While the concept might have some validity regarding a house's location and layout, feng shui also employs magic to protect against problems using mirrors, feathers, and other items placed in strategic locations. Moreover, the expert layout of rooms would allow for yin and yang to be used most effectively. Feng shui also considers siting a building to make it more defensible against enemies. Examples of this included building south of mountains and north of rivers, where the sun's yang was supposed to collect. Traditionally, many people would build houses in ways that increase the amount of yang energy given off by the sun. Yin and yang are considered extremely important to Chinese geomancy ( feng shui, or "wind-water"). Moreover, in many places, the book refers to standing with the "feminine" or the "dark," a reference to the "yin." (Religious Taoism (daojiao) put far more emphasis on the maintenance of "yin" and "yang".) Yin and yang today Taoism Īlthough there is only one oblique reference to them within the Tao Te Ching, yin and yang play a significant role in Taoism, but the overall idea was considered vital to becoming in tune with the Tao. A person should strive for a balance of each.
![yin and yang theory in western movies yin and yang theory in western movies](https://mediaproxy.tvtropes.org/width/350/https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Yin_Yang.jpg)
Neither is good or bad, but have different effects on different things. Yin, by contrast, is feminine, passive, dark, cold, etc.
![yin and yang theory in western movies yin and yang theory in western movies](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/yin-and-yang-symbol-in-earthy-colors-western-exposure.jpg)
Yang is represented as masculine, active, light, warm, etc. Therefore both are necessary for the implied balance of the universe.
![yin and yang theory in western movies yin and yang theory in western movies](http://tcmcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/yy_movement.jpg)
Unlike Western dualisms, in which the mind and body or good and evil are resolutely opposed and unable to be bridged, traditional Chinese philosophy holds that all things contain elements of both yin and yang. The essence of yin and yang is that the universe is made up of complementary dualities.