Yin and yang (or é and é in traditional Chinese characters) represent duality, or the idea that two opposite characteristics can actually exist in harmony and complement each other. It's the same idea behind quotes like, "there can be no light without darkness." Yin (the black segment) and yang (the white segment) each represent various qualities.

In the chart below are some of the characteristics each represents. You'll see that, for each one, yin and yang represent a pair of opposites, such as black and white, light and shadow, north and south, etc.




Yin And Yang The Taoist Harmony Of Opposites