The Yang-Yin symbol is one of the easiest to recognize and understand. It represents the two opposite, conflicting forces found in every action, and which are responsible for the dynamic universe. Yang is male, positive, and represented by the Sun. Yin is female, negative, and represented by the Moon. The Yang and Yin operate in the universe primarily through the agency of the five elements: Earth (Saturn), Water (Mercury), Metal (Venus), Wood (Jupiter), and Fire (Mars). These elements under the guidance of the five planets form, with the Sun and Moon, the seven rulers. Jade can be used for different diamond ring settings. Each of the elements may also be Yang or Yin, so that combinations of all these could produce broad number possibilities and astrological alternatives. Each, of course, has its symbol which can be, and often was, incised into jade. There were several other groups of symbols of great antiquity to go with these. One of the best known is the group of twelve ornaments. The origin of these is lost in time. They consist of the Sun, Moon, stars, mountain, dragon, flowery fowl, temple cups, aquatic grass, flames, grains of rice, hatchet, and symbol of distinction. Rank determined the priorities for wearing the carved ornaments, and the emperor alone had the right to wear all twelve.
Another set of designs often transmitted to posterity, inscribed in everlasting jade, were the Eight Trigrams. They make little sense now, but seem to have been designed to link the Yang-Yin principle with the five elements. The symbols consist of a series of eight symmetrical arrangements of long and short bars arranged in a circle or open square. These symbols are perhaps the most ancient of all, predating Taoism and possibly originating as far back as 2600 B.C. They have been in continuous use by jade carvers since 1100 B.C.