The Taiji (Great Heavenly Axis) forms a unity, from which two antagonistic concepts, Yin and Yang originate. The word Yin originally referred to a hillside facing away from the sun. Philosophically, it stands the gloomy, passive, female concept, whereas Yang (the hillside facing the sun) stands for the bright, active, male concept. Both concepts, though antagonistic, are also complementary and the present domination of one implies the future rise of the other, as moon's phases (this is one of the meanings of the well-known Yin-Yang figures).
This is the Yin-Yang symbol or Taijitu picture, with black representing Yin and white representing Yang. It is a symbol that reflects the inescapably intertwined duality of all things in nature, a common theme in Taoism. No quality is independent of its opposite, nor so pure that it does not contain its opposite in a diminished form: these concepts are depicted by the vague division between black and white, the flowing boundary between the two, and the smaller circles within the large regions.
Bagua (The Eight Diagrams)
Fengshui (geomantic omen) has its core in the concept of theBagua (Eight Diagrams) -- an eight-sided diagram derived from The Classic of Changes (I-Ching). Each side represents a different aspect of life, such as wealth, career, marriage, etc. Adjusting energy levels in each corresponding area subdues negative energy or enhances beneficial energy already present.
In the Bagua diagram, there are eight areas, or "guas," encircling the center. As shown on the left, these nine different zones correspond to nine major areas of life - prosperity and abundance, fame and reputation, relationships, family, health, creativity and children, skills and knowledge, career and helpful people.
Bagua is used in Fengshui to find out which part of your home or office correlates to a particular situation in your life. Once you understand how to use this "map of Fengshui," you will be able to quickly evaluate and adjust your environment accordingly to maximize on better health and productivity while improving your own quality of life.
