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This particular symbol is a modern rendition of a ritual bronze vessel character depicting the Taiji Symbol, or the Origin of All Things, enclosed within an elevated mound of earth. There are two basic meanings: 1) that the Taiji principle, as Origin, originates from Dao and Heaven in order to impregnate Earth and all of her creatures (the Ten Thousand Things) with the possibility of Harmony and Balance; and 2) that the Taiji Principle should be maintained within All Things in order to sanctify life.
These two meanings are brought into more clear focus when we realize that the outer (mound of the Earth character) also signifies the mythical Chinese Emperor Yao (2513-2435 BC) who was thought to be the first emperor in the cycle of Shang Dynasty kings. It is the fact that he carries this Empowerment of Dao through the Taiji Principle embodied within him that grants him the authority to rule. In ancient China, this concept was called the Mandate of Heaven (Tianming) and is the foundation concept of Daoist healing.
Because Yao in the beginning of time contained this principle within him, all beings after him are able to do the same. This means that we are all granted the noble purpose of carrying the seed of Heaven's potential within us. In ancient Chinese healing texts, it says that if we can succeed in manifesting this principle throughout life, we shall never get sick and, in contrast, that if we do not, we will get sick no matter what we do. In Western mythology, this idea is similar to the the warning that "all the kings horses and all the kings men can never put Humpty Dumpty together again."
In both acupuncture and Taijiquan the physical location of this empowerment is in the center of the lumbar spine at a place called Mingmen, or the "Gate of Destiny."
These ideas are described in detail in regard to ancient Chinese philosophy in Dennis' book on the Daodejing.
They are also described in great detail in regard to treating the spirit with acupuncture in Dennis' book on the Spiritpoints.
Finally, these are ideas are described in regard to the energetic physiology of acupuncture in Dennis' book on the Pointnames.
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