The current scientific view on the formation of the universe is that it originated from an expansion following a big bang 13.7 billion years ago. Before the big bang, the universe was "void of any matter", containing only energy in motion. The aggregation of energy led to the big bang, after which massive energy waves continued to move and cool down. As the energy cooled, it coalesced to form matter and celestial bodies, aligning with Einstein's E=mc^2 theory, which posits that matter is a concentration of energy, and energy is the release of matter. From this perspective, the universe is a transformation of energy into matter, where energy is yang, and matter is yin.
Humans are a natural product of the universe; simply put, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the study of the human body through the universe. We humans are situated within the solar system of the universe, and from the perspective of TCM, the sun is the source of energy for the Earth, which we refer to as "yang." This energy is transformed into matter on Earth, known as "yin."
Our Earth, situated in the third orbital position of the solar system, is currently the only known planet to harbor life forms like humans, as other planets are either too hot or too cold for life. The existence of humans on Earth is entirely due to its specific position and orbital mechanics within the solar system. These geographical and orbital patterns create specific climates, which in turn have led to the emergence of human life (neither extreme heat nor extreme cold would support human life; Earth's unique atmosphere and orbital mechanics create conditions suitable for humans). The core of these climate-forming factors is Earth's revolution around the Sun and its rotation on its axis, leading to changes in yin and yang. The "Five Elements" (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) that we will mention later are actually the variations of yin and yang caused by Earth's revolution and rotation, which affect how it receives energy from the Sun.
In the space we inhabit, besides the visible matter, there are also forms of matter that are invisible, as well as energies that are partly perceivable and partly imperceptible. Human eyes can only detect frequencies within a certain range; for instance, when the vibration frequency is between 500 and 536 hertz, the color yellow becomes visible. Human eyes can distinguish colors from red to violet, with violet representing the upper limit of color visibility. Beyond violet lies ultraviolet light with even higher frequencies, and below red lies infrared light with lower frequencies. These are invisible to us because their frequencies are too high or too low to be detected by the human eye. The electromagnetic spectrum ranges enormously from a few tens of hertz for alternating current to more than 3×10^9 hertz for gamma rays, yet the portion visible to the human eye is very small.
Humans perceive the world through senses such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, each capable of detecting a range of frequencies. For example, the human ear can hear frequencies ranging from as low as 16 hertz to as high as 20,000 hertz per second.
We all have experiences where seeing a vast, beautiful prairie or a dirty, disorganized pile of trash elicits different psychological reactions, just as smelling fresh, pleasant scents or offensive odors affects us differently. Essentially, everything emits energy besides having a physical form, and these energies affect both the environment and human beings. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses not only on tangible yin (matter and concrete aspects) but also on intangible yang (energy). In human activities, energy plays a crucial guiding role and is a direct provider of physiological activities.
Indeed, in the "Huangdi Neijing Suwen: Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun," there is a description that translates to: "Yin and Yang are the ways of Heaven and Earth, the network of all things, the parents of change, the origin of life and death, and the abode of divine intelligence. To treat diseases, one must search for their roots. Therefore, accumulated Yang becomes Heaven, and accumulated Yin becomes Earth. Yin is calm, Yang is active; Yang generates, Yin grows; Yang kills, Yin stores. Yang transforms energy, Yin forms matter." This passage emphasizes the foundational concept of Yin and Yang in traditional Chinese thought, highlighting their essential roles in the natural world, human physiology, and medicine.
You're right, the description beautifully captures the essence of universal changes as a constant transformation between matter and energy. This principle is deeply rooted in many philosophical and scientific frameworks, not just in traditional Chinese medicine, but also resonating with modern physics, particularly the relationship expressed in Einstein's theory of relativity (E=mc²).
The concept of Yin (阴) and Yang (阳) embodies this duality and interaction: Yin as the material form that provides a vessel for energy, and Yang as the intangible energy that enables movement and vitality. The saying "阳化气" (Yang transforms energy) and "阴成形" (Yin forms matter) illustrates how energy manifests into tangible matter and how matter can influence or direct energy flows.
Yin being static relates to the physical, form-having aspects of the universe, which are relatively stable and unmoving. Yang, on the other hand, being dynamic and constantly in motion, symbolizes energy and force. Thus, the interplay between Yin and Yang not only outlines the cosmological laws and order but also deeply influences life, health, and the environment. This dualistic nature is a central theme in understanding the complex systems of life and the universe as a whole.
《黄帝内经·素问·天元纪大论》日：“臣积考《太始天元册》文日，太虚赛
廓，肇基化元，万物资始，五运终天，布气真灵，抱统坤元，九星悬朗，七曜周
旋。日阴目阳，日柔日刚，幽显既位，寒暑弛张，生生化化，品物咸章，臣斯十
世，此之谓也。”
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