1. What are the original meanings of yin and yang in Chinese culture? In the course of history what kind of meanings were added to these concepts? How did Confucians use yin-yang theory to designate human identity, leading to the polarization of gender in pre-modern Chinese society?
A: The original meaning of the yin was that it was the side of the hue that was in the shade, and yang was the side of the hue that faced the sun, the sunny side. Throughout the course of history there were a few concepts that were added to these concepts. For yin some meanings that were added throughout history were femininity, submissiveness, and subordination, while the concept of yang had begun to be used for to describe terms such as aggressiveness, dominance, forcefulness, and masculinity. Confucians used yin-yang theory to designate human identity by stating that in relation to men, yin is women and yang is man, in relation to ruler, yin is subject and yang is ruler, and …show more content…
When Prof. Zhou is giving his perspective on Chinese culture, although it is immensely insightful and detailed, it does not give a complete understanding of all Chinese culture, because it is just ones view point. In other words, Zhou’s depiction of Chinese culture is just one out of the many million different types viewpoints, just like how ones view of a mountain/mountain range changes with every and every angle. What this poem is really trying to say is that, one can never really get a full grasp on something unless he/she views it at all angles & viewpoints, and without understanding and acknowledging these perspectives one cannot see the “true face of Mount Lu,” or in other words get a full understanding of a subject
A: The original meaning of the yin was that it was the side of the hue that was in the shade, and yang was the side of the hue that faced the sun, the sunny side. Throughout the course of history there were a few concepts that were added to these concepts. For yin some meanings that were added throughout history were femininity, submissiveness, and subordination, while the concept of yang had begun to be used for to describe terms such as aggressiveness, dominance, forcefulness, and masculinity. Confucians used yin-yang theory to designate human identity by stating that in relation to men, yin is women and yang is man, in relation to ruler, yin is subject and yang is ruler, and …show more content…
When Prof. Zhou is giving his perspective on Chinese culture, although it is immensely insightful and detailed, it does not give a complete understanding of all Chinese culture, because it is just ones view point. In other words, Zhou’s depiction of Chinese culture is just one out of the many million different types viewpoints, just like how ones view of a mountain/mountain range changes with every and every angle. What this poem is really trying to say is that, one can never really get a full grasp on something unless he/she views it at all angles & viewpoints, and without understanding and acknowledging these perspectives one cannot see the “true face of Mount Lu,” or in other words get a full understanding of a subject