
Classic images of Daoist sexuality. At left is a diagram of the mixing of male and female vital essences. Looking at the left side of the image and going from top to bottom, the hare is a symbol of the moon. The moon, of course, is a fundamental yin entity. The woman holds a jar of water--another yin entity--which she is pouring into the central pot. Below her is a turtle. The turtle is a symbol of the universe as a whole. It is also strongly associated with the female gender. On the right side are the male-yang symbols: the sun (in which a raven or a cock resides), wine from his jar, and (of all things!) the snake.
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