About Yin and Yang

What are Yin and Yang?

As ancient people lived in nature, they fully accepted that everything in nature was divided into two important phenomena. They knew that as they woke up, the sun rose and brightened their world; as the sun set in the evening, it became dark. They also knew that it became warmer in the Spring, and it became cooler in the Fall. Also, as they looked up,
there was sky (heaven); below, there was ground (Earth). With regard to these two phenomena, they called those active things (e.g., bright, warm, upward, and external) Yang and those passive things (e.g., dark, cold, downward, and internal) Yin.
Furthermore, they considered their upper bodies, body surfaces, and backs to be Yang while their upper bodies, body cavities, and abdominal areas to be Yin.
They also thought that their bodies corresponded to the phenomena of nature.
This can lead us to understand that they considered nature to be the great universe and humans to be the small universe.
They were aware that everything was harmonized by the functional dynamics of Yin and Yang - with nature, moving from hot summer (Yang) to cold winter (Yin); with the mind, from excitement (Yang) to calmness (Yin).
Moreover, they also knew that these two phenomena-Yin and Yang-are in accordance with the flow of nature. These human experiences gave birth to Eastern philosophies.

2）Nature and Human Body

1. Nature
   
   In nature, as the sun rises, the mutual relationship between Yin and Yang changes constantly.
   There is only a split second when Yin and Yang exist purely.
   As shown in , even within a day, it constantly changes from the Yang of Yang to the Yang of Yin and from the Yin of Yin to the Yin of Yang.
   There is always need for both opposing Yin and Yang, and nature exists in harmony.
   The four seasons also maintain their cycle with the Yin of Yang in Spring, the Yang of Yang in Summer, the Yang of Yin in Fall, and the Yin of Yin in Winter.
   

   diagram 1	diagram 2

   
   
   
2. Human Body (Self)
   
   In the morning, we wake up as the energy of Yang increases.
   In the evening, as the energy of Yin gradually becomes stronger, we become functionally dull and sleepy.
   With the flow of Yin and Yang, we maintain our daily rhythm and physical condition.
   We become out of balance when Yin and Yang are not balanced.
   When the energy of Yang does not decrease appropriately, our body becomes feverish and our mind stays awake, which makes it difficult to fall asleep.
   We also feel irritated.
   Because the quality of water tends to be depleted, we experience constipation, dry throat, thirst, and overheating.
   Our face becomes feverish.
   On the other hand, as the energy of Yin become stronger, we become sleepy during the daytime and feel physically weak.
   Because the element of heat is less and the element of water is more, we tend to feel cold and have diarrhea.
   We become generally weak. Our complexion becomes poor.
   It's called "Jitushiyo" (Yang Condition) when the energy of Yang is greater; it's called "Kyosho" (Yin Condition) when the energy of Yin is greater.
   Since the imbalance of Yin and Yang comes from many different reasons,
   it is important to grasp in its totality.
   In psychotherapy, it is necessary to pay attention to how the imbalance of Yin and Yang (i.e., the level of safety and comfort) came about and how they are influencing each other.
   

3）Wisdom of Yin and Yang

1. One day has both daytime (Yang) and nighttime (Yin)
   
   Our mind also has both lightness (Yang) and darkness (Yin), which makes up our personality.
   We refer the conditions of existence due to the opposite forces as "Yinyou-Gokon" (Yin-Yang Mutural Existence ??)
   Most clients in counseling deny the shadowy aspects of themselves or try not to see them.
   In doing so, the balance of their mind becomes lost.
   When the balance of light (strengths) and shadow (weaknesses) is maintained, the person is said to be healthy.
   When we do not deny our weaknesses and become more able to get along with them, we can live more comfortably and understand the meaning of self-acceptance.
   
2. The Flow of Yin and Yang
   
   For example, in the morning you may try to catch a commute train.
   Let's imagine that you could not get on the train you wanted.
   Someone may think, "I've almost made it," or "a train conductor saw me. Bastard!"
   Another person might say to himself "I can't do anything about it now" and start reading a newspaper.
   There is a large difference between impatiently waiting for the next train and feeling rewarded with the extra time to read a newspaper.
   It is even possible to bump into a friend whom you wanted to see because of the missed train.
   When we are irritable in the morning, a whole day becomes spoiled. Which direction it takes depends on the transformation of our reality as to how we perceive and accept such events (phenomena).
   It's sometimes important for us to go along with the flow of events.
   
   
3. When Yin becomes full, it changes into Yang.
   
   
   We have all experienced a chain of negative events.
   It really seems that our negative feelings (Qi of Yin) attract negative
   things (Qi of Yin).
   Situations often change when we reflect on what caused them and change
   our perspective (a sort of feeling all right as it is).
   When Yin (desendence) becomes full, Yang (ascendance) shows up.
   When our lives are in the descending direction, it is crucial not to move and make important decisions.
   No one goes out when there is a typhoon nearby.
   We patiently wait inside for it to pass.
   In other words, I encourage you to make some effort to neutralize pluses and minuses.
   

When you bring such wisdom of Yin and Yang into your life, you begin to change your life-perspectives and become more lively.

Theory of Five Elements

1. What are the Five Elements
   
   In the East, people thought that everything in nature was made up of five elements
   
   They thought that these elements included Wood, Fire, Earth (Soil),
   Metal (Gold), and Water and that each had its own characteristics.
   
   
   • Wood was thought to have the characteristic of flexibly growing like a plant and tree.
   • Fire has the characteristic of rapidly ascending like a fire or heat.
   • Earth has a rich and deep characteristic nurtured in the earth.
   • Metal has a transparent and smooth characteristic.
   • Water has the characteristics of flowing downward and solidifying Yin.
   With these characteristics, they tried to understand their minds and bodies.
   

   Diagram 3

   Five Elements Wood Fire Earth Metal Water Seasons Spring Summer Long Summer Autumn Winter Directions East South Middle West North Weather Wind Heat Humidity Dryness Coldness Colors Blue Red Yellow White Black

   Five Elements Wood Fire Earth Metal Water Six Organs Gallbladder Small Intestine Stomach Large Intestine Bladder Body Types Fibers Pulses Muscles Hair/Skin Borns Emotions Anger Happiness Contemplation Sadness Fear Five Organs Liver Heart Spleen Lungs Kidneys

   
   
   
2. Relationship among the Five Elements
   
   

   Diagram 4 The Relationship of Soshiyo (MutualFacilitation)	Diagram 5 The Relationship of Soukoku (Mutual Suppression)

   　The process in which the Five Elements enhance each other is called "Soushiyo"(Mutual Facilitation). In this process, wood is transformed into soil through burning; soil then turns into metal; metal turns into water; and water creates and nurtures trees.
   When one element gets stronger, other elements also get stronger.
   Also, the process in which the Five Elements suppress each other is called "Soukoku" " (Mutual Suppression).
   1. Mutual Facilitation and Mutual Suppression maintain their balance by adjusting the strength of the relationship among the Five Elements.
   2. 2. When a suppressing element gets weaker, other elements become stronger, which can results in the suppression of the suppressing element by other elements.
      And, the process of getting weaker is called "Soubu."
   3. In the relationship of Mutual Suppression, it is called the process of "Soujou" when the suppressing elements become too weak.
   4. It is important to support the function of "Soushiyo" and "Soukoku' in order to prevent the occurrence of "Soubu" and "Soujyou."
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Wisdom of Five Elements
   
   The concept of Five Elements teaches us how to maintain a holistic balance.
   When the flow of "Aishio" goes in a positive direction, it moves more and more positively; When it moves in a negative direction, it moves more and more negatively.
   When one becomes too excited, he gets carried away; when one becomes depressed, he becomes unmotivated. From the perspective of counseling, this is like problems which happened to a family of five - a grand mother, parents, and two children.
   
   Let's imagine that their eldest son resists going to school.
   Considering the family as one unit, we can consider that the problems came out of the weakest of the five family members.
   Please think about this. When you catch a cold, do you experience coughing, fever, or tiredness?
   The weaknesses of a body are similer to the weaknesses of a family.
   The eldest son's problems in going to the school is an indication of the imbalance of the family.
   Perhaps, it may be caused by the severe conflict between the mother and grandmother.
   When the energy of the grandmother becomes stronger, that of the mother becomes weaker.
   Moreover, when the father is too absorbed in his work and depends solely on his wife to handle their family matters, the stressful energy in the wife increases.
   Furthermore, when the son's problems bring about much stress to the family, he will feel diminished.
   In this way, when the energy balance of the 5 family members becomes unbalanced, it becomes manifested as various problems and events.
   In this way, when we apply the Five Elements concept of the energy balance to a couple, group, company, or an institution, we can begin to identify what is troubling and who is having difficulties.
   When a child is young, it's often more beneficial to provide counseling to his parents instead of himself.