Objectives
1. Reduce confusion between Chinese and macrobiotic YinYang.
2. Provide more resources for learning and understanding.
3. Make both versions of YinYang more accessible and understandable for students.
4. Find greater harmony between the Chinese and Macrobiotic versions.
5. Be able to explain context, perspective and reference when applying YinYang.
Identify the differences and commonality between Chinese and Macrobiotic versions
There are aspects where both systems have similarities, have a different perspective, and where the basis for each is divergent. Most applications of YinYang, to health, food and lifestyle are similar. Essentially, the application is the same. The key difference is in the basic references for YinYang.
Chinese
Day/Night
Sun/Shade
Active/Passive
Heaven/Earth
Man/Woman
Movement/Rest
Centrifugal/Centripetal
According to Joseph Needham "Yang implies the formless and insubstantial, Yin the palpable and material."
These qualities are found in the material world as well as with chi and spirit.
Macrobiotic
Contraction/Expansion
Down/Up
Centripetal/Centrifugal
Central/Peripheral
Ohsawa claimed this focussed on the more material, physical qualities of the universe.
Both systems state right is yang and left is yin, both say face or front or abdomen is yin and back or rear is yang. Ohsawa changed above or upper from yang to yin and below or lower from yin to yang. Ohsawa also switched outside from yang to yin and inside from yin to yang.
