This symbol is used to express the eternal Dao which translates as the Path or Way of Life. The way of nature is the balance of coexisting opposites which ebb and flow in strength. To favor one over the other produces attachment, constant tension, and dissatisfaction. The purpose of Dao is to walk the middle path unattached to the opposites.
The symbol of Dao, the Taijitu, captures the essence of the Dao. The symbol is divided equally into the opposites—black and white. The teardrop shape symbolizes the increase and decrease of the power of the opposites. The dot represents the seed of the return of the opposite. The intersecting line between the two elements represents the path one must follow to find balance between the opposing forces. It is not straight but curved by the natural give and take required to maintain balance.