Yin-Yang Fish(阴阳鱼):
In Chinese, it is pronounced as: yīn yáng yú，Written as:

The Yin-Yang Fish, also known as the Taiji pattern, is an important symbol in traditional Chinese culture, representing the core philosophy of the Theory of Yin and Yang. This pattern embodies the ideas of unity in opposition and dynamic balance, profoundly influencing Chinese philosophy, medicine, Martial Arts, and other fields.
Yin and Yang are fundamental concepts in ancient Chinese philosophy, traceable back to the “I Ching”. Yin and Yang represent two basic forces or states in nature that are both opposing and interdependent. Yin is typically associated with darkness, softness, passivity, and femininity, while Yang corresponds to brightness, hardness, activity, and masculinity.
The Taiji pattern, also known as the Yin-Yang Fish or Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram, vividly expresses the philosophy of Yin and Yang. It consists of a circle divided into two intermingling parts: a black section and a white section. Each section contains a small dot of the opposite color, symbolizing that each aspect contains elements of the other.
The shape of the Yin-Yang Fish displays a dynamic state of balance, illustrating the continuously changing relationship between Yin and Yang, or “Yin within Yang and Yang within Yin”. The two parts of the pattern complement each other, indicating that everything in nature has its opposite, and these opposites are interdependent. The Yin-Yang Fish emphasizes the ideas of harmony and unity, reflecting the traditional Chinese cultural understanding of the universe and human relationships.
The Theory of Yin and Yang is a vital component of ancient Chinese philosophy, influencing Daoist, Confucian, and other schools of thought. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang are used to explain physiological functions and pathological changes in the human body, guiding diagnosis and treatment. In Chinese Martial Arts, such as Tai Chi Quan, the concept of Yin and Yang guides the execution of movements in terms of lightness and heaviness, speed, and the transition between reality and unreality. Feng Shui also utilizes the Theory of Yin and Yang to analyze geographical environments and architectural layouts.
As a specific manifestation of the Taiji pattern, the Yin-Yang Fish is not only a representation of philosophical thought but also a symbol of cultural art, widely used in various cultural mediums such as calligraphy, painting, and sculpture, becoming one of the iconic symbols of traditional Chinese culture.