yang is

the

opposing directions of

Yang - ACCELEREATION (=increased distance/movement, more chaos/space),

and

Yin - DECCELERATION (=less distance/movement, more structure/mass)

 

Holger

 

Från: " " <attiliodalberto

Svara till: Chinese Medicine

Datum: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 16:38:16 -0000

Till: Chinese Medicine

Ämne: Yin & Yang

 

 

Well here's my penny's worth on Yin and Yang (taken from an article

i wrote). Does anyone else wanna add to it?

 

TCM is a holistic medicine that views the body-mind-spirit as one

and is based upon the theory of Yin and Yang as introduced by the

Huang Di Nei Jing. Yin and Yang originates from original Qi.

Original Qi or Yuan Qi, originally transformed into the Qi of heaven

and earth and underlies the entire theoretical infrastructure of

Chinese medicine. In its primordial state, the existence of original

Qi meant that all things were One. The Qi of Yin and Yang retains

this connective or unifying potential (Zhang and Rose 1999, p50).

 

In Yin-Yang theory, everything within the world is made-up of two

opposing forces, each containing the seed of its opposite (Figure

1). The seed or eye grows at equal rates within each sphere until it

limits are achieved. This allows a constant state of dynamic flux

and balance. As Suwen, Chapter 5, states: " Yin-Yang principles guide

all things. In the mutual victory or defeat of Yin-Yang, the

situation will be of numerous varieties, so, Yin-Yang are the

parents of variations " (Wu and Wu 1997, p31). Rephrased, this says

that Yin-Yang interaction shapes everything and decides all

outcomes. All situations and things of any kind depend on the

relative strength or weakness of Yin and/or Yang, i.e. Yin-Yang

interaction is the origin of all change or no change; it decides the

outcome of everything. Everything on earth and in heaven is created

from Qi and the qualities of Qi as described by Yin and Yang are

rigorously expressed in all creation (Zhang and Rose 1999, p67).

Therefore, everything contains the essence (seed) of the whole.

 

Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the

holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication

with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. As Gerber (1996, p48-9)

points out, the holographic principle prescribes to the theory

that " every piece contains the whole " and can be seen in the

cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every

cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint.

 

Attilio