The Cycle of Yin and Yang

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Yin and yang’s moving cycle of returning is necessary to tien. Yin and yang are constantly returning to each other which force the basic processes of life to continue through the yin and yang cycle. Tien, nature, clearly shows this cycle through the cycle of the year, the day, birth and death, etcetera. As Daoist were concerned about creating a society based around natural processes this cycle is a clear path for them to follow and understand to live within nature, as the sage does, to perpetuate nature, tien.

Tien, in its nature is a producer. It produces wanwu, or the ten thousand things, which causes a life force to be generated into a life cycle. This cycle is one example of yin and yang, two complimentary pieces that are required to maintain the nature of tien. Wanwu is similar to a blending of yin and yang, being an intermediate between the two. Because of the intermediate balance there will be creation or renewal of the continual cycle, either by being unbalanced to yin or yang which will force a balance to be regained. Knowing this, tien itself must continue to produce so that yin and yang may act upon it.

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The sage acts as tien does. Without having any action, tien produces by its nature the balance of yin and yang. The sage, by his nature ‘learns to be without learning’ (LXIV.) Other things, by finding their nature can live without action and be rewarded with all that they need. This can also be seen by the virtuous man ‘A man of the highest virtue does not keep to virtue and that is why he has virtue’ (XXXVIII.) This allows a man, once he understands his nature, to allow himself to live with the up and down cycle of yin and yang to live like tien and having everything come to him as it should, living a flourishing life, the goal of Daoism. Sadly, as we can see by looking at societies in general, action ruins tien. The sage’s role in society is then to teach other this so that they may learn non action in accordance with tien. The Sage, in this way, actually helps wanwu to create life, continuing the cycle of yin and yang (LXIV.)

When you look back you see that there is a cycle between yin and yang with tien as well as a cycle between yin and yang. Tien produces wanwu which allows for life and all physical things to be created in a balance. These things then flow through the cycle of yin and yang when unbalanced. To then maintain the cycle of yin and yang one must accept their own nature and not act. When one accepts their nature they live in they cycle of yin and yang, allowing wanwu to continue to form living beings, as its nature, to perpetuate tien. Therefore, non-action is needed to perpetuate yin and yang which is necessary for the maintenance of tien, giving man a flourishing life.