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102-400: The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, it is believed that days will have longer daylight hours and therefore create an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fu ( Chinese : 復 , "Returning"). In Chinese,

204-903: A good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum , which Pliny's Natural History describes as "an object that protects a person from trouble". Anything can function as an amulet; items commonly so used include statues, coins, drawings, plant parts, animal parts, and written words. Amulets which are said to derive their extraordinary properties and powers from magic or those which impart luck are typically part of folk religion or paganism , whereas amulets or sacred objects of formalised mainstream religion as in Christianity are believed to have no power of their own without faith in Jesus and being blessed by

306-401: A unity of opposites , lies at the origins of many branches of classical Chinese science , technology and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine , and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang , tai chi , daoyin , kung fu and qigong , as well as appearing in the pages of the I Ching and

408-452: A battle with Horus's uncle Seth. Amulets were often made to represent gods, animals or hieroglyphs. For example, the common amulet shape the scarab beetle is the emblem of the god Khepri . The most common material for such amulets was a kind of ceramic known as Egyptian faience or tjehenet , but amulets were also made of stone, metal, bone, wood and gold. Phylacteries containing texts were another common form of amulet. Like

510-577: A belief the ta'wiz itself cures or protects. Astrological symbols were also used, especially in the Medieval period. These included symbols of the Zodiac, derived from Greek representations of constellations , and especially popular in the Middle East in the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries. Muslim artists also developed personifications of the planets, based on their astrological traits, and of

612-421: A break from work to celebrate with their families. They would hold heaven worshipping as well as honoring their ancestors by burning joss paper at their ancestral shrines to show gratitude. In ancient times, the day was also known as the "festival of extreme length ( traditional Chinese : 長至節 ; simplified Chinese : 长至节 ; pinyin : Cháng Zhì Jié ) as the sun's extreme position lengthens shadows. It

714-718: A clergyman, and they supposedly will also not provide any preternatural benefit to the bearer who does not have an appropriate disposition . Talisman and amulets have interchangeable meanings. Amulets refer to any object which has the power to avert evil influences or ill luck. An amulet is an object that is generally worn for protection and made from a durable material (metal or hard-stone). Both amulets and talismans can be applied to paper examples as well. Amulets are sometimes confused with pendants , small aesthetic objects that hang from necklaces. Any given pendant may indeed be an amulet but so may any other object that purportedly protects its holder from danger. The use of amulets ( meket )

816-479: A collocation of two words A–B that cannot be idiomatically reversed as B–A, for example, English cat and mouse (not * mouse and cat ) and friend or foe (not * foe or friend ). Similarly, the usual pattern among Chinese binomial compounds is for positive A and negative B, where the A word is dominant or privileged over B. For example, tiandi 天地 "heaven and earth" and nannü 男女 "men and women". Yinyang meaning "dark and light; female and male; moon and sun",

918-642: A concept that originated in ancient Chinese philosophy that describes how opposite or contrary forces may create each other by their comparison and are to be seen as actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. In Daoist philosophy, dark and light, yin and yang, arrive in the Tao Te Ching at chapter 42. It becomes sensible from an initial quiescence or emptiness ( wuji , sometimes symbolized by an empty circle), and continues moving until quiescence

1020-408: A cycle. Creation as part of yang, and destruction as part of yin, progress on one side (yang) and entropy on the other side (yin), is represented in the cycles. Yin is the black side, and yang is the white side. Other color arrangements have included the white of yang being replaced by red. The taijitu is sometimes accompanied by other shapes, such as bagua . The relationship between yin and yang

1122-486: A diverse range of block printed amulets, the lead case should include lugs, which allowed the tiny package to be either sewn onto clothing or suspended from the owner's body. These modest containers were, most likely, kept sealed shut, their printed contents therefore invisible to a possessor who perhaps was not wealthy enough to purchase a non-serialised, handwritten amulet. The Tibetan Buddhists have many kinds of talismanic and shamanistic amulets and ritual tools, including

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1224-401: A doctor or seer was unavailable, then everyday people would simply cast their spells on their own without assistance. It was likely commonplace for individuals to memorize spells and incantations for later use. Amulets were particularly prevalent in ancient Roman society, being the inheritor of the ancient Greek tradition, and inextricably linked to Roman religion and magic (see magic in

1326-607: A holy book placed under part of the bed or cushion. Amulets are plentiful in the Jewish tradition, with examples of Solomon -era amulets existing in many museums . Due to the proscription of idols and other graven images in Judaism , Jewish amulets emphasize text and names. The shape, material, and color of a Jewish amulet makes no difference. Examples of textual amulets include the Silver Scroll ( c.  630 BCE ),

1428-588: A hypothetical invisible planet named Al Tinnin or Jauzahr. It was believed that objects decorated with these astrological signs developed talismanic power to protect. Abstract symbols are also common in Muslim amulets, such as the Seal of Solomon and the Zulfiqar (sword of the aforementioned Ali). Another popular amulet often used to avert the evil gaze is the hamsa (meaning five) or "Hand of Fatima". The symbol

1530-585: A mistake or typographical error for the Chinese loanword yin-yang —yet they are not equivalents. Chinese does have some yangyin collocations , such as 洋銀 (lit. "foreign silver") "silver coin/dollar", but not even the most comprehensive dictionaries (e.g., the Hanyu Da Cidian ) enter yangyin * 陽陰 . While yang and yin can occur together in context, yangyin is not synonymous with yinyang . The linguistic term " irreversible binomial " refers to

1632-733: A mountain or the north bank of a river will receive more direct sunlight than the opposite side. Yang refers to the "south side of a hill" in Hengyang 衡陽 , which is south of Mount Heng 衡山 in Hunan province, and to the "north bank of a river" in Luoyang 洛陽 , which is located north of the Luo River 洛河 in Henan . Similarly, yin refers to "north side of a hill" in Huayin 華陰 , which

1734-478: A mountain)" with the uncommon English geographic terms ubac "shady side of a mountain" and adret "sunny side of a mountain" (which are of French origin ). Many Chinese place names or toponyms contain the word yang "sunny side" and a few contain yin "shady side". In China , as elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere , sunlight comes predominantly from the south, and thus the south face of

1836-443: A rich history in the language, their etymologies and evolution analyzable through lenses of orthography , phonology , and meanings . The Chinese characters 陰 and 陽 are both considered to be phono-semantic compounds , with semantic component 阝 'mound', 'hill' , a graphical variant of 阜 —with the phonetic components 今 ; jīn (and the added semantic component 云 ; yún ; 'cloud') and 昜 ; yáng . In

1938-545: A rug is not a theme: it actually is an amulet, conferring protection by its presence. In his words, "the device in the rug has a materiality, it generates a field of force able to interact with other unseen forces and is not merely an intellectual abstraction." In the Islamic world, material composition and graphic content are important in determining the apotropaic forces of the amulets. The preferred materials employed by amulets are precious and semi-precious materials, because

2040-477: Is All-Hearing and All-Knowing' (Qur. 20:46). A tension is therefore created between the idea of Allah as protector and the amulet as a material item that encapsulates and transmits this divine energy. Amulets and talismanic objects were used by early Muslims to appeal to God in the first instance. In this respect, these early Islamic amulets differ substantially from Byzantine, Roman, early Iranian, and other pre-Islamic magic which addressed demonic forces or spirits of

2142-499: Is an act of shirk (idolatry). Other hadith support the use of talismans with some Muslim denominations considering it 'permissible magic', usually under some conditions (for instance, that the wearer believes that the talisman only helps through God's will). Many Muslims do not consider items used against the evil eye to be talismans; these are often kept in the home rather than worn. Examples of worn amulets are necklaces, rings, bracelets, coins, armbands and talismanic shirts . In

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2244-496: Is an exception. Scholars have proposed various explanations for why yinyang violates this pattern, including "linguistic convenience" (it is easier to say yinyang than yangyin ), the idea that "proto-Chinese society was matriarchal", or perhaps, since yinyang first became prominent during the late Warring States period, this term was "purposely directed at challenging persistent cultural assumptions". Joseph Needham discusses yin and yang together with Five Elements as part of

2346-602: Is an indivisible whole. In the ethics of Confucianism on the other hand, most notably in the philosophy of Dong Zhongshu ( c. 2nd century BC), a moral dimension is attached to the idea of yin and yang. The Ahom philosophy of duality of the individual self han and pu is quite similar to yin and yang of Taoism. The tradition was originated in Yunnan , China and followed by some Ahom , descendants of Dai ethnic Minority . The Chinese terms 陰 ; yīn ; 'dark side' and 陽 ; yáng ; 'light side' have

2448-712: Is called an ofuda . Mamorifuda are gofu amulets. In Korea, where they are called bujeok ( 부적 ) even usually in the tradition of Korean Taoist rituals , they are talismans encased inside in small brocade bags that are carried on the person. In antiquity and the Middle Ages , most Jews , Christians , and Muslims in the Orient believed in the protective and healing power of amulets or blessed objects. Many pagan religions also believe in stone worship. Talismans used by these peoples can be broken down into three main categories: talismans carried or worn on

2550-513: Is most associated with these theories. Although yin and yang are not mentioned in any of the surviving documents of Zou Yan, his school was known as the Yin Yang Jia (Yin and Yang School). Needham concludes "There can be very little doubt that the philosophical use of the terms began about the beginning of the 4th century, and that the passages in older texts which mention this use are interpolations made later than that time." Yin and yang are

2652-567: Is north of Mount Hua 華山 in Shaanxi province. In Japan , the characters are used in western Honshu to delineate the north-side San'in region 山陰 from the south-side San'yō region 山陽 , separated by the Chūgoku Mountains 中国山地 . English yin , yang , and yin-yang are familiar loanwords of Chinese origin . The Oxford English Dictionary defines: yin (jɪn) Also Yin , Yn . [Chinese yīn shade, feminine;

2754-458: Is often described in terms of sunlight playing over a mountain and a valley. Yin (literally the 'shady place' or 'north slope') is the dark area occluded by the mountain's bulk, while yang (literally the "sunny place' or "south slope") is the brightly lit portion. As the sun moves across the sky, yin and yang gradually trade places with each other, revealing what was obscured and obscuring what was revealed. Amulet An amulet , also known as

2856-816: Is perhaps cognate with Chinese chāng < *k-hlaŋ 昌 ; 'prosperous', 'bright' (compare areal words like Tai plaŋ 'bright' & Proto- Viet-Muong hlaŋ ). To this word-family, Unger also includes 炳 ; bǐng < *pl(j)aŋʔ 'bright'; however Schuessler reconstructs 炳 ; bǐng 's Old Chinese pronunciation as *braŋʔ and includes it in an Austroasiatic word family, besides 亮 ; liàng < *raŋh 爽 ; shuǎng < *sraŋʔ 'twilight of dawn'; míng < *mraŋ 明 'bright', 'become light', 'enlighten'; owing to "the different OC initial consonant which seems to have no recognizable OC morphological function". Yin and yang are semantically complex words. John DeFrancis 's ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary gives

2958-443: Is pre-Islamic, known from Punic times. In Central and West Asia, amulets (often in the form of triangular packages containing a sacred verse) were traditionally attached to the clothing of babies and young children to give them protection from forces such as the evil eye . Triangular amulet motifs were often also woven into oriental carpets such as kilims . The carpet expert Jon Thompson explains that such an amulet woven into

3060-453: Is reached again. For instance, dropping a stone in a calm pool of water will simultaneously raise waves and lower troughs between them, and this alternation of high and low points in the water will radiate outward until the movement dissipates and the pool is calm once more. Yin and yang thus are always opposite and equal qualities and create and control each other. Whenever one quality reaches its peak, it will naturally begin to transform into

3162-411: Is repelling, active and expansive in principle, this dichotomy in some form, is seen in all things in nature—patterns of change and difference, such as biological and seasonal cycles, evolution of the landscape over days, weeks, years and eons (with the original meaning of the words being the north-facing shade and the south-facing brightness of a hill), gender (female and male), as well as the formation of

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3264-597: The Chai necklace (though this is also worn simply to indicate Jewish identity), and inscriptions of one of the names of the god of Judaism - such as ה (He), יה (YaH), or שדי ( Shaddai ) - on a piece of parchment or metal, usually silver. Counter-examples, however, include the Hamsa (an outline of a human hand) and the Seal of Solomon . During the Middle Ages, Maimonides and Sherira Gaon (and his son Hai Gaon ) opposed

3366-479: The Han dynasty . One cold winter's day, he noticed that the poor were afflicted with chilblains on their ears. Moved to pity, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, and distribute them among the poor to keep them warm and prevent their ears from getting chilblains. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named the dish "qùhán jiāoěr tāng" (祛寒嬌耳湯) or dumpling soup that expels

3468-457: The Quran , hadiths (recorded oral histories of early Islam) and religious narratives, and religious names. The word "Allah" (God) is especially popular, as many believe that touching or seeing it wards off evil. The ninety-nine names of God , and the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions, are also used. The names of prophets and religious figures are felt to connect the wearer to

3570-688: The School of Naturalists . He says that it would be proper to begin with yin and yang before Five Elements because the former: "lay, as it were, at a deeper level in Nature, and were the most ultimate principles of which the ancient Chinese could conceive. But it so happens that we know a good deal more about the historical origin of the Five-Element theory than about that of the yin and the yang, and it will therefore be more convenient to deal with it first." He then discusses Zou Yan ( 鄒衍 ; 305–240 BC) who

3672-590: The blessing of the Church in the name of Jesus . The crucifix , and the associated sign of the cross , is one of the key sacramentals used by Christians to ward off evil since the time of the Early Church Fathers ; as such, many Christians wear a cross necklace . The imperial cross of Conrad II (1024–1039) referred to the power of the cross against evil. A well-known amulet associated with Benedictine spirituality present in Christianity of

3774-414: The dorje , the bell, and many kinds of portable amulets. The Tibetan Buddhists enclose prayers on a parchment scroll within a prayer wheel, which is then spun around, each rotation being one recitation of all of the stanzas within the prayer wheel. The people of Thailand, with Buddhist and animist beliefs, also have a vast pantheon of amulets, which are still popular and in common use by most people even in

3876-551: The 'magic'vocabulary used and the heavy implementation of the Qur'an. The regional variations of these amulets each are unique; however, they are tied together through the Quranic inscriptions, images of Muhammad, astrological signs, and religious narratives. Such text amulets were originally housed within a lead case imprinted with surat al-Ikhlas (Qur. n2: 1-4), a verse that instructs the worshipper to proclaim God's sanctity. As seen in

3978-518: The Asia and in Overseas Asian communities) is the making and eating of tangyuan (湯圓) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and are sometimes coloured pink or green. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls are cooked in a sweet soup or savory broth with both the ball and

4080-689: The Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican traditions is the Saint Benedict medal which includes the Vade Retro Satana formula to ward off Satan. This medal has been in use at least since the 1700s, and in 1742 it received the approval of Pope Benedict XIV . It later became part of the Roman Ritual . Several Christian saints have written about the power of holy water as a force that repels evil; as such in Christianity (especially in

4182-522: The Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations), holy water is used in the dominical sacrament of baptism , as well as for devotional use in the home. Saint Teresa of Avila , a Doctor of the Church who reported visions of Jesus and Mary , was a strong believer in the power of holy water and wrote that she used it with success to repel evil and temptations. Lay Catholics are not permitted to perform solemn exorcisms , but they can use holy water , blessed salt, and other sacramentals, such as

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4284-664: The Dongzhi Festival, daytime will gradually lengthen, as "Yang" will also increase. It was also believed by some that it was the day the Kitchen God went to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor the conduct of a family. The festival was first celebrated by the Chinese people during the Zhou dynasty (1045 BC–256 BC) and declared an official celebration during the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). The Han people would take

4386-467: The Graeco-Roman world ). Amulets are usually outside of the normal sphere of religious experience, though associations between certain gemstones and gods has been suggested. For example, Jupiter is represented on milky chalcedony , Sol on heliotrope , Mars on red jasper , Ceres on green jasper , and Bacchus on amethyst . Amulets are worn to imbue the wearer with the associated powers of

4488-565: The Greek Orthodox tradition, wear the filakto , an Eastern Christian sacramental that is pinned to one's clothing to ward off Satan. There is a long cultural tradition of using amulets in Islam, and in many Muslim-majority countries , tens of percent of the population use them. Some hadith condemn the wearing of talismans, and some Muslims (notably Salafis ) believe that amulets and talismans are forbidden in Islam, and using them

4590-515: The Islamic context they can also be referred to as hafiz or protector or himala meaning pendant. Amulet is interchangeable with the term talisman. An amulet is an object that is generally worn for protection and most often made from a durable material such as metal or a hard-stone. Amulet can also be applied to paper examples, although talisman is often used to describe these less robust and usually individualized forms. In Muslim cultures, amulets often include texts, particularly prayers, texts from

4692-538: The Mesopotamians, the ancient Egyptians had no distinction between the categories magic and medicine. Indeed for them "...religion was a potent and legitimate tool for affecting magical cures". Each treatment was a complementary combination of practical medicine and magical spells. Magical spells against snakebite are the oldest magical remedies known from Egypt. The Egyptians believed that diseases stemmed from both supernatural and natural causes. The symptoms of

4794-514: The Ottoman Empire with Qur'anic verses such as 'victory is from God and conquest is near' (Qur. 6I:13) found on ta'wiz worn in combat. Texts packaged in ta'wiz were most often pre-made when used by the public, but literate wearers could change the verse upon their discretion. While criticized by some denominations, Sunni Muslims are permitted to wear ta'wiz as long as it consciously strengthens their bond with Allah and does not come from

4896-526: The Saint Benedict medal or the crucifix , for warding off evil. Some Catholic sacramentals are believed to defend against evil, by virtue of their association with a specific saint or archangel. The scapular of St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular associated with Archangel Michael , the chief enemy of Satan. Pope Pius IX gave this scapular his blessing, but it

4998-479: The Taiwanese, winter is a time when most physical activities should be limited and you should eat well to nourish your body. This practice follows the habits shown by many animals which follow the law of nature and hibernate throughout winter months to rejuvenate and to preserve life. In order to fight cold temperatures, it is necessary to eat more fatty and meaty foods during winter when your body can better absorb

5100-480: The amulet, praising Allah as the ultimate bestower of security and power and as the provider of the Qur'an and Muhammad. Diminutive amulets made in the medieval Mediterranean Islamic world include prayers executed with a block print or die ( tarsh ). Through folding, these miniature paper amulets are often even further reduced in size in order to fit into a tiny wearable box or tubular pendant cases. In other cases, however, these protective objects remain fully loyal to

5202-578: The ancestors . As well as following some of the customs practiced on mainland China, the people of Taiwan have a unique custom of offering nine-layer cakes as a ceremonial sacrifice to worship their ancestors. These cakes are made using glutinous rice flour in the shape of a chicken, duck, tortoise, pig, cow, or sheep, and then steamed in different layers of a pot. These animals all signify auspiciousness in Chinese tradition . Many people take invigorating tonic foods during this particular winter festival. To

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5304-637: The ancient Celts , the clover , if it has four leaves, symbolizes good luck (not the Irish shamrock , which symbolizes the Christian Trinity ). In Bolivia , the god Ekeko furnishes a standard amulet, to whom one should offer at least one banknote or a cigarette to obtain fortune and welfare. In certain areas of India , Nepal , and Sri Lanka , it is traditionally believed that the jackal's horn can grant wishes and reappear to its owner at its own accord when lost. Some Sinhalese believe that

5406-413: The body, talismans hung upon or above the bed of an infirm person, and medicinal talismans. This third category can be further divided into external and internal talismans. For example, an external amulet can be placed in a bath. Jews, Christians, and Muslims have also at times used their holy books in a talisman-like manner in grave situations. For example, a bedridden and seriously ill person would have

5508-469: The book format as miniature Qur'ans, protected by illuminated metal cases. In the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, rests an example of an Egyptian block printed amulet, made during the tenth or eleventh century. Here, one can notice the minuscule ink on paper script of the size of 7.2 x 5.5 cm. Its text's final line is a verse from the Qur'an that proclaims: 'So God will safeguard you from them. He

5610-480: The bottom of the foot without the top). A way to illustrate this idea is to postulate the notion of a race with only women or only men; this race would disappear in a single generation. Yet, women and men together create new generations that allow the race they mutually create (and mutually come from) to survive. The interaction of the two (Heaven and Earth) gives birth to human and therefore the ten thousand things. Yin and yang transform each other: like an undertow in

5712-410: The character of individuals and the grand arc of sociopolitical history in disorder and order. Taiji is a Chinese cosmological term for the "Supreme Ultimate" state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potential, the oneness before duality, from which yin and yang originate. It can be contrasted with the older wuji ( 無極 ; 'without pole'). In the cosmology pertaining to yin and yang,

5814-467: The cold. From that time on, it has been a tradition to eat dumplings on the day of Dongzhi. Dumplings are not only eaten by the family, but also shared with friends and relatives as a blessing. The dumplings may be molded into the shapes of animals such as dogs and cats. Common superstitions include that married people should leave two uneaten to have their wishes come true, and a single person should leave one for an auspicious year. According to one tradition,

5916-420: The dead. The main function of amulets was to ward off misfortune, "evil eye", and the jinn. They were meant to promote health, longevity, fertility, and potency. Despite regional variations, what unites these objects is that they are characterized by the use of particular and distinctive vocabulary of writings and symbols. These can appear in a multitude of combinations. The important elements to these amulets are

6018-493: The disease determined which deity the doctor needed to invoke in order to cure it. Doctors were extremely expensive, therefore, for most everyday purposes, the average Egyptian would have relied on individuals who were not professional doctors, but who possessed some form of medical training or knowledge. Among these individuals were folk healers and seers, who could set broken bones, aid mothers in giving birth, prescribe herbal remedies for common ailments, and interpret dreams. If

6120-411: The dumplings should be eaten by an even number of people for good luck. Many people take some of the tangyuan that have been used as offerings and stick them on the back of the door or on windows and tables and other pieces of furniture. These "empowered" tangyuan serve as protective talismans to keep evil spirits away from children. Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from

6222-641: The etymology of modern Chinese words. Compare these Middle Chinese and Old Chinese reconstructions of 陰 ; yīn and 陽 ; yáng : Schuessler gives probable Sino-Tibetan etymologies for both Chinese words. yin < *ʔəm compares with Burmese ʔum 'overcast', 'cloudy', Adi muk-jum 'shade', and Lepcha so'yǔm 'shade'; it is probably cognate with Chinese àn < *ʔə̂mʔ 黯 ; 'dim', 'gloomy' and qīn < *khəm 衾 ; 'blanket'. yang < *laŋ compares with Lepcha a-lóŋ 'reflecting light', Burmese laŋ 'be bright' and ə-laŋ 'light'; and

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6324-421: The evil eye away from the boys, thus serving as a form of protection. This practice continued until the early 20th century. The mezuzah and tefillin have been interpreted by some to be forms of amulet, but others disagree. Rabbi and kabbalist Naphtali Cohen (1645–1719) was said to be an expert in the magical use of amulets. He was accused of causing a fire that broke out in his house and then destroyed

6426-506: The famous Taoist medical treatise called the Huangdi Neijing The notion of duality can be found in many areas, such as Communities of Practice . The term "dualistic-monism" or dialectical monism has been coined in an attempt to express this fruitful paradox of simultaneous unity and duality. According to this philosophy, everything has both yin and yang aspects (for instance, shadow cannot exist without light). Either of

6528-402: The festival represents the winter solstice, it is a crucial time to harvest winter crops, such as wheat, barley, and radishes. It is also an important time to pay respect to certain livestock and feed these animals special meals to celebrate the occasion. Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is a time for families to eat together. One activity that occurs during these get-togethers (especially in

6630-518: The following translation equivalents. Yin 陰 or 阴 — Noun : ① [philosophy] female/passive/negative principle in nature, ② Surname; Bound morpheme : ① the moon, ② shaded orientation, ③ covert; concealed; hidden, ④ vagina, ⑤ penis, ⑥ of the netherworld, ⑦ negative, ⑧ north side of a hill, ⑨ south bank of a river, ⑩ reverse side of a stele, ⑪ in intaglio; Stative verb : ① overcast, ② sinister; treacherous Yang 陽 or 阳 — Bound morpheme : ① [Chinese philosophy] male/active/positive principle in nature, ②

6732-523: The form of flat sheets made of silver, gold, copper, and lead were also popular in Late Antiquity in Palestine and Syria as well as their adjacent countries ( Mesopotamia , Asia Minor , and Iran ). Usually, they were rolled up and placed in a metal container with loops to be carried by a necklace. They were incised with a needle with manifold incantation formulars and citations and references to

6834-505: The fungus cordyceps . Yin and yang Model humanity: Main philosophical traditions: Ritual traditions: Devotional traditions: Salvation churches and sects : Confucian churches and sects: Yin and yang ( English: / j ɪ n / , / j æ ŋ / ), also yinyang or yin-yang , is a concept that originated in Chinese philosophy , describing an opposite but interconnected, self-perpetuating cycle. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary and at

6936-611: The gods rather than for any reasons of piety. The intrinsic power of the amulet is also evident from others bearing inscriptions, such as vterfexix (utere fexix) or "good luck to the user." Amulet boxes could also be used, such as the example from part of the Thetford treasure , Norfolk, UK, where a gold box intended for suspension around the neck was found to contain sulphur for its apotropaic (evil-repelling) qualities. Children wore bullas and lunulas , and could be protected by amulet-chains known as Crepundia . Metal amulets in

7038-474: The head of a lion and the body of a dwarf, was believed to be the protector of children. After giving birth, a mother would remove her Taweret amulet and put on a new amulet representing Bes. Amulets depicted specific symbols, among the most common are the ankh and the Eye of Horus , which represented the new eye given to Horus by the god Thoth as a replacement for his old eye, which had been destroyed during

7140-575: The horn can grant the holder invulnerability in any lawsuit . The Native American movement of the Ghost Dance wore ghost shirts to protect them from bullets. In the Philippines , amulets are called agimat or anting-anting . According to folklore, the most powerful anting-anting is the hiyas ng saging (directly translated as pearl or gem of the banana). The hiyas must come from a mature banana and only comes out during midnight. Before

7242-555: The inherent protective values of these materials depend hugely upon their natural rarity, monetary value, and symbolic implications. Among the semi-precious materials, carnelian ('aqiq) is often favoured because it was considered as the stone of Muhammad, who was said to have worn a carnelian seal set in silver on the little finger of his right hand. Besides, materials such as jade and jasper are regarded as to possess protective and medicinal properties, including assuring victory in battles, protection from lightning and treating diseases of

7344-942: The inscription " Quis ut Deus? " meaning "Who is like God?". Since the 19th century, devout Spanish soldiers, especially Carlist units, have worn a patch with an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the inscription detente bala ("stop, bullet"). Early Egyptian Christians made textual amulets with scriptural incipits , especially the opening words of the Gospels , the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 91 . These amulets have survived from late antiquity (c. 300–700 C.E.), mostly from Egypt. They were written in Greek and Coptic on strips of papyrus , parchment and other materials in order to cure bodily illnesses and/or to protect individuals from demons. Some believers, especially those of

7446-424: The internal organs. Sometimes, amulets combine different materials to achieve multiple protective effects. A combination of jade and carnelian, for instance, connotes fertility and embryogenesis. The reddish, transcalent quality of the cornelian resembles blood, which echoes the clot of congealed blood from which Allah created human (Qur. 96:2). Additionally, recurring apotropaic Qur'anic verses are often inscribed on

7548-471: The latter, 昜 ; yáng ; 'bright' features 日 ; 'the Sun'; + 示 + 彡 ; 'sunbeam'. The Standard Chinese pronunciation of 陰 is usually the level first tone as yīn with the meaning 'shady', 'cloudy', or sometimes with the falling fourth tone as yìn with the distinct meaning 'to shelter', 'shade'. 陽 ; 'sunny' is always pronounced with

7650-413: The master class, there is also a forgery market in existence, which ensures that the experts of the scene maintain a monopoly on the market. With so many fakes, experts are needed for collectors to trust for obtaining authentic amulets, and not selling them fakes. Amulets vary considerably according to their time and place of origin. In many societies, religious objects serve as amulets, e.g. deriving from

7752-425: The material energy which this universe was created from is known as qi . It is believed that the organization of qi in this cosmology of yin and yang has formed the 10 thousand things. Included among these forms are humans. Many natural dualities (such as light and dark , fire and water, expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang. This duality, as

7854-411: The moon.] a. In Chinese philosophy, the feminine or negative principle (characterized by dark, wetness, cold, passivity, disintegration, etc.) of the two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also attrib . or as adj ., and transf . Cf. yang . b. Comb ., as yin-yang , the combination or fusion of

7956-504: The name of God ( Tetragrammaton ). Most of them are composed in various kinds of Aramaic ( Jewish Aramaic , Samaritan Aramaic , Christian Palestinian Aramaic , Mandaic , Syriac ) and Hebrew , but there exist also sometimes combinations with Greek . In China, Taoist specialists developed a special style of calligraphy called fulu , which they say is able to protect against evil spirits. The equivalent type of amulet in Japan

8058-750: The named person, protecting the wearer. The written stories of these people are also considered effective, and are sometimes illustrated with images of the religious figure or omens associated with them. Favoured figures include Solomon , Ali ibn Abi Talib and his sons Hasan and Husain, and the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus . Devotional manuals sometimes also promise that those reading them will be protected from demons and jinn . Apotropaic texts may even be incorporated into clothing. Weapons might also be inscribed with religious texts thought to confer protective powers. Scrolls with Qur'anic quotations, prophetic references and sacred symbols were common during war in

8160-411: The ocean, every advance is complemented by a retreat, and every rise transforms into a fall. Thus, a seed will sprout from the earth and grow upwards towards the sky—an intrinsically yang movement. Then, when it reaches its full potential height, it will fall. The growth of the top seeks light, while roots grow in darkness. The cycles of the seasons and of plants that progresses or entropies depending on

8262-436: The opposite quality: for example, grain that reaches its full height in summer (fully yang) will produce seeds and die back in winter (fully yin) in an endless cycle. It is impossible to talk about yin or yang without some reference to the opposite, traditionally it is said that Yin and Yang are known by the comparison of each other, since yin and yang are bound together as parts of a mutual whole (for example, there cannot be

8364-661: The present day. The belief in magic is impregnated into Thai culture and religious beliefs and folk superstitions, and this is reflected in the fact that we can still see commonplace use of amulets and magical rituals in everyday life. Some of the more commonly known amulets are of course the Buddhist votive tablets, such as the Pra Somdej Buddha image, and guru monk coins. But Thailand has an immensely large number of magical traditions, and thousands of different types of amulet and occult charm can be found in use, ranging from

8466-518: The rich and nutritional foods at this time due to a slower metabolic rate . Since Dongzhi is the "extreme of winter", Taiwanese regard it as the best time of the year to take tonic foods. Some of the most widely popular winter tonic foods enjoyed by Taiwanese to fight cold and strengthen the body's resistance are mutton hot pot and ginger duck hot pot. Other foods like chicken, pork, and abalone are also common ingredients used in making tonic foods with nurturing herbs such as ginseng , deer horn, and

8568-440: The rising second tone as yáng . Sinologists and historical linguists have reconstructed Middle Chinese pronunciations from data in the (7th century CE) Qieyun rhyme dictionary and later rhyme tables , which was subsequently used to reconstruct Old Chinese phonology from rhymes in the (11th–7th centuries BCE) Shijing and phonological components of Chinese characters. Reconstructions of Old Chinese have illuminated

8670-419: The same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony. Other traditional foods include hot pot and wontons . Shuijiao dumplings are popular in northern China . The festive food is also a reminder that celebrators are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around

8772-405: The same time opposing forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts and the parts are important for cohesion of the whole. In Chinese cosmology , the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and yang, form and matter. 'Yin' is retractive, passive and contractive in nature, while 'yang'

8874-423: The season. In summer it seeks to procure healthier leaves, whittling (entropy) of the plant is in autumn, the degrown plants (destruction) is in winter, growth (creating) of the plant or tree during spring. Where it's gaining or progressing, fully progressed occurs during summer, summer seeks stability as it seeks to keep (progress) the leaves and branches that are healthy, growth and progress reaching its end point of

8976-435: The soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with jiuniang , a mildly alcoholic, unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also sweet osmanthus flowers). People typically eat Winter Solstice dumplings ( Chinese : 冬至糰 ; pinyin : dōngzhìtuán ), which sounds like "reunion". This custom is said to have been started by the celebrated physician Zhang Zhongjing during

9078-479: The study of them, and collection. Thai amulets are still immensely popular both with Thai folk as well as with foreigners, and in recent years, a massive increase in foreign interest has caused the subject of Thai Buddhist amulets to become a commonly known topic around the world. Amulets can fetch prices ranging from a few dollars right up to millions of dollars for a single amulet. Due to the money that can be made with sorcery services, and with rare collector amulets of

9180-426: The sun, ③ male genitals, ④ in relief, ⑤ open; overt, ⑥ belonging to this world, ⑦ [linguistics] masculine, ⑧ south side of a hill, ⑨ north bank of a river The compound yinyang 陰陽 means "yin and yang; opposites; ancient Chinese astronomy; occult arts; astrologer; geomancer; etc." The sinologist Rolf Stein etymologically translates Chinese yin 陰 "shady side (of a mountain)" and yang 陽 "sunny side (of

9282-526: The takrut scroll spell, to the necromantic Ban Neng Chin Aathan, which uses the bones or flesh of the corpse of a 'hoeng prai' ghost (a person who died unnaturally, screaming, or in other strange premature circumstances), to reanimate the spirit of the dead, to dwell within the bone as a spirit, and assist the owner to achieve their goals. The list of Thai Buddhist amulets in existence is a lifetime study in its own right, and indeed, many people devote their lives to

9384-433: The two cosmic forces; freq. attrib., esp. as yin-yang symbol , a circle divided by an S-shaped line into a dark and a light segment, representing respectively yin and yang , each containing a 'seed' of the other. yang (jæŋ) Also Yang . [Chinese yáng yang, sun, positive, male genitals.] a. In Chinese philosophy, the masculine or positive principle (characterized by light, warmth, dryness, activity, etc.) of

9486-423: The two major aspects may manifest more strongly in a particular object, depending on the criterion of the observation. The yin and yang symbol (or taijitu ) shows a balance between two opposites with a portion of the opposite element in each section. In Taoist metaphysics, distinctions between good and bad, along with other dichotomous moral judgments, are perceptual, not real; so, the duality of yin and yang

9588-491: The two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also attrib. or as adj. Cf. yin . b. Comb. : yang-yin = yin-yang s.v. yin b. For the earliest recorded "yin and yang" usages, the OED cites 1671 for yin and yang , 1850 for yin-yang , and 1959 for yang-yin . In English, yang-yin (like ying-yang ) occasionally occurs as

9690-480: The use of sacramentals in its proper disposition is encouraged only by a firm faith and devotion to the Triune God, and not by any magical or superstitious belief bestowed on the sacramental. In this regard, prayer cloths , holy oil , prayer beads , cords , scapulars , medals, and other devotional religious paraphernalia derive their power, not simply from the symbolism displayed in the object, but rather from

9792-710: The use of amulets and derided the "folly of amulet writers." Other rabbis, however, approved the use of amulets. Regional traditions surrounding the birth of children often included amulets to ward off the devil, the evil eye, or demons such as Lilith . So-called miracle rabbi ( Ba’al Shem ) would be responsible for writing text amulets and conjuring up the names of God and protective angels. Midwives would also create amulets, often filled with herbs, to protect mothers and their young children. In Southern Germany , Alsace and areas of Switzerland , young Jewish boys wore textile neckbands or collars for their Brit Milah . Coins or coral stones on these neckbands were meant to distract

9894-577: The whole Jewish quarter of Frankfurt , and of preventing the extinguishing of the fire by conventional means because he wanted to test the power of his amulets; he was imprisoned and forced to resign his post and leave the city. In Christianity , regularly attending church, frequently receiving Holy Communion , Bible study , and a consistent prayer life are taught as being among the best ways to ward against demonic influence. The Catholic , Oriental Orthodox , Eastern Orthodox , Lutheran , Anglican and Pentecostal denominations of Christianity hold that

9996-521: The word "Dong" means "winter" while "Zhi" means "arrival" giving the literal meaning of the festival "the coming of winter". Dongzhi celebrates the winter solstice, usually around December 21 to 23, and is observed on the longest night of the year. Symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, Dongzhi, represents that the days will start to grow longer and bring a sense of balance and harmony to people's lives. Based on Chinese beliefs of yin yang , "Yang" represents positive energy, warmth, and light. Following

10098-559: The world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year . In Taiwan, like in the culturally related province of Fujian , Dongzhi is a day for spending time with families and making offerings to ancestors. It is also a tradition for Taiwanese to eat tangyuan on this day. They also use the festive food as an offering dish to worship

10200-471: Was first formally approved under Pope Leo XIII . The form of this scapular is somewhat distinct, in that the two segments of cloth that constitute it have the form of a small shield; one is made of blue and the other of black cloth, and one of the bands likewise is blue and the other black. Both portions of the scapular bear the well-known representation of the Archangel St. Michael slaying the dragon and

10302-588: Was traditionally a very important holiday, comparable to Chinese New Year . The Chinese people still celebrate certain practices during the Dongzhi festival, such as the union of family. In Hong Kong , many businesses let employees off early to spend time with their families on this day, while in some areas shops close for the holiday. In Suzhou , it is traditional to light incense at dawn. The Dongzhi Festival has historically been associated with various agricultural activities in China, particularly in rural areas. As

10404-437: Was widespread among both living and dead ancient Egyptians. They were used for protection and as a means of "...reaffirming the fundamental fairness of the universe". The oldest amulets found are from the predynastic Badarian Period, and they persisted all the way through to Roman times. Pregnant women would wear amulets depicting Taweret , the goddess of childbirth, to protect against miscarriage. The god Bes , who had

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