Yin - Yang and The Five Elements

The theories of yin-yang and the five elements were two kinds of outlook on nature in ancient China. They involved a naïve concept of materialism and dialectics and actively promoted natural science in China. Ancient physicians applied these two theories in their field, which greatly influenced the formation and development of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine and have guided clinical work up to the present.

The theory yin-yang holds that every object or phenomenon in the universe consists of two opposite aspects, namely, yin and yang, which are at once in conflict and in interdependence; further, that this relation between yin and yang is the universal law of the material world the principle and source of the existence of myriads of things, and the root cause for the flourishing and perishing of things.

The theory of yin-yang mainly expounds the opposition, interdepending, inter-consuming-supporting and inter-transforming relation of yin and yang. These relationships between yin and yang are extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine to explain the physiology and pathology of the human body and serve as a guide to diagnosis and treatment in clinical world.