Yin Yang Symbol (☯) — Meaning, Copy & Paste Guide
The yin yang symbol ☯ is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, it represents the balance of opposites — light and dark, masculine and feminine, creation and destruction. Whether you need it for a tattoo design, a social media bio, or a school project, here is everything you need to know about the yin yang symbol plus instant copy-paste access.
Quick Copy: Yin Yang Symbol
Tap or click any symbol above to copy it. The main yin yang symbol is ☯ (U+262F).
What Does the Yin Yang Symbol Mean?
The yin yang (also written yin-yang or yinyang) comes from Taoist philosophy dating back over 3,000 years. The symbol depicts two intertwined teardrop shapes — one dark (yin) and one light (yang) — each containing a small dot of the opposite color.
Yin represents darkness, femininity, earth, passivity, and the moon. Yang represents light, masculinity, heaven, activity, and the sun. Together, they show that opposing forces are not enemies but complementary parts of a whole. Neither can exist without the other.
The small dots inside each half are key — they represent the seed of the opposite force within each side. Darkness always contains a spark of light, and light always contains a shadow of darkness. This is why the yin yang is often called the symbol of balance and harmony.
All Yin Yang and Bagua Symbols
The Eight Trigrams (Bagua)
The yin yang sits at the center of the Bagua — eight trigrams made from combinations of solid (yang) and broken (yin) lines. Each trigram represents a natural element and a set of attributes:
☰ Qian (Heaven) — creative, strong ☱ Dui (Lake) — joyful, open ☲ Li (Fire) — clinging, bright ☳ Zhen (Thunder) — arousing, movement ☴ Xun (Wind) — gentle, penetrating ☵ Kan (Water) — abysmal, dangerous ☶ Gen (Mountain) — still, resting ☷ Kun (Earth) — receptive, yielding
Yin Yang in Modern Culture
Today the yin yang appears everywhere — from jewelry and tattoos to brand logos and social media profiles. It has become a universal shorthand for balance, harmony, and the interconnectedness of opposites. You will find it in:
Tattoos: One of the most popular tattoo designs worldwide. Often combined with dragons, koi fish, or lotus flowers.
Martial arts: Central to Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and other martial arts philosophies that emphasize balance between hard and soft techniques.
Fashion and design: Used in streetwear, jewelry, and home decor as both a spiritual symbol and an aesthetic element.
Social media: Popular in Instagram bios, TikTok usernames, and Discord profiles to convey a balanced or spiritual vibe.
How to Type the Yin Yang Symbol
Windows: Hold Alt and type 9775 on the numeric keypad (Alt+9775). Or type 262F then press Alt+X in Microsoft Word.
Mac: Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space to open the Character Viewer, then search for "yin yang."
iPhone and Android: Open the emoji keyboard and search for "yin yang" — it appears as ☯ in the symbols category.
HTML: Use the entity ☯ or ☯ to display ☯ on a webpage.
Related Balance and Harmony Symbols
If you like the yin yang, you might also appreciate these related symbols of balance and duality:
⚖️ Scales of justice — legal fairness and balance ⚖ Balance scale — weighing and equilibrium ☮ Peace symbol — harmony and non-violence 🕉 Om — spiritual balance in Hinduism 卐 / 卍 Manji — ancient Asian symbol of auspiciousness ∞ Infinity — endlessness and eternal cycles
Complete Yin Yang Copy-Paste Collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the yin yang religious? It originates from Taoist philosophy but has become a universal cultural symbol. People of many faiths (and no faith) use it to represent balance.
What is the yin yang Unicode code? U+262F. The official Unicode name is "Yin Yang."
Which side is yin and which is yang? The dark side is yin (typically shown in black) and the light side is yang (typically shown in white). The S-curve dividing them represents the dynamic flow between the two forces.
Can I use the yin yang symbol in my username? Yes — the ☯ character works on most platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Discord, and TikTok.
Looking for more symbols? Check out our complete symbol collection for thousands of copy-paste characters, or explore our peace symbol guide and infinity symbol guide for more meaningful symbols.