Talk to Explain Chinese Yinyang Concept

Robin R. Wang, professor of philosophy and director of Asian Pacific studies at Loyola Marymount University, explains the complex and subtle history of the concept of yinyang on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 3:30 p.m. in Hieronymus Lounge at Westmont’s Kerrwood Hall. The Erasmus Society Lecture, “Yinyang: The Way of Ways,” is free and open to the public.

The concept of yinyang existed in Chinese thought and culture for thousands of years. The relationship between these two opposing, yet mutually dependent, forces is symbolized in the familiar black and white symbol that has become an icon in popular culture across the world.

Wang, author of “Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture,” will trace the historical development and diverse manifestations of yinyang. “I will draw together its different uses and models to lay out the ways in which it has functioned as the warp and woof of Chinese thought and culture,” she says.

She edited “Chinese Philosophy in an Era of Globalization,” and “Images of Women in Chinese Thought and Culture: Writings from the Pre-Qin Period to the Song Dynasty.” She has published many articles and essays and regularly gives presentations in North America, Europe and Asia. She has also been a consultant for the media, law firms, museums, K-12 educators, and health care professionals, and was a credited Cultural Consultant for the movie “Karate Kid” (2010).

"It's a rare opportunity for us to hear something completely new from a distinguished scholar," says Mark Nelson, Westmont's Monroe professor of philosophy. "And there is growing interest in Chinese philosophy in western circles."

Wang earned bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees from Peking University, China. She earned a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate from the University of Cardiff, U.K. She teaches a wide range of courses related to Chinese thought and culture.