(2-97) When I talk about Li and Yue, I cannot help thinking about the word yin. Yin in general means overindulgence. When you endlessly pursue the things that make you happy without control is yin. Nowadays, the word is usually used to describe sexual libertinism.

The best passage I find that describes the word yin was in The Dream of Red Mansion. Bao Yu dreamed of visiting a place called "The Ultimate Palace of Illusion". He met a goddess named Warning. She lead him to read books that reveal the life histories of those who were close to him. Seeing him not awakening to the illusiveness of life, she then introduced him to her sister named Beauty. It was with Beauty that our hero Bao Yu had his first sexual encounter.

Before Warning introduced Bao Yu to Beauty, she said the reason why she liked him was because he is the number one person in the world who knew the art of yin. Bao Yu was shocked and declined such honor. Warning further explained that most people only love women for their sexual pleasure are only skin deep in their indulgence. The ones who have feelings for their women are deeper. As for Bao Yu who loves the women with all his being would be the person who truly understand the meaning of yin. With such blessing, Bao Yu had his first taste of sexual pleasure.

It is almost predictable after Bao Yu's pursuit of yin, he ends up a monk. In the same chapter, Warning wanted Bao Yu to follow the track of most Confucius scholars to study and obey the social conventions and become an official. Bao Yu simply detested those pursuits. The original idea that Yue (pleasure) and Li (ritual) compliment each other may have been fine. However, after a thousand years of practicing, Confucianism has deteriorated into doctrines that suffocate. Yue becomes skin deep pleasure. Li becomes a bunch of social rules that people obey superficially. Bao Yu is too original to comply with conventions.

Why did Bao Yu end up a monk then? I cannot help but look at the answers Daoism provides. It now makes sense why Daoists deny Yue. They think pleasure in all forms is harmful. Lao Zi said: "Five colors make men blind, five sounds make men deaf, five tastes make the taste buds dull, riding and hunting make men wild and crazy...Therefore, the wise men go for the essence not the senses. Daotists pursue the state of mind that is almost ascetic in nature. It seems natural after overindulgence in pleasure, the only choice left is back to nothingness.

Confucianism and Daoism are the two primary philosophies that operate through all Chinese history. Buddhism came in later and blended with Daoism. It is amazing to see almost all the things Chinese say and do can be explained with these three philosophical principles. As for me, I guess I am floating between the three from time to time, choosing whatever suits me most at the moment.