Upon further research (okay, scanning down the Wikipedia page), we come to find that there are four laws of Yin-yang (all definitions provided by Wikipedia, examples provided by Eggology):
- Yin-yang are Opposing: Yin and yang describe the polar effects of phenomena. In viewing any one phenomenon (or the comparison of two phenomena), yin and yang describe the opposing qualities inherent in it. For instance, egg white and yolk would be the yin and yang, respectively, of the egg.
- Yin-yang are Mutually Rooted: Yin and yang are two complementary qualities. That is to say, the yin and the yang aspect of any one phenomenon will, when put together, form the entire phenomenon. Yin-yang is a philosophy of duality. This is the reason the Chinese word has no "and" between yin and yang - the term always expresses the two making up the one. In the example above, egg white plus yolk makes up the whole egg.
- Yin-yang Mutually Transform: The maximum effect of one quality will be followed by the transition toward the opposing quality. In other words, once the maximum Yang aspect has manifest, such as the egg whites becoming one without a yolk, this will be followed by the transition toward the Yin aspect, by placing the yolks with each other for company.
- Yin-yang Mutually Wax and Wane: As one aspect declines, the other increases to an equal degree. For instance, as the egg whites join the Eggology family, the yolks venture onward to join salad dressing and ice cream families.
We realize this is a lot to digest, so we leave you with this image to meditate on:
Eggology
