The most important concept of the yin and the yang is that both must exist simultaneously for there to be harmony in the world. Although separate forces, the yin and the yang are most influential when combined in harmony with one another (Simpkins 5). This diagram emphasizes the idea that from nothing came two equal and opposite forces that together form the balance of the universe. This creation is best illustrated by the following diagram: Together, the yin and the yang form Tai Chi, the unity of the two opposing forces to create harmonious energy. From this void stemmed two new forces: activity and inactivity, the yin and the yang, respectively. Taoists believe that in the beginning of time, there was only Wu Chi, an endless void. TaoismвЂ™s stress on dualistic harmony is easily explained by its story of the origins of the universe. The key word in this definition is вЂњcomplementaryвЂќ - even though the Yin and the Yang are opposites, they are inherently harmoniously interrelated. The yin and the yang are the two вЂњcomplementary but opposing forces of natureвЂќ (Durlabhji 402). In Taoism, every force is influenced by either the yin or the yang, and occasionally by a combination of the two. The yin governs the female, the earth, the moon, and the internal, while the yang force governs the male, the sky, the sun, and the superficial (Durlabhji 403). In summary, the yin and the yang, the two opposing forces of nature, have their own respective controls over every aspect in our universe. In Taoism, the concept of the yin and the yang best exemplifies the religionвЂ™s overarching belief in dualism. Many famous philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato, and Descartes, have debated over dualism, and what exactly constitutes вЂњthe mindвЂќ (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Philosophically, dualism also contrasts the mind and the body, stating that the two are essentially separate forces and there is a distinction between the mental and the physical. Dualism is the opposite of monism, the belief that there is only one, singular, fundamental force in the world. Religious dualists would argue that God and the Devil (or good and evil) are two forces that are not only individual entities, but also equally powerful. In a religious sense, dualism often refers to the idea of good and evil, or, in Western religions, God and the Devil.

In simpler terms, in any aspect of life there exist two opposing forces. Analyzing each religionвЂ™s story of creation shows that their different beliefs about the universeвЂ™s origin are what drove Taoism and Zoroastrianism to develop representations of dualism that deviate from each other, with Taoist dualism focused on the importance of harmony, and Zoroastrian dualism possessing an underlying combative nature.ДЄccording to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the basic concept of dualism states that вЂњfor some particular domain, there are two fundamental kinds of categories of things or principlesвЂќ (вЂњDualismвЂќ).

The representation of dualism in each of these religions, however, differs slightly. Taoism and Zoroastrianism are excellent examples of two Eastern religions that share a central focus on the same concept: dualism. Thus, it is not rare to stumble upon two different religions that share the same general view on a certain topic. Many Eastern religions draw on the same rich culture to establish their basic system of beliefs. Paper 2: Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Duality

Yin and yang theory good and evil