Yin and Yang, in Yang
When looking at the cover of Boxers & Saints, one might think they are a two-part story of one person but upon closer inspection and, especially after diving into the text, the reader learns Boxers & Saints are two different people’s perspective to the same story of China at the turn of the twentieth century. One half presented about a boy, Little Bao, being raised by his father with his two brothers and eventually forming the ‘brother-disciples’ in rebellion to the intruding foreign religion and imperialist movements of the day. The other half is about a girl, Four-girl, who is the fourth daughter her mother has conceived bringing shame to their family for her gender. Raised without a father and connected to Joan of Arc in her visions, Four-girl, later renamed Vibiana, represents the Christian converts of China in opposition in faith and calling from Little Bao. The intensity of the clash between Bao and Vibiana’s people groups grows throughout the two books as each has their own moral and spiritual struggles. Both become archetypes, seeking justice from their noble, albeit largely ignorant perspectives.
Presented as an easy dive into a complex history, Gene Luen Yang’s text graphically describes the yin and yang of the society through the coming of age stories of Bao and Vibiana. As one reviewer noted, “The books truly are yin and yang: you must read both for the full picture.”[1] “In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. Many tangible dualities (such as light and dark, fire and water, expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang.”[2]
In Boxers & Saints, yin and yang come through in a number of ways. Two predominant aspects of opposition that complement (or have the potential to support one another) in the story are the male and female perspectives from the two characters and their supporting actors. Second is the variation of two sides to the same story, one seen as good, the other as evil.
Male / Female
“Yin” is referred to by the brother disciples as part of the woman’s hora, being very dangerous as a potential seduction tactic to make the men weak. Throughout the Boxer text, Bao’s brother is continually assumed to be under the influence of the yin of the women and Bao himself is concerned about his own weakness toward them at points though he eventually sees their value as part of their army. The men come to realize their need for the women as they are decimated in battle by their poor choices. The women help them to survive.
In Vibiana’s story of Saints she represents the other side of the story but also does so as a woman raised by a woman with no father or brothers. She attempts to escape the shame of her lowly place through deciding to become a ‘devil’ but eventually recognizes the church as a healthier escape and finds acceptance there. Her meetings with Joan of Arc bolster her confidence in her calling to be a leader and allow her to settle into her own skin although all of the people outside of her visions she depends upon are male figures. They guide her and she even leads the orphan boys toward the end of the text. Even farther she has an influence on Bao from a young age without recognizing so.
While both Bao and Vibiana are tied to one gender and have reservations about the opposite, they both depend on the other to support them and even survive in Yang’s text. They are interrelated whether they prefer so or not and once they allow the opposite gender into their lives in a safe way, they both benefit from the other in educational, emotional, and relational ways.
Insider / Outsider
While the foreigners were seen as devils throughout the text and their converts secondary devils being polluted by them, the work of the “Righteous and Harmonious Fist” (previously the brother-disciples) struggle to live a more righteous life than those they are harming. As one critic explains, “Boxers speculates on how a religious society attempting to mete out justice and return the country to spiritual harmony could repeatedly engage in atrocities such as murdering defenseless women and children, and burning whole congregations locked inside their churches. Yang’s interweaving of realistic story-telling with supernatural experience may very well come close to capturing the actual experience of the people of the time.”[3] Although the foreigners may have been devils, the boxers, though not named as such, were seen as devils by those whom they tormented.
Throughout both halves of the text there is a continual passionate pursuit of justice for their ideals while condemnation is heaped on the outsider. Misperception based on lack of relationship and understanding abound and the story tragically ends in defeat and death for much of both parties, including the main characters.
In thinking about the text and yin and yang in China, could there have been a way to co-exist that would be mutually beneficial with regard to the missionaries and foreign imperialists?
With regard to my own work of developing leaders with the church and the engagement of those who are potentially the “yin to our yang,” we need to consider the lessons of Boxers & Saints. We may choose to only be dependent upon our own and shun the outsider, leading to our demise. Or we can recognize our need for the yin-yang balance in relationship and create a new possibility for actual harmony among varied peoples.
[1] Heitmann, Owen. “Yang, Gene Luen. Boxers and Saints.” “Graphic take on yin and yang of rebellion” The Australian: Australia, March 2014, 20.
[2] “Yin and Yang.” Wikipedia. June 17, 2018. Accessed June 19, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang.
[3] Blasingame, James. “Boxers & Saints.” English Journal, High school edition; Urbana Vol 104, 2. Nov 2014, 106-108,112.
About the Author
Trisha Welstad
Trisha is passionate about investing in leaders to see them become all God has created them to be. As an ordained Free Methodist elder, Trisha has served with churches in LA and Oregon, leading as a pastor of youth and spiritual formation, a church planter, and as a co-pastor of a church restart. Trisha currently serves as leadership development pastor at Northside Community Church in Newberg, OR. Over the last five years Trisha has directed the Leadership Center, partnering with George Fox and the Free Methodist and Wesleyan Holiness churches. The Leadership Center is a network facilitating the development of new and current Wesleyan leaders, churches and disciples through internships, equipping, mentoring and scholarship. In collaboration with the Leadership Center, Trisha serves as the director of the Institute for Pastoral Thriving at Portland Seminary and with Theologia: George Fox Summer Theology Institute. She is also adjunct faculty at George Fox University. Trisha enjoys throwing parties, growing food, listening to the latest musical creations by Troy Welstad and laughing with her two children.14 responses to “Yin and Yang, in Yang”
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Very creative Trisha…love the yin yang, yang reference. I also loved how you carried that through your blog with the contrast of male/female and insider/outsider. Great summary of a unique text this week. Great post!
Thanks Jake,
I didn’t realize how prominent it was until I was reading reviews. I think it’s a good fit for my research as I process a new direction. Thanks for your always encouraging perspective.
Great title. Love the play on words. This balance and it’s understanding helps one grasp the complexity of this culture. Great use of common balance themes throughout your blog. These are always issues we have to be aware of in China. Even compliments or complaints often have to be counteracted for fear that something evil will happen if there is not a balance.
Greg, thanks. I thought of you as I was writing about yin and yang and how little I understand it. I feel like the more I am reading and engaging with you all, the more I am excited to visit Hong Kong and understand a whole new perspective. It is also helping me to better put myself in some of my Asian friend’s contexts.
Trisha,
Great summary of the two books! I always enjoy seeing and reading your perspective. Good analysis of the yin and yang themes of graphic comic style narratives. I know as Christian leaders we want and hope for ways to co-exist, but sadly it did not happen in this historical recreation, nor will it happen in many to come. We are a broken world, tied to sin, with only one-way out of this horrific real-life graphic drama, to die in Christ.
That was gloomy to write and review side-by-side with Yang’s depressing analysis of good-vs-evil, Christ-vs-Satan. Oh wait! He already won that battle, on the cross, resurrected from the grave, at the right hand of God, waiting for His day to come and bring the believers in Him together. Now that is encouraging! See you in HK.
Stand firm, 站立得住
M. Webb
Mike, Thanks for your encouraging words and I agree, it was a hard/sad read although a fast one that made me engage it more like an action film. I am glad life ends much more hopeful and we can live into that now!
Trisha,
Thanks for your insights. Your perceptions about yin-yang are an excellent way to parse the meaning of this graphic series.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, how the same events and the same story, can appear radically different depending on the person telling the story. I’ve been learning this over the years with my siblings who have very different meanings and interpretations around the same events in our lives.
Yes Mark, I have been realizing that the same events can have very different perspectives depending on who you are. I just had another example of it last week as I was listening to a random radio station out of the area where I live and they were explaining a political position I totally disagreed with. I was shocked how I could see the same story so differently than someone else within my own country. It’s wild but so rampant.
Hi Trish,
Thank you for your definition of yin/yang. I have always been confused by it. My parents did not allow even the symbol in our home, for worry it was somehow “satanic”, or at the very least, unholy. It is interesting how humans demonize things they do not understand, or fear.
“In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.”
Nicely done on your part!
Jay, I was always nervous about yin/yang too as a kid, thinking to understand it would mean something more than that. It’s nuts how out of fear we don’t seek to understand for fear of being co-opted by non-truth. I am glad that is not how I operate any more. Now I want to find the truth of Christ as I learn, not being afraid of where it might be.
Trisha,
Really great insight into the Yin/Yang of the books. I did not notice both of the characters reliance on the other gender until you pointed it out. Great job!
Jason
Thanks Jason. I didn’t think of it much until I dove into some of the reviews and realized there were some striking and interesting contrasts. It was kind of fascinating how Yang chose to write and semi-highlight them.
Great post Trisha! I loved your theme and connection to the text….and especially appreciated how you tied it to your research at the end. How are you using this ying/yang idea in developing church leaders?
Jean, thanks!
I have not thought about how I will use yin/yang in my research but I bet as I do my work I will see it a bit more. I can see how potentially there will be a need for some good contrasting balance although mostly wonder if there will be a bit of persuasion of one direction and some tension.