#Tao Yin

[potatos-messy-mind]

So i decided to put this up here. I wil eventually be making one for Chun, no worries, but wanted to post this here for future reference for myself and anyone else who needs it. Since this is going to be a big reference sheet, I will include any and all reference images that are important. At the top are References for Tao's appearance, and below that are images of certain items he has with him at all times amd any other images that are relevant.

But first, I'm going to include each artist who drew the images, including the two so far that i've drawn. If any more images that relate to Tao's powers are made, I will update this with said image and the proper credit.

Artist creds

On Twitter: lupinebones77(Most of Tao's current refs aside from King and the inscence burner)

melocelli (Kaiju form)

torikalmia (King and the Incense burner)

deni_acp (Yang image)

On Deviantart: TropicalIndigo (Jinjing image)

My art: Tiger/Snow Leapord Hybrid, Li Yun(Electric/dark big cat).

Some general Info about Tao before we get into his powers.

Relationship Status: Taken by their partner/Fiancée Zihou

Age: est. 1500 (at least half the age of Wukong and Macaque)

Gender: Intersex (both male and female genetalia)

Pronouns: He/Him, She/Her, They/Them

Sexuality: Demisexual

Mental illnesses: Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, DID (magic makes this work somewhat differently in demons from how it presents irl), CPTSD

Physical Illnesses: Asthma, Pulmonary Atresia

Incense Burner/Ball and Chain Weapon

This incense burner is wrapped around Tao's waist and tends to spew some of his mist magic at any given time. It acts as both a weapon and storage. It can be used similarly to the ball and chain weapon from twilight princess, but can grow and shrink depending on what Tao needs. Misty spikes appear on the sphere when Tao is using it as a weapon.

King

A plushie made in Wukong's likeness that Macaque made for Tao when she was little. They told Macaque what clothes he wanted the little guy to wear, after seeing a future vision of baba wearing his more modern outfit. Has several small pocket dimensions inside of him that Tao can go into at any time.

Tao's Powers

Blessings of the White Snake

• Forked Tounge

• Hands(all four) can morph into snake heads

• Heatvision (Using his forked tounge.)

• More liquid/snakelike movement

Powers from Sun Wukong

72 Transformations

• Panda(Bear)

• Phoenix (Bird)

• Tiger/Snow Leapord hybrid (Big Cat)

• English Lop (Rabbit)

• Chow Chow (Dog)

• Long Eared Jeroba (Mouse)

• Chinese Moon/Silk Moth hybrid (Bug)

• Maine Coon (Domestic Cat)

• Datong (Horse)

• Impressed Tortise (Tortise)

• Yellow Pond Turtle (Turtle)

• Leatherback Turtle (Sea Turtle)

• Dulong Cow (Bull/Bovine)

• King Cobra/Burmese Python Hybrid (Snake)

• Chinese Water Dragon (Lizard)

• Tokay Gecko (Gecko)

• Chinese Alligator

• Eastern Dragon

• Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Porpoise)

• Hainan Eld's Deer

• Himilayan Marmot

• Steppe Polecat (Ferret)

• Asian Small-Clawed Otter

• Asian Badger

• Rhesus Macaque/Golden Snub Nosed Monkey Hybrid

108,000 Leap Somersault

Useful, but can cause Tao to have an asthma attack if preformed too fast or in a place with lots of debris.

Chi Manipulation

Mainly used in exorcisms and not in actual combat with living beings.

Flight

Loves soaring all on her own. can use his body to propel himself around and even gets help from the wind.

Replication/Shadow Cloning

Makes misty clones that can take on a physical appearance if nessicary.

Telepathic communication/Astral Projection

Has links to Wukong, Macaque, Chun and Zihou, but can easily astral project to anyone so long as they accept.

Flaming Fist of Fury

Strengthened by the Yang Samadhi fire to dangerous levels

Lazer eyes

Has the ability to use this power, but has never done so.

Gold Vision

Capable of using this in it's original state, and an altered version that allows him to see as if he wasn't blind.

Kaiju Form/Smoke Generation

Inherited from both parents (I will go i to more detail about his Kaiju in Macaque's section.)

Powers from Liu Er (Macaque)

Enhanced Hearing

Although Tao only has one extra set of ears, his hearing is still very sensitive.

Shadow Manipulation

Tao's shadows are more fluid-like in appearance compared to Macaque's.

She is capable of calling upon their mother's shadows should he ever find the need to.

Shadow Cloning/Replication

Clones usually take on a misty, cloud-like appearance, but have the ability to turn into identical clones to the original. Shadow clones of Macaque's can also be summoned if needed.

Shadow Transportation

Tao can use this ability easily, and the shadows tend to do most of the work for him. Macaque can sense each time Tao uses the shadows to warp.

Smoke Generation /Kaiju form

A misty form with a stone-like mask and chest plate with all four of the hands being stone as well as some stone bits around her wrists and tail. This form has three alternate forms depending on Tao's mood and the element that corresponds to it.

The Kaiju's base form

Height: Mainly between 120 Meters (394 Feet) and 158 Meters (521 feet), but can shrink to smaller heights. (Imagine the heights between Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong and King Ghidorah)

Fire Form

Uses the Yang half of the Samadhi Fire to further fuel itself. The base form has only parts of Tao's hair, the twin tips of his tail and around his wrists ignite, the same places where his stone parts are excluding the stone mask and chest piece. This differs fron his fiery wrath form, in which the entire body of the kaiju is engulfed in flames, which burn any and all they come in contact with.

Water Form

Uses the primal power of Tao's water abilities to fuel it. This form is rarely used for fighting and more as a method of escape, as it can seemingly 'melt' into any large body of water and vanish. Every time this form appears, heavy monsoon-like rains follow. This form is completely made of water with the exception of the stone bits.

Dual Form

A mix of all three forms and is the most destructive in terms of passive property damage. It has currently never been used, and for good reason. It's power alone rivals the power of the primordeal gods of old. The Yang Samadhi fire is unaffected by the water from this kaiju.

Powers Unique to Tao

• Echolocation

• True Sight (A modified verison of Gold Vision that allows Tao to see as if he wasn't blind)

• Familiar creation, allowed him to summon a unique companion based deeply on his personality. There are currently three. These three count as pokemon in the Pokemon AU I have for Tao.

Yang (Height: 9'2" Feet)

A fiery ghost dog that has been Tao's friend and companion since they were young. He used to be a living being, a half hellhound. Died protecting his master, and once in the Diyu he became so distraught and enraged over his master still being in danger that he singlehandedly broke out of the Underworld by digging himself out. His flames were so intense at that point that no one could get close without severe casualty to their person, not even the 10 kings. He lost all skin on his paws and head aside from his ears in the act, and successfully escaped to return to his master's side.

He is the only being aside from Wukong that has successfully escaped the Diyu, and since his only goal was to be reunited with his master, the ten kings decided it wasn't worth trying to bring him back. His bays, barks and howls is so intimidating that most sane beings will instinctively flee upon hearing it. He is semi-incorporeal. he consumed his own body as a spirit upon returning to battle and can choose to be more ghost-like or not. Yang often stays in Tao's incense burner/pokeball, or his master's shadow when not needed at that moment. Yang can control his flames to the point that allies will not be burned by them, but instead feel very warm. He's the perfect heater on cold winter days.

Jinjing (Height: 3'5" Feet)

A spunky fishy fox familiar that has also been with Tao since she was young. She acts like a service animal when Tao goes out and about, since Yang and Li are too big to do so without issue. Yang may be able to phase through walls but his Aura is extremely intimidating even for Erlang's hounds. and Li is far too big to be able to fit comfortably in most places. Jinjing knows DPT, can retrieve Tao's medicine on command, and helps to break them out of anything from a spiraling episode to ADHD paralysis (Not a medical term). Those big blue flowing antennae can act as hands if she really wants to use them. The webbed collar is backwards to help with drag in the water. when she flips it out, it helps slow her down in the water and causes drag. She can also inflate it enough to keep her head above water.

Li Yun (Height: 6'0" Feet)

The newest of the familiars, Li is the second most intimidating of the them. They can summon lightning storms at will and are capable of absorbing electricity. Their barks can sound for miles, and wherever they step, thunder and lightning are said to follow. They are generally neutral in most affairs and are more reserved than their Fire and Water counterparts. If Li isn't running about and stretching their legs, they're either in Tao's incense burner/their pokeball, patrolling Megaopolis from the rooftops, or by their Master's side.

• Feelers by his ears that allow him to sense the most subtle changes in the atmosphere.

Past/Future Sight

Able to see into the past or future. This ability is very different how his mother Liu Er sees into the past and future. Tao can only see one type of vision at a time. The triggers for both visions are very different and he can only see one type at a time. The inner color of his each represent the past (Purple) and the future (Yellow). When having either vision, his eye swill glow a pearlescent white color, and some kind of sparkling dust matching the color of the inside ear comes out of the corresponding set of ears.

The past visions are usually triggered by physically touching an object that either has a spirit or spiritual energy attached. Places that have a lot of spiritual energy can also trigger a vision the moment Tao finds a high enough concentration of energy. Sometimes he will move around during these visions, coming to in places he didn't pass out in.

Future visions are different with the exception of the glowing eyes and yellow dust. These visions can happen at any time, and leave Tao completely immobile until it ends.

Those who ingest the dust from either set of ears will temporarily gain the ability of future sight or past visions. These only have one use and may drive one mad the more they ingest. Humans and demons from all over sought to capture Tao for his oracle abilities, and to collect the dust he creates during a future vision.

Yang Samadhi Fire

Unlike what has been told about this powerful flame, in reality it was split into two seperate pieces long before the birth of Red Son. Tao possesses the 'Yang Half' of this flame, equally as powerful as the 'Yin' Half Red Son was born with. What is different about this flame is that ist is less likely to be triggered by emotion, but for Tao anger is the only trigger outside of activating the flames himself.

The flame tends to have more untriggered power behind it despite being of equal power to the Yin half. This flame tends to have a higher power output in the spring and summer months in accordance to Yin and Yang. It is a calmer flame compared to the Yin half, which feeds off of the emotions of it's host, and in Red Son and Mei's case makes it harder for the host to control their emotions.

The Yang Half of the flames is the only thing capable of completely calming the flames of the Yin.

In the primal days, the combined flames were said to scorch anything it touched into nothing, and was split in two in an attempt to mitigate the intense damage it caused when it raged unchecked. For the time being, the Samadhi Fire will remain seperated until the proper time.

Water Manipulation The ability to use and manipulate water (In a similar mannter to the water benders of ATLA, but with some differences.) to his whim.

Thanks to the maleability of the water in his body plus the blessing of the White Snake, Tao is able to extend his limbs far past their normal limits. when using this ability they can move around as if there are no bones in his arms. They can also extend and retract at will.

An extension of this ability is an extremely dangerous one,

Blood Bending

Tao is able to control the blood of living beings, being completely capable of controlling their bodies. Most beings can attempt to resist and break free, but anyone blood related to Tao will be unable to control their body until he releases them. This only works on Wukong, Macaque and Chun. Tao doesn't like using this power often, however he often uses liquid bending to help defeat any construct that uses a similar circulatory-like system.

When they were younger, Tao would often cause some unintentional issues, as when she cried, rain would start to fall in a certain raduis around him and quickly become monsoon level rains if left unchecked.

Siren Song

Tao has a singing voice similar to the likes of sea sirens, being able to influence and/or control others through his voice. His voice is also powerful enough to rip flesh off of bone should he choose to use it, or cause the user hearing it to go mad. However this power is rarely used due to Tao not wanting to cause potential death and/or property damage. The inside of her mouth glows yellow when using this ability. Glamours/Illusions

Tao can use glamour to take on a human appearance at any time, and prefers to not look so much like a monkie. He can also make illusions with his shadow abilities.

Water Warping/Portals

Tao is capable of using a very unique method of travel similar to shadow warping. The main difference is the stream of magic that is being used. Warping through water is usually done by oracles, as the stream of water magic used to travel is also the closest to the timespace stream, the flow of time and space around that entire dimension, In it's own pocket dimension, a seemingly strange place where water flows around breathable air in a tubelike tunnel from all sides. This is an area that only oracles can access, and with the floating islands scattered about it is safe for them to make living areas there.

Water Portals

These take more concentration to use, but are very handy for travel; as the requirement for warping is different. Unless the place is somewhere Tao has visited before, he can warp to and from any large puddle or body of water to anywhere in the world, even places he hasnt visited before.

Tao can also breathe underwater, but doesn't really need to breathe at all.

Primal Diety

Tao and his sister have full control over certain elements, regardless of the control gods from China and other pantheons have. In other words, an example being that the gods of the sea (ex. Posiedon) loose their control if Tao extends his control of water to the entire planet, same with fire.

Misty Form

Tao can turn himself into mist at will and change back at any time. He is more succeptable to being trapped in items like jars with an airtight lid or enchanted items of the same ilk, but he can return to a shrunken form at any time, or change back to his normal size and potentially break the item holding him if it isn't strong enough to contain him.

Fairly Recent Abilities

Tao was kidnapped by the Spider Queen some time during her attempted takeover of Megaopolis in the season 2 finale. See tried to turn them into a spider demon, but the only thing the venom did was give her silk glands in her hands that produce high quality enchanted silk (Silk moth like silk). This is abnormal since there is no other creature that can create enchanted silk naturally, so Spider Queen took quick advantage of this, using Tao as a silk producer for her takeover. Unfortunately making so much silk at once caused Tao's pawpads to become agitated and inflamed, and they stopped producing enchanted silk. Fortunately he managed to escape before the Lady Bone Demon tried to capture him for his half of the Samadhi fire.

The silk strands come out through the pawpads on their hands, and by pressing them together and stretching his arms apart, the silk forms into thick, glowing strands with each motion. This raw material can be used in many products from clothing to armor to fabric.

Misc. Info

• Tao is capable of storing immense amounts of magical power and has more potent magic than his twin sister. His snake heads, when not hands can sink their fangs into a person and suck their life essence and even their soul from their body.

• They a connection to death and the 10 kings, and his mist magic is capable of acting on its own and raising the dead, mainly those who's lives were tragically cut short.

• She sometimes sleepwalks, and depending on the phase of the tide, either moves around like a slow shambling zombie (low tide) or gets aggressive in his sleep and goes into water kaiju form (High Tide). this is one of the only times the water form becomes aggressive.

• Being physically intersex leaves him a target for European alchemists from all over.

• Sometimes purple and gold christhamanthemums spring from her bare feet whenever they touch natural ground. (Think Amaterasu from okami when she runs) these flowers have very potent medical properties.

• Their familiars are an extension of his magic and personality given form, and usually reside in his incense burner/Pokeballs/Shadow (Yang only) when not needed or resting.

• Her fire antlers were once crystal-like purple horns, that upon awakening the samadhi fire burst into flame. These flames started small in the beginning, but grew with age. They shrink to a smaller size during sleep.

That's everything I have at this time! This will be updated each time there is a change or new reference image. If you've read this far, thank you for actually reading all the way through! I would give you a cookie if I could. Tao is one of my most developed OCs, and I hope you've enjoyed reading this, I put a lot of research into him and the AU he's a part of as a whole, and I can go into more detail on the world building I've done at a later date if anyone is interested!

[solusbane]

[inkyminx]

Have some more edits cause SURPRISE SURPRISE ✨ 𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓬𝓴 ✨

[the-chikyuu-times]

[altered-statuses]

The Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life 太乙金華宗旨, translated and explained by Richard Wilhelm with a commentary by C.G. Jung (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc. 1931/1962)

[girl4music]

This is when the yin-yang representation that has been bubbling under the surface in the show starts to be made explicit visual symbolism. They show you Xena and Gabrielle sleeping on a bed designed as the yin-yang ☯️ symbol, visually depicting them as the human representation of yin-yang and each other’s balance in the theme of it.

Oddly enough, Gabrielle here looks feminine for taking up the masculine side of the symbol, and Xena here looks masculine for taking up the feminine side of the symbol. But then again, that’s just the nature of yin-yang. It is both all at once, and yet not so separately because both contain the seed of the other. That’s what makes it balanced.

These characters are literally The Tao. The Way.

[kdram-chjh]

Cdrama: Shui Long Yin (2024?)

042724 罗云熙领衔主演玄侠电视剧 《水龙吟》一秒江湖宣传片: Fantasy wuxia Shui Long Yin starring Luo Yunxi as Tang Lici

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALpE5kJ32Zs

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Dao

The philosophy of Dao, rooted in Daoism (or Taoism), is an ancient Chinese spiritual and philosophical tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao (or Tao), which translates to "The Way." This concept is central to Daoist thought and is both the source and the pattern of the universe. Here's an exploration of the key principles and ideas within the philosophy of Dao:

1. The Concept of Dao

Dao as the Ultimate Reality: The Dao is an ineffable, underlying principle that governs the cosmos. It is beyond human comprehension and cannot be fully articulated. It is the source of all existence and the force that maintains the natural order of the universe.

The Way of Nature: Dao is often associated with nature and its inherent order. Following the Dao means aligning oneself with the natural flow and rhythms of the world, moving in accordance with the seasons, cycles, and processes of nature.

2. Wu Wei (Non-Action)

Effortless Action: Wu Wei is a key Daoist concept that means "non-action" or "effortless action." It does not imply inaction but rather acting in a way that is in harmony with the Dao, without force or struggle. It is about allowing things to unfold naturally and responding to circumstances with ease and spontaneity.

Harmony and Balance: Practicing Wu Wei involves recognizing and working with the natural currents of life, rather than opposing them. It is a path to achieving harmony and balance in one's actions and interactions.

3. Simplicity and Humility

Living Simply: Daoism advocates for a simple, unadorned life. Materialism and excessive ambition are seen as distractions from the true nature of existence. Simplicity is valued as it brings one closer to the Dao.

Humility: Daoist philosophy emphasizes humility and modesty. It teaches that arrogance and pride lead to discord, while humility aligns one with the harmonious flow of the Dao.

4. Yin and Yang

Complementary Forces: Yin and Yang represent the dualistic yet complementary forces that constitute all aspects of the universe. Yin is often associated with passivity, darkness, and receptivity, while Yang represents activity, brightness, and assertiveness.

Balance: The interplay of Yin and Yang creates harmony and balance in the universe. Daoism teaches that both forces are necessary and that balance between them leads to a harmonious life.

5. Ziran (Naturalness)

Naturalness and Spontaneity: Ziran means "naturalness" or "self-so." It is about being true to one's nature and allowing actions to arise spontaneously from one's innate character and the circumstances, without artificiality or coercion.

Authenticity: Living according to Ziran involves embracing one's authentic self and the natural world, and acting in a way that is true to one's nature.

6. Mysticism and Inner Transformation

Inner Alchemy: Daoism includes practices aimed at inner transformation and spiritual development. These practices, often referred to as inner alchemy, involve meditation, breath control, and physical exercises like Tai Chi and Qigong.

Union with the Dao: The ultimate goal of these practices is to achieve union with the Dao, experiencing oneness with the fundamental principle of the universe and attaining spiritual immortality.

The philosophy of Dao offers profound insights into living a life of harmony, balance, and simplicity. By aligning with the natural order of the Dao, practicing Wu Wei, embracing the complementary forces of Yin and Yang, and pursuing inner transformation, individuals can attain a deeper understanding of themselves and the universe. Daoism invites us to live authentically and humbly, in tune with the fundamental principles that govern existence.

[kaizenin21stcentury]

"Strong is a fruit of weak

Weak is a seed of strong."

- Mei, from the anime/manga Hell's Paradise

[chineseredcarpet]

Yin Tao for the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards

[funeral]

The notion that all opposites...are merely different aspects of the same phenomenon is one of the basic principles of the Eastern way of life. Since all opposites are interdependent, their conflict can never result in the total victory of one side but will always be a manifestation of the interplay between the two sides. In the East, a virtuous person is therefore not one who undertakes the impossible task of striving for the good and eliminating the bad but rather one who is able to maintain a dynamic balance between good and bad. 

Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics

[ansatsu-sha]

Yin + yang / Jigokuraku S1E11

[solusbane]

Art Collab with @jimengxi

Sketch by them

Lines and Colour by me

[goldensunset]

what people get wrong when they try to create fake/fan titles for pokémon games is they think the two words have to be opposites in some way. sure some of them are, or at least counterparts, but a lot of those pairs are just whatever they honestly felt like that had even the smallest thing in common. now thematically the version differences are likely gonna be opposites or counterparts in some ways but like the titles aren’t always gonna reflect that

[shamandrummer]

What is Taoism?

Taoism originated in China between 600 and 500 BC, but the roots of Taoism can be traced back to shamanic practices from the earliest tribal communities. The Chinese word for shaman (wu) was first recorded during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), but it is believed that these traditions date back to the very origins of Chinese culture. In fact, many of the stories surrounding Fu Hsi (or Fu Xi), the mythological founder of Chinese civilization are very shamanic. For example, Fu Hsi is considered the originator of the I Ching, an ancient Chinese divination text and the basis of Chinese thought. According to legend, he discovered the symbols of the I Ching in the pattern of markings on the back of a turtle that emerged from a river. This is a classic shamanic tale that combines nature and divination, resulting in the attainment of profound knowledge.

Philosophical Taoism, often represented by the yin-yang symbol, emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), or Ultimate Reality, a presence that existed before the universe was formed and which continues to guide the natural world and everything in it. Tao is the ultimate source and way (or process) of nature and the universe. To live in harmony with the Tao is to go with the flow of life rather than against it. It is a way to conserve life's vitality by not expending it in the useless ways of friction and conflict. Early Taoists perceived that the ultimate nature of this mysterious force was beyond intellectual comprehension but could be discerned by the intuitive mind. The sages observed that through meditation, one could attain Tao or communion with the way of the universe itself.

Through meditation and other devotional activities, Taoists seek to bring their lives into accord with the Tao. They believe that by abiding in the Tao, or in harmony with the Cosmos, one may attain a state of such inner clarity and insight that all actions become synchronous and spontaneously correct. They refer to this state of harmony with nature and the universe as wu wei, or "non-doing." Non-doing is not a withdrawal from action, but rather the achievement of a higher kind of action: action in accord with the natural order. The concept of wu wei more closely suggests a way of existing without conscious effort, as nature does. Such a person knows what to do by abiding in a state of quietism, by letting go of all worldly thought so that the creative force of the Tao may enter their minds and bodies. Such accord with the Tao allows one to accomplish things without effort in a way that benefits everyone.

Taoism is an inner way as well as an outward path. One should outwardly "go with the flow" while inwardly adhering to one's true nature. Taoists seek to integrate inner and outer experiences while uniting body, mind and spirit into a harmonious whole. Taoism views humanity as a  microcosm of the macrocosm we call the universe. Each human being is a hologram of the Cosmos, a weaving together of universal information from a particular point of view. Essentially, we are the universe experiencing itself in human form.

Taoists equate the body with the earthly realm, the mind with the human realm, and the spirit with the heavenly realm. By bringing the body, mind and spirit into accord, one transforms personal experience and influences the interactions of the three cosmic realms. Following the Tao is a journey requiring simplicity, balance and introspection. The lifelong quest of the Taoist is to identify their innermost purpose in life, and then use every means at their disposal to achieve it.

[aestheticsun]

❁ This LINK will lead you to #46 (260x140) gifs of YIN TAO in Secret History of Empress Wu episode 1 as WU MEINIANG ❁

— feel free to edit these gifs into icon, crackships, ect, for personal use only. if you wish to edit and publish please reblog this post and give credit.