YIN-YANG REPRESENTS the changing seasons and is often recognised for its symbol, a black and white circle with two dots, denoting harmony and balance.
In ancient Chinese philosophy, the yin-yang concept teaches how opposing forces are interdependent, each giving rise to the other while complementing it.
This notion of duality highlights the balance of the world, and understanding this unique coexistence helps us break down why fluctuations in global temperatures and weather patterns can lead to the climate changes observed today.
The Solar Cycle
The concept of yin-yang is illustrated by eight trigrams, commonly known as ba gua. These represent the changing seasons and were used by ancient Chinese to explain natural phenomena.
From these eight trigrams, farmers developed 24 solar terms to reflect changes in climate and natural phenomenon by mapping the sun’s position. These 24 terms were listed by UNESCO in 2016 in the register of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Major solar terms that indicate the change of seasons are the start of spring, start of summer, start of autumn and start of winter, which are exactly three months apart. Between them, the seasons are marked by equinoxes and solstices. Consisting of 12 major and minor pairs, the solar terms are generally fixed at a 15-day interval. Eventually, after a cycle, the Earth completes a tropical year with a rotation of 360 degrees.
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