The Taiji Symbol

[prince K.]

...stems about from the neo Confucian Song era, in its present form, yet can of course be traced back fragmentarily to the Han period.

 

It is not as effective for Western magic(k) btw as other symbols used in a tradiitonal context like the pentagram or the hexagram.

 

Basically it has three major components that can be used to exemplify and deepen ones understanding of the nature of Tao.

 

Those are:

1) the circle

2) the curved line (in the middle), and

3) the points (of opposite colour) in the middle section (the root).

 

They also again coincide symbolically to the picture of

1) The wheel

2) the wave/the (mysterious) female

3) the root

 

 

All those are even mentioned explicitly in the Daodejing as you all surely know. I will teach you about all of them, cause you are ignorant fools, but I still like you cause you all- like me- have a love of poetry aesthetics and esp. women- even the women! So whatever, for now Im bored by it and wont say more and simply will give you a picture of the well-known symbol before I will lean back and drink some beer (cause I have no more wine):

 

[Unconditioned]

Thank you for the explaination!

 

I'll just say this: perhaps show a little more respect for the other members of the forum. We're all ignorant to some degree and no need to single out 'even the women'. There are some on here that we can all learn a thing or two from.

[prince K.]

I'm of course an ignorant fool myself- excuse my drunken ramblings. Respetive the

you have misunderstood me though: what I meant was that men like women and even women like women...anyway, it isnt very important obviously...

 

I'll maybe post stuff when having more time- thanks for your interest, Unconditioned!

 

K.

[Unconditioned]

Haha no worries

 

That's why I hate words sometimes... they're always open to personal interpretation!

 

Looking forward to more info, take care.

[prince K.]

Ok, here I just want to present some quick references and quotes about the 3 components of that symbol from the Daodejing. In the following link you can find many translations of that work, for comparison, I myself recommend Cleary, Henricks, Waley, Yutang and will use Cleary in this post: Cleary translation of the daodejing

 

Here are all translations (scroll down 112 in English alone)- have fun!Daodejing/Taoteking

 

1) the circle, the wheel

 

Daodejing number

 

11 (The Tao alikened to the wheel)

 

Thirty spokes join at a hub: their use for the cart is where they are not.

When the potter's wheel makes a pot, the use of the pot is precisely where there is nothing.

When you open the doors and windows for a room, it is where there is nothing that they are useful to the room.

Therefore being is for benefit, nonbeing is for usefulness.

 

49 (which personalizes the above- meaning its was written for the dauphin, the prince, the coming ruler- think of him (the sage) as yourself)

 

Sages have no fixed mind; they make the minds of the people their mind:

they improve the good, and also improve those who are not good; that virtue is good.

They make sure of the true, and they make sure of the untrue too; that virtue is sure.

The relation of sages to the world is one of concern: they cloud their minds for the world; all people pour into their ears and eye, and sages render them innocent.

 

 

Consider this: "In relation to its (the Taos) greatness- nothing is outside of it. In relation to its smallness nothing can be contained in it."

 

2) the curved line the wave= the mysterious female, also: water (to a lesser extent: yin)

 

8

 

Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all, and does so without contention. It rests where people dislike to be, so it is close to the Way.

Where it dwells becomes good ground; profound is the good in its heart, benevolent the good it bestows. Goodness in words is trustworthiness,

goodness in government is order; goodness in work is ability, goodness in action is timeliness.

But only by non-contention is there nothing extreme.

 

 

34

 

The Great Way (the Tao) is universal; it can apply to the left or the right.

All beings depend on it for life, and it does not refuse. Its accomplishments fulfilled, it does not dwell on them. It lovingly nurtures all beings, but does not act as their ruler.

As it has no desire, it can be called small.

All beings take to it, yet it does not act as their ruler, it can be called great.

Therefore sages never contrive greatness; that is why they can become so great.

 

Also see 61, 66 and esp. 78:

 

Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it.

So the flexible overcomes the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it.

This is why the sages say those who can take on the disgrace of nations are leaders of lands; and those who can take on the misfortune of nations are rulers of the world. True sayings seem paradoxical.

 

This is one of the deepest concepts, no words can suffice it. It is true that all this is more an experiental, practical a pragmatic thing yet its not true that one can not talk of it or talk about it. One can only not comprehend it wholly, in totality with words, that's all. Words, in the Taoist sense, are as true as everyhting else in relation to the Tao...yes, that sounds crazy but its true- it means that ALL IS TRUE- even the most outrageous fantasies, dreams and states: awake or asleep, alive or dead, all in relation to the Tao are the same. Now some consider it the aim of their practice to make oneself congruent with this Tao and to become that Tao oneself.

 

One of the deepest chapters that unites the water/female with the root (the small points) is no. 6 of the Daodejing. Scientists and literary historians also have found out that that is one of the oldest chapters of that work.

 

Got no time anymore today. See you!

Edited September 18, 2008 by prince K.

[Unconditioned]

Excellent. I can't add or take anything away from your explanation. Everything is as it is.

 

Thank you for taking the time to share this with us, very insightful.

[prince K.]

Thanks a lot; I am honoured that you should think so!

 

Best regards from K.