YIN AND YANG-THE LAW OF NATURE 陰陽(yáng)－自然界的法則
Yin and yang, which come from ancient Chinese philosophy, are a general term for two opposites of interrelated things or phenomena in the natural world. At first, their connotations were quite simple, referring to the two opposite sides of an object. The side facing the sun is yang and the reverse side is yin in the course of long practice and observation, the ancient Chinese people came to understand that the opposition and wax-wane of yin and yang are inherent in all things. Yi Zhuan says, "Yin and yang are what is called Dao", (Dao means the basic law of the unity of opposites in the universe). In other words, "Everything in the universe contains yin and yang." And they further believed that yin and yang can not only represent two opposite objects but also be used to analyze two opposite aspects existing in a single entity. Generally speaking, things or phenomena which are dynamic, bright, hot, functional, etc..., pertain to the category of yang, while those that are static, dark, cold, substantial, etc. , pertain to that of yin. The yin-yang theory holds that the development and changes of everything in the universe result from the unity of opposites be tween yin and yang. Su Wen says: "yin and yang are the law of heaven and earth, the principles of all things, the parents of all changes, the origin of life and death... " The yin-yang theory is an important constituent of the theoretical system of TCM and runs through every aspect of the system. It is used to explain physiology and pathology of the body and to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment. The basic content of yin-yang theory can be summarized as follows.	陰陽(yáng)來(lái)自古代中國(guó)哲學(xué)，是自然界中相聯(lián)系的事物和現(xiàn)象中相互對(duì)立面的總稱(chēng)。最初，它們的內(nèi)涵很簡(jiǎn)單，指的是事物的對(duì)立兩方。向陽(yáng)為陽(yáng)，背陽(yáng)則為陰。在長(zhǎng)期的觀察實(shí)踐中，古代中國(guó)人民開(kāi)始認(rèn)識(shí)到陰陽(yáng)的對(duì)立和消長(zhǎng)存在于一切事物中�！兑讉鳌吩唬阂魂�(yáng)一陰謂之道（道代表宇宙中對(duì)立統(tǒng)一的基本規(guī)律）。換言之，“宇宙中的每個(gè)事物都包含陰陽(yáng)兩方面”。并且他們進(jìn)一步認(rèn)為陰陽(yáng)不僅代表兩個(gè)對(duì)立的事物而且可用于分析一個(gè)單獨(dú)實(shí)體中存在的兩個(gè)對(duì)立面�？傊�，動(dòng)態(tài)的、明亮的、熱的、功能的事物或現(xiàn)象屬于陽(yáng)；反之靜止的、黑暗的、冷的、實(shí)質(zhì)的事物和現(xiàn)象屬于陰。陰陽(yáng)理論認(rèn)為宇宙中一切事物的變化發(fā)展來(lái)自于陰陽(yáng)的對(duì)立統(tǒng)一�！端貑�(wèn)》曰：陰陽(yáng)者，天地之道也，萬(wàn)物之綱紀(jì)，變化之父母，生殺之本始。陰陽(yáng)理論是中醫(yī)理論系統(tǒng)的重要組成部分并貫穿于該系統(tǒng)的各個(gè)方面。它用于解釋人體的生理和病理現(xiàn)象并指導(dǎo)臨床的診治。陰陽(yáng)理論的基本內(nèi)容可總結(jié)為以下幾方面。
l. The Unity of Opposition Between Yin and Yang	1.陰陽(yáng)的對(duì)立統(tǒng)一
By the opposition between yin and yang is meant that all things or phenomena in nature have two opposite aspects-yin and yang, such as heaven and earth, motion and quiescence, ascending and descending, exiting and entering, day and night, heat and coldness and so on. The former being yang and the latter yin（P29） in every pair above. The unity is the outcome of mutual opposition and restriction between yin and yang. Without opposition, there would be no unity; Without mutual opposition, there would be no mutual complement. It is only through this kind of opposition and restriction that the dynamic equilibrium can be established. For instance, in the nature world, the motions of celestial bodies, the variations  of the four seasons, the alternations of days and nights, as well as sprouting in spring, growing in summer, reaping in autunm and storing in winter, are all the concrete manifestations of the unity of opposites between yin and yang.	陰陽(yáng)對(duì)立指的是自然界中所有的事物和現(xiàn)象都存在對(duì)立兩面—陰陽(yáng)，如天地、動(dòng)靜、升降、進(jìn)出、日月、寒熱等等。以上的每對(duì)現(xiàn)象中前者為陽(yáng)，后者為陰。統(tǒng)一是陰陽(yáng)對(duì)立制約的結(jié)果。沒(méi)有對(duì)立就沒(méi)有統(tǒng)一，沒(méi)有相互對(duì)立就沒(méi)有相互補(bǔ)充。正是這種對(duì)立統(tǒng)一，陰陽(yáng)才能達(dá)到動(dòng)態(tài)平衡。例如，天體運(yùn)動(dòng)、四季變遷、晝夜交替、以及春生、夏長(zhǎng)、秋收、冬藏的變化，皆為陰陽(yáng)對(duì)立統(tǒng)一的具體表現(xiàn)。
TCM believes that the normal physiological functions of the human body result from the opposite and unified relationship between yin and yang. Both of them are always in a state of dynamic balance. Even under normal physiological conditions of the human body, yin and yang can not be in a state of absolute balance, but in a state of relative balance. If, for any reason, the relative balance is destroyed, there is bound to be excess or deficiency of yin or yang, and then a disease will arise. As is stated in Su Wen , "Yin in excess causing yang disease, while yang in excess leading to yin disease." It is precisely due to the unity of opposites between yin and yang that all things can develop and change ceaselessly and the natural world is perpetually full of life.醫(yī) 學(xué) 全在線quanxiangyun.cn	中醫(yī)認(rèn)為人體的正常生理功能是陰陽(yáng)對(duì)立統(tǒng)一的結(jié)果。陰陽(yáng)總是處在動(dòng)態(tài)平衡的狀態(tài)。甚至在人體正常的生理?xiàng)l件下，陰陽(yáng)也不可能達(dá)到絕對(duì)平衡，而是處于相對(duì)平衡的狀態(tài)。一旦陰陽(yáng)的相對(duì)平衡被打破就一定會(huì)導(dǎo)致陰陽(yáng)的偏實(shí)偏虛，疾病也就隨之產(chǎn)生了。正如《素問(wèn)》所指出的“陰勝則陽(yáng)病，陽(yáng)勝則陰病”。也正是由于陰陽(yáng)的對(duì)立統(tǒng)一萬(wàn)物才得以發(fā)展變化，自然界才得以永生。
2. Interdependence between yin and yang	2.陰陽(yáng)相互依存
Yin and yang are opposed to and yet, at the same time, depend on each other. Neither can exist in isolation without its Opponent's existence. In other words, without yin there would be no yang, and it's the same the other way round. So either yin or yang is the prerequisite for the other's existence. And this kind of coexistent relationship is stated in TCM, "solitary yin or yang failing to live." This interdependence is also reflected in the relationship between substances and functions. The substance corresponds to yin and the function, to yang. The function is the result of material motion, and nothing in the world is not in a state of motion. Thereby, there is not any substance which can't produce its function and there is also not any function which doesn't originate from the motion of its substance. Therefore, Neijing says: "Yin in the interior is the basis for yang; while yang in the exterior is the activity for yin." "Yin" refers to the material，basis of functional activity of yang and "yang" refers to functional activity. The substance and function are interdependent and inseparable. Here is just an imaginable and vivid figure of speech. However, when the interdependent relationships between substances, between functions as well as between substances and functions are abnormal, life activities will be broken, thus bringing about dissociation of yin and yang, depletion of essence-qi. and even an end of one's life.	陰陽(yáng)是對(duì)立的但同時(shí)又是相互依存的。缺了對(duì)立方，任何一方都不能獨(dú)立存在。換言之，無(wú)陰則陽(yáng)無(wú)以生，反之亦然。所以無(wú)論陰或陽(yáng)都是其對(duì)立方存在的先決條件。這種共存關(guān)系中醫(yī)稱(chēng)為“獨(dú)陽(yáng)則陰無(wú)以化，獨(dú)陰則陽(yáng)無(wú)以生”。這種相互依存也可在物質(zhì)于功能的關(guān)系上被反映。物質(zhì)對(duì)應(yīng)陰，功能對(duì)應(yīng)陽(yáng)。功能是運(yùn)動(dòng)的結(jié)果，世上的萬(wàn)物都處于運(yùn)動(dòng)之中。從而，沒(méi)有不能產(chǎn)生功能的物質(zhì)，也沒(méi)有不從物質(zhì)產(chǎn)生的功能。因此，《內(nèi)經(jīng)》曰：陰在內(nèi)，陽(yáng)之守也；陽(yáng)在外，陰之使也。“陰”指的是物質(zhì)，是陽(yáng)功能活動(dòng)的基礎(chǔ)；“陽(yáng)”指的是功能活動(dòng)。物質(zhì)和功能之間是相互依存、不可分離的。這僅僅是一種可以想象的、逼真的言語(yǔ)表述。然而，當(dāng)物質(zhì)之間、動(dòng)能之間或物質(zhì)和功能之間相互依存的關(guān)系異常時(shí)，正常的生命活動(dòng)就會(huì)被破壞，從而導(dǎo)致陰陽(yáng)離絕、元?dú)鈸p耗，甚至生命的終結(jié)。
3. Waning and waxing of yin and yang	3.陰陽(yáng)消長(zhǎng)
Yin and yang always coexist in a dynamic eqilibrium in which one waxes while the other wanes. In other words, waning of yin will lead to（因果關(guān)系的詞：causing，inducing，leading to，bring on， give rise to， produce，make，generating） waxing of yang and vice versa. Take the seasonal and climatic variations for example, it gets warm from winter to spring, and hot from spring to sumner. This is the process of "yang waxing and yin waning," Conversely, it gets cool from summer to autumn, and cold from autumn to winter-the process known as "yin waxing and yang waning". Under normnl conditions, the waning-waxing relation of yin and yang is in a state of relative balance.If this relation goes beyond normal limits, the relativc balance of yin and yang will not be maintained, thus resulting in either excess or deficiency of yin or yang and the occurrence of diseasc, so far as to endanger one's life.	陰陽(yáng)總是共存于此消彼長(zhǎng)的動(dòng)態(tài)平衡中。換言之，陰消會(huì)導(dǎo)致陽(yáng)長(zhǎng)，反之亦然。以四季和天氣的變化為例，冬去春暖、春去夏熱是陽(yáng)盛陰衰的過(guò)程。相反，夏去秋涼、秋去冬寒是陰盛陽(yáng)衰的過(guò)程。在正常的條件下，陰陽(yáng)的消長(zhǎng)處于動(dòng)態(tài)平衡的狀態(tài)中。如果這種關(guān)系超出了正常范圍，陰陽(yáng)的相對(duì)平衡就無(wú)法維持，結(jié)果就會(huì)導(dǎo)致陰或陽(yáng)的偏盛偏衰和疾病的發(fā)生，更甚者致危及生命。
4. Transformation of yin and yang	4.陰陽(yáng)轉(zhuǎn)化
In given conditions, either yin or yang may transform into its opposite, i. e. yin may be transformed into yang and yang into yin. If the waning-waxing of yin and yang is said to be a process of quantitative change, then that of their inter-transformation pertains to a qualitative change based on the quantitative chang. Such a process is mostly a gradual one from quantitative to qualitative change. Su Wen states: "Extreme yin gives rise to yang, while extreme yang gives rise to yin." "Extreme cold brings on heat, while extreme heat brings on cold". This is termed"Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme." Pathologically, the yin syndromes can be transformmed into yang syndromes, and vice versa. It must be pointed out that the decisive factor of the mutual transformation is the conditions, including internal and external conditions, without which such transformation will be by no means likely to occur.	在特定條件下，陰或陽(yáng)都可以向其對(duì)立方轉(zhuǎn)化。如陰可以轉(zhuǎn)化成陽(yáng)，陽(yáng)也可以轉(zhuǎn)化成陰。如果說(shuō)陰陽(yáng)消長(zhǎng)是個(gè)量變的過(guò)程，那么陰陽(yáng)的相互轉(zhuǎn)化便屬于基于量變上的質(zhì)變。這種過(guò)程大多是由量變漸致質(zhì)變的過(guò)程�！端貑�(wèn)》曰：重陰必陽(yáng)，重陽(yáng)必陰。寒極生熱，熱極生寒。這就是物極必反。在病理上，陰證可以轉(zhuǎn)化成陽(yáng)證，反之亦然。必須指出的是陰陽(yáng)相互轉(zhuǎn)化的決定性因素是條件，包括內(nèi)部和外部條件，不然，轉(zhuǎn)化便不可能發(fā)生。
The above statement is the basic content of yin-yang theory, which is also illustrated by "Taijitu" (Yin-Yang Diagram) below. In the diagram the white part indicates yang, and the black part yin. The relationships between the two are both opposite and complementary to each other. The white spot within yin shows the yang within yin, while the black spot does yin within yang. Meanwhile, they contain the potential for Intertransformation and inter-wane-wax between yin and yang.	以上所述為陰陽(yáng)理論的基本內(nèi)容，它也可以用以下的太極圖來(lái)說(shuō)明。在圖中，白色部分代表陽(yáng) ，黑色代表陰。他們之間存在相互對(duì)立、相互補(bǔ)充的關(guān)系。陰中的白點(diǎn)表示陰中之陽(yáng)，黑點(diǎn)表示陽(yáng)中之陰。同時(shí)，他們還包含了陰陽(yáng)相互轉(zhuǎn)化、此消彼長(zhǎng)的意義。
From the above, we can see that the content of yin-yang theory is composed of four aspects, among which the opposition and waxing-waning contain the opposite of contradiction; the interdependence and transformation contain the unity of contradiction; waxing-waning and transformation contain quantitative change and qualitative change. The former is the precondition for the latter, the latter is the outcome of the former.	從以上我們可以知道陰陽(yáng)理論的內(nèi)容由四部分組成。其中陰陽(yáng)對(duì)立和消長(zhǎng)代表矛盾對(duì)立面，陰陽(yáng)的相互依存和轉(zhuǎn)化代表矛盾的統(tǒng)一面。消長(zhǎng)和轉(zhuǎn)化代表量變和質(zhì)變。前者為后者的前提，后者為前者的結(jié)果。