Editing Yin and yang (section)

== Linguistic aspects ==
=== Characters ===
[[File:Yin yang (Chinese characters).svg|thumb|upright=0.7|{{zhi|p=Yīnyáng}} in [[seal script]] (top), as well as traditional (middle) and simplified (bottom) character forms]]
The [[Chinese characters]] {{linktext|lang=zh-hant|陰}} and {{linktext|lang=zh-hant|陽}} are both [[phono-semantic compounds]], with semantic component {{linktext|lang=zh-hant|阝}} [[Radical 170|'mound', 'hill']], a graphical variant of {{linktext|lang=zh|阜}}—with the phonetic components {{zhi|t=今|p=jīn}} (and the added semantic component {{zhi|t=云|p=yún|l=cloud}}) and {{zhi|t=昜|p=yáng}}.<ref name="Zidian">{{cite dictionary |script-title=zh:汉语大字典 |trans-title=Hanyu Da Zidian |title-link=Hanyu Da Zidian |publisher=Hubei cishu chubanshe |place=Chengdu |date=1986–1989 |isbn=7-80543-001-2 |language=zh}}</ref>{{rp|4138, 4114}} In the latter, {{zhi|t=昜|p=yáng|l=bright}} features {{zhi|t=日|l=the Sun}} + {{zhi|t=示}} + {{zhi|t=彡|l=sunbeam}}.<ref name=Zidian />{{rp|4144, 1499}}

=== Pronunciations and etymologies ===
The [[Standard Chinese]] pronunciation of {{zhi|t=陰}} is usually the level first [[Four tones|tone]] as {{zhi|p=yīn}} with the meaning {{zhi|l=shady,cloudy}}, or sometimes with the falling fourth tone as {{zhi|p=yìn}} with the distinct meaning {{zhi|l=to shelter,shade}}. {{zhi|c=陽|l=sunny}} is always pronounced with the rising second tone as {{zhi|p=yáng}}.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Sinologists and historical linguists have reconstructed [[Middle Chinese]] pronunciations from data in the (7th century CE) ''[[Qieyun]]'' [[rhyme dictionary]] and later [[rhyme tables]], which was subsequently used to reconstruct [[Old Chinese phonology]] from rhymes in the (11th–7th centuries BCE) ''[[Shijing]]'' and phonological components of Chinese characters. [[Reconstructions of Old Chinese]] have illuminated the etymology of modern Chinese words. {{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Compare these Middle Chinese and Old Chinese{{efn|With an asterisk, to denote unattested forms.}} reconstructions of {{zhi|p=yīn|t=陰}} and {{zhi|p=yáng|t=陽}}:
* {{transliteration|ltc|ˑiəm}} < {{transliteration|och|*ˑiəm}} and {{transliteration|ltc|iang}} < {{transliteration|och|*diang}} ([[Bernhard Karlgren]])<ref>Bernhard Karlgren, ''Grammata Serica Recensa'', Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, 1957, 173, 188.</ref>
** {{transliteration|ltc|ʔjəm}} and {{transliteration|och|*raŋ}} ([[Li Fang-Kuei]])<ref>Li, Fang-Kuei, "Studies on Archaic Chinese", translated by Gilbert L. Mattos, ''Monumenta Serica'' 31, 1974:219–287.</ref>
* {{transliteration|ltc|ʔ(r)jum}} and {{transliteration|och|*ljang}} ([[William H. Baxter]])<ref>William H. Baxter, ''A Handbook of Old Chinese Phonology'', Mouton de Gruyter ,1992.</ref>
* {{transliteration|ltc|ʔjəm}} < {{transliteration|och|*ʔəm}} and {{transliteration|ltc|jiaŋ}} < {{transliteration|och|*laŋ}} (Axel Schuessler)<ref>Schuessler, Axel, ''ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese'', [[University of Hawaii Press]], 2007, 558, 572.</ref>
* {{transliteration|ltc|im}} < {{transliteration|och|*qrum}} and {{transliteration|ltc|yang}} < {{transliteration|och|*laŋ}} ([[William H. Baxter]] and [[Laurent Sagart]])<ref>Baxter & Sagart (2014), pp. 326–378.</ref>

Schuessler gives probable [[Sino-Tibetan]] etymologies for both Chinese words.

{{transliteration|ltc|yin}} < {{transliteration|och|*ʔəm}} compares with [[Burmese language|Burmese]] {{transliteration|my|ʔum<sup>C</sup>}} 'overcast', 'cloudy', [[Adi language|Adi]] {{transliteration|adi|muk-jum}} 'shade', and [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]] {{transliteration|lep|so'yǔm}} 'shade'; it is probably cognate with Chinese {{transliteration|zh|àn}} < {{transliteration|och|*ʔə̂mʔ}} {{zhi|c=黯|l=dim', 'gloomy'}} and {{transliteration|zh|qīn}} < {{transliteration|och|*khəm}} {{zhi|t=衾|l=blanket}}.

{{transliteration|ltc|yang}} < {{transliteration|och|*laŋ}} compares with Lepcha ''a-lóŋ'' 'reflecting light', Burmese ''laŋ<sup>B</sup>'' 'be bright' and ''ə-laŋ<sup>B</sup>'' 'light'; and is perhaps cognate with Chinese {{transliteration|zh|chāng}} < {{transliteration|och|*k-hlaŋ}} {{zhi|c=昌|l=prosperous', 'bright}} (compare [[Mainland Southeast Asia linguistic area|areal]] words like [[Tai languages|Tai]] ''plaŋ<sup>A1</sup>'' 'bright' & Proto-[[Viet-Muong]] ''hlaŋ<sup>B</sup>''). To this word-family, Unger also includes {{zhi|c=炳|p=bǐng}} < {{transliteration|och|*pl(j)aŋʔ}} 'bright';<ref>Ulrich Unger, Hao-ku : Sinologische Rundbriefe, 1986:34</ref> however Schuessler reconstructs {{zhi|c=炳|p=bǐng}}'s Old Chinese pronunciation as {{transliteration|och|*braŋʔ}} and includes it in an [[Austroasiatic]] word family, besides {{zhi|c=亮|p=liàng}} < {{transliteration|och|*raŋh}} {{zhi|c=爽|p=shuǎng}} < {{transliteration|och|*sraŋʔ}} 'twilight of dawn'; {{transliteration|zh|míng}} < {{transliteration|och|*mraŋ}} {{linktext|lang=zh|明}} 'bright', 'become light', 'enlighten'; owing to "the different OC initial consonant which seems to have no recognizable OC morphological function".<ref>Schuessler, Axel, ''ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese'', [[University of Hawaii Press]], 2007. pp. 168, 180, 558.</ref>

=== Meanings ===
''Yin'' and ''yang'' are semantically complex words.

[[John DeFrancis]]'s ''[[ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary]]'' gives the following translation equivalents.<ref>John DeFrancis, ed., ''ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary'', University of Hawaii Press, 2003, 1147, 1108.</ref>
<blockquote>'''Yin''' {{zhi|c=陰}} or {{zhi|c=阴}}—[[Noun]]: ① [philosophy] female/passive/negative principle in nature, ② Surname; [[Bound morpheme]]: ① the moon, ② shaded orientation, ③ covert; concealed; hidden, ④ vagina, ⑤ penis, ⑥ of the netherworld, ⑦ negative, ⑧ north side of a hill, ⑨ south bank of a river, ⑩ reverse side of a stele, ⑪ in intaglio; [[Stative verb]]: ① overcast, ② sinister; treacherous</blockquote>
<blockquote>'''Yang''' {{zhi|c=陽}} or {{zhi|c=阳}}—[[Bound morpheme]]: ① [Chinese philosophy] male/active/positive principle in nature, ② the sun, ③ male genitals, ④ in relief, ⑤ open; overt, ⑥ belonging to this world, ⑦ [linguistics] masculine, ⑧ south side of a hill, ⑨ north bank of a river</blockquote>

The [[Compound (linguistics)|compound]] ''yinyang'' {{lang|zh-hant|陰陽}} means "yin and yang; opposites; ancient Chinese astronomy; occult arts; astrologer; geomancer; etc."

The sinologist [[Rolf Stein]] glosses Chinese ''yin'' {{lang|zh-hant|陰}} as "shady side (of a mountain)" and ''yang'' {{lang|zh-hant|陽}} as "sunny side (of a mountain)" with the uncommon English geographic terms ''[[wikt:ubac|ubac]]'' "shady side of a mountain" and ''[[wikt:adret|adret]]'' "sunny side of a mountain" (which are of [[List of English words of French origin|French origin]]).<ref>Rolf Stein (2010), ''Rolf Stein's Tibetica Antiqua: With Additional Materials'', Brill, p. 63.</ref>

=== Toponymy ===
Many Chinese place names or [[toponyms]] contain the word ''yang'' 'sunny side', and a few contain ''yin'' 'shady side'. In China, as elsewhere in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], sunlight comes predominantly from the south, and thus the south face of a mountain or the north bank of a river will receive more direct sunlight than the opposite side.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CHINESE PLACE NAMES |url=https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/chinalan.htm |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.sjsu.edu}}</ref> For example, ''Yang'' refers to the "south side of a hill" in [[Hengyang]] {{lang|zh|衡陽}}, which is south of [[Mount Heng (Hunan)|Mount Heng]] {{lang|zh|衡山}} in [[Hunan]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hengyang {{!}} Ancient City & Major Industrial Hub {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Hengyang |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> and to the "north bank of a river" in [[Luoyang]] {{lang|zh-hant|洛陽}}, which is located north of the [[Luo River (Henan)|Luo River]] {{lang|zh|洛河}} in [[Henan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Info about Luoyang-国际合作交流中心 |url=https://sites.lynu.edu.cn/gjhz/wjzp/Info_about_Luoyang.htm |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=sites.lynu.edu.cn}}</ref> Similarly, ''yin'' refers to "north side of a hill" in [[Huayin]] {{lang|zh-hant|華陰}}, which is north of [[Mount Hua]] {{lang|zh-hant|華山}} in [[Shaanxi]] province.<ref>{{cite book |first=Zhuqing |last=Li |chapter=Chinese Place Names |pages=179–180 |editor-last=Jiao |editor-first=Liwei |title=The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Language and Culture |publisher=Routledge |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-315-16780-0}}</ref>

In Japan, the characters are used in western [[Honshu]] to delineate the north-side [[San'in region]] {{lang|ja|山陰}} from the south-side [[San'yō region]] {{lang|ja|山陽}}, separated by the [[Chūgoku Mountains]] {{lang|ja|中国山地}}.

=== Loanwords ===
English ''[[wikt:yin|yin]]'', ''[[wikt:yang|yang]]'', and ''[[wikt:yin-yang|yin-yang]]'' are familiar [[loanwords]] of [[List of English words of Chinese origin|Chinese origin]].

The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' defines:
<blockquote>'''yin''' (jɪn) Also '''Yin''', '''Yn'''. &#91;Chinese ''yīn'' shade, feminine; the moon.&#93;
'''a.''' In Chinese philosophy, the feminine or negative principle (characterized by dark, wetness, cold, passivity, disintegration, etc.) of the two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also ''attrib''. or as ''adj''., and ''transf''. Cf. '''yang'''.
'''b.''' ''Comb''., as '''yin-yang''', the combination or fusion of the two cosmic forces; freq. attrib., esp. as '''yin-yang symbol''', a circle divided by an S-shaped line into a dark and a light segment, representing respectively ''yin'' and ''yang'', each containing a 'seed' of the other. </blockquote>
<blockquote>'''yang''' (jæŋ) Also '''Yang'''. &#91;Chinese ''yáng'' yang, sun, positive, male genitals.&#93;
'''a.''' In Chinese philosophy, the masculine or positive principle (characterized by light, warmth, dryness, activity, etc.) of the two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also ''attrib.'' or as ''adj.'' Cf. '''yin'''.
'''b.''' ''Comb.'': '''yang-yin''' = ''yin-yang'' s.v. '''yin b.'''</blockquote>

For the earliest recorded "yin and yang" usages, the ''OED'' cites 1671 for ''yin'' and ''yang'',<ref>[[Arnoldus Montanus]], ''Atlas Chinensis: Being a relation of remarkable passages in two embassies from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the Vice-Roy Singlamong, General Taising Lipovi, and Konchi, Emperor, Thomas Johnson'', tr. by J. Ogilby, 1671, 549: "The Chineses by these Strokes ‥ declare ‥ how much each Form or Sign receives from the two fore-mention'd Beginnings of Yn or Yang."</ref> 1850 for ''yin-yang'',<ref>[[William Jones Boone (son)|William Jones Boone]], "Defense of an Essay on the proper renderings of the words Elohim and θεός into the Chinese Language," ''Chinese Repository'' XIX, 1850, 375: "... when in the Yih King (or Book of Diagrams) we read of the Great Extreme, it means that the Great Extreme is in the midst of the active-passive primordial substance (Yin-yáng); and that it is not exterior to, or separate from the Yin-yáng."</ref> and 1959 for ''yang-yin''.<ref>[[Carl Jung]], "Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self", in ''The Collected Works of C. G. Jung'', tr. by R. F. C. Hull, Volume 9, Part 2, p. 58" "[The vision of "Ascension of Isaiah"] might easily be a description of a genuine yang-yin relationship, a picture that comes closer to the actual truth than the ''privatio boni''. Moreover, it does not damage monotheism in any way, since it unites the opposites just and yang and yin are united in Tao (which the Jesuits quite logically translated as "God")."</ref>

In English, ''yang-yin'' (like ''ying-yang'') occasionally occurs as a mistake or typographical error for the Chinese loanword ''yin-yang''—yet they are not equivalents. Chinese does have some ''yangyin'' [[collocation]]s, such as {{lang|zh|洋銀}} ({{lit|foreign silver}}) "silver coin/dollar", but not even the most comprehensive dictionaries (e.g., the ''[[Hanyu Da Cidian]]'') enter ''yangyin'' *{{lang|zh-hant|陽陰}}. While ''yang'' and ''yin'' can occur together in context,<ref>For instance, the ''[[Huainanzi]]'' says" "Now, the lumber is not so important as the forest; the forest is not so important as the rain; the rain is not so important as yin and yang; yin and yang are not so important as harmony; and harmony is not so important as the Way. (12, {{lang|zh|材不及林，林不及雨，雨不及陰陽，陰陽不及和，和不及道}}; tr. Major et al. 2010, 442).</ref> ''yangyin'' is not synonymous with ''yinyang''. The linguistic term "[[irreversible binomial]]" refers to a collocation of two words A–B that cannot be idiomatically reversed as B–A, for example, English ''cat and mouse'' (not *''mouse and cat'') and ''friend or foe'' (not *''foe or friend'').<ref name="Ames">Roger T. Ames, "''Yin'' and ''Yang''", in ''Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy'', ed. by Antonio S. Cua, Routledge, 2002, 847.</ref>

Similarly, the usual pattern among Chinese binomial compounds is for positive A and negative B, where the A word is dominant or privileged over B. For example, ''tiandi'' {{lang|zh|天地}} "heaven and earth" and ''nannü'' {{lang|zh|男女}} "men and women". ''Yinyang'' meaning "dark and light; female and male; moon and sun", is an exception. Scholars have proposed various explanations for why ''yinyang'' violates this pattern, including "linguistic convenience" (it is easier to say ''yinyang'' than ''yangyin''), the idea that "proto-Chinese society was matriarchal", or perhaps, since ''yinyang'' first became prominent during the late Warring States period, this term was "purposely directed at challenging persistent cultural assumptions".<ref name="Ames" />