Yin and yang

A circle divided by an S-curve into a dark and a light half, each containing a dot of the other.

Also known as: Taijitu, Yin yang symbol, Tai chi symbol

ReligiousSpiritual & interpretiveCulturalStandard profile

This symbol carries culturally, religiously or politically sensitive meanings depending on context. See the meanings below for a full, sourced breakdown rather than a single summary judgement.

Meanings

The taijitu depicts yin and yang as complementary and interdependent rather than opposed. Each half contains a dot of the other, showing that neither exists in isolation.

Culturally establishedDocumented interpretation
Depicts yin and yang: paired forces understood in Chinese thought as complementary and interdependent, each containing the seed of the other.
Contexts: Religion
Common modern usageCommon usagereligious sensitivity
Is frequently read in Western popular usage as 'balance' or 'opposites' — a simplification that loses the interdependence the dots are there to express.
Recorded as a widespread modern reading, distinct from the concept as developed in Chinese thought.
Contexts: Religion

Visual description

A circle split by an S-shaped curve into one dark and one light half, each bearing a small dot of the opposite shade.

Symmetry: point
Orientation: upright

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Cultural meaningLow confidence: Low confidence because the cultural meaning is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard.

Sources

Taijitu
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-30
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-07-30

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Meanings

The taijitu depicts yin and yang as complementary and interdependent rather than opposed. Each half contains a dot of the other, showing that neither exists in isolation.

Culturally establishedDocumented interpretation

Depicts yin and yang: paired forces understood in Chinese thought as complementary and interdependent, each containing the seed of the other.

Contexts: Religion

Common modern usageCommon usagereligious sensitivity

Is frequently read in Western popular usage as 'balance' or 'opposites' — a simplification that loses the interdependence the dots are there to express.

Recorded as a widespread modern reading, distinct from the concept as developed in Chinese thought.

Contexts: Religion

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Cultural meaningLow confidence: Low confidence because the cultural meaning is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard.

Sources

Taijitu
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-30
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-07-30