History Main / DragonsUpTheYinYang

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' lightly features this in what we know of Xing, a FantasyCounterpartCulture of China. May describes Xingese alkahestry as flowing through the veins of a dragon, while Lan Fan and Fu's masks feature halves of a taijutsu.

* ''{{Stranglehold}}'' has a giant jade dragon statue in Wong's chamber where the final showdown takes place.

* The taijitu symbol features in the JudgeDee story, ''The Haunted Monastery'', providing the crucial clue to solving the mystery. [[spoiler: The symbol is turned on its side, leading the judge to the door to a secret passage.]]

* Dragon Shiryu from ''SaintSeiya'' is all about the Chinese dragon motif, to the point of having one as a PowerTattoo. The same could be said for [[Anime/SaintSeiyaOmega his son Ryuhou]]. The aforementioned CriticalResearchFailure is avoided by making both characters explicitly [[MakingASplash water-elementals]], moreso Ryuhou than his father.

* The NintendoDS video game ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden: Dragon Sword'' has various dragon-themed {{MacGuffin}}s, including Dragonstones, the Eye of the Dragon, and the eponymous Dragon Sword. Further, the Eye of the Dragon is a jewel shaped like half of the ''taijitu''

Typically, the dragon is used to indicate [[BadAss badassery]] while the ''taijitu'' indicates mysticism, but many works will wantonly use either or both just for atmosphere. Particularly inane is the depiction of these dragons breathing fire, [[CriticalResearchFailure as most Eastern dragons were water spirits]].[[note]]They were river guardians, rain gods, and a few lived in wells. The four most powerful dragons in Chinese mythology are the Ocean Lords of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern seas.[[/note]] [[ThePointsMeanNothing Bonus points]] if there is an image of a dragon curling ''around'' a yin-yang.

* Hanzo from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a close relationship with dragon motifs: not only does he have a dragon tattoo across his chest and arms, his ultimate attack summons two spectral dragons. His brother Genji also uses dragons to an extent: when using his ultimate, his sword is briefly surrounded by a dragon. Not only do they have the SiblingYinYang dynamic, but their short film "Dragons" has them represented as two dragons forming a Yin-Yang pattern.

For the most part, resemblance to RealLife is a case of YMMV: Most Thai and Vietnamese temples are more likely to feature icons of the various [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhas]] instead, though ''Chinese'' temples may have dragon reliefs sculpted into the wall, pillars and/or the roof and/or a small taijitu scuplted at the top of the main entrance. This is because the ''taijitu'' originated from Taoism - a completely separate religion from Buddhism (though when Buddhism reached China the two were often mixed together) that isn't as widely embraced by Thai or Vietnamese culture, but is widely embraced in Far East Asia. Depending on area, most Asian city folks may go for days without seeing either symbols, and the only dragon one might find in most martial arts schools will be a BruceLee poster in a corner. Other Asians may see it daily due to the presence of an altar in the home.

* Dragons and dragon symbolism abound in the latest WorldOfWarcraft expansion, the Eastern-themed ''Mists of Pandaria.''

* Hanzo from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a close relationship with dragon motifs: not only does he have a dragon tattoo across his chest and arms, his ultimate attack summons two spectral dragons. His brother Genji also uses dragons to an extent: when using his ultimate, his sword is briefly surrounded by a dragon. Yin-Yang didn't make literal appearance, but they pretty much have the SiblingYinYang dynamic.

* Hanzo from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a close relationship with dragon motifs: not only does he have a dragon tattoo across his chest and arms, his ultimate attack summons two spectral dragons. His brother Genji also uses dragons to an extent: when using his ultimate, his sword is briefly surrounded by a dragon.

* Marvel hero [[ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]] has a dragon tattoo on his chest. It has the wings of an Western dragon but the snakey body of the Eastern type.
** Actually it's a dragon brand, acquired when he used his chest to block the dragon's scar and prevent it drawing strength from its mystical heart.

* In ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'', Ryuji, the sole Asian challenger to Travis, is able to create an eastern dragon from his sword made of electricity and lasers. It is possible that Dark Star from the original ''NoMoreHeroes'' follows this too, as he used the same weapon, but his continent of origin is left unaddressed.

* Hanzo from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a close relationship with dragon motifs: not only does he have a dragon tattoo across his chest and arms, his ultimate attack summons two spectral dragons.

* Displayed throughout ''OutlawStar'' by the pirates. Justified, in that their magic is activated by chanting "Eight Trigrams Three Dharma Seals" in Mandarin and have Taoist themes.

** In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', the ''taijitu'' frequently appears in various background elements.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': The Moon and Ocean spirits. They're shown as a black and white catfish that constantly follow each other in a pond near the north pole. This is used to represent the gravitational gyrations of the moon and the tide, which Waterbending is based on. [[spoiler: Plot-critical because one of the Fire Nation generals wants to kill the Moon Spirit to permanently weaken anyone who uses Waterbending.]]
** This is possibly a case of ShownTheirWork - Waterbending is based off the real martial of art Tai Chi Chuan, in which Yin and Yang (hardness and softness) are key concepts. Even the name derives from the taijitu - Tai Chi and taiji are different ways of transliterating the same symbols from Chinese.
** Also the original Firebenders, who are [[spoiler: a red and blue dragon. They're supposedly extinct, but Aang and Zuko are fortunate enough to discover that this is a falsehood deliberately spread for the sake of the majestic reptiles.]] Again, meaningful because proper Firebending requires a careful balance of passion and control, which [[spoiler: Zuko uses to regain his Firebending after he loses his drive to kill Aang.]] (The Fire Nation teaches a corrupted version of Firebending based on rage and aggression, which is far displaced from the original art.) [[spoiler: Aang also learns that Firebending isn't just about destruction, which is critical because he swore he would never use Firebending after he accidentally hurt Katara with it.]]

[[folder:Film]]
* The heroine in ''ShaolinSoccer'' traces a ''taijitu'' in bread dough when she uses her kung fu skills to make dumplings.
* In another Stephen Chow film, ''Film/KungFuHustle'', the Landlord traces out a ''taijitu'' in the courtyard of Pig Sty Alley when fighting the [[MusicalAssassin Musical Assassins]].
** He actually goes one better and traces it out ''[[CurbStompBattle using]]'' [[CurbStompBattle the musical assassins.]]
* The ''Film/DoubleDragon'' live-action movie has a magical Dragon Medallion that grants great power when the two pieces are put together.
* Appears in ''Film/TheKarateKid2010''. As part of Dre's [[NonIndicativeName kung-fu teaching]], Mr. Han takes him up a tall mountain to the Dragon Well, where drinking from it purportedly make one invincible. The well is a shallow fountain with a yin-yang symbol in the center.

* In ''TheWheelOfTime'', Rand becomes known as the Dragon Reborn, uses a dragon banner, and gets magical dragon tattoos on his forearms. He also makes use of the yin-yang symbol of the ancient [[WitchSpecies Aes Sedai]], since he is a male channeler himself and is allied with channelers of both sexes. The modern Aes Sedai are all-female and only use the female half of the symbol (white, point up).

* ''AmericanDragonJakeLong''. The protagonist is a ShapeShifting dragon and part of a worldwide league of dragons. The logo, of course, includes a dragon silhouette.

* ''LegendOfTheDragon'': Ang's power-band has a dragon symbol, which also appears behind him in the TransformationSequence. The BigBad is the Master of Darkest Yin, who wears an outfit with the dark half of the Yin-Yang symbol.

* Appears in ''[[Film/TheKarateKid The Karate Kid (2010)]]''. As part of Dre's [[NonIndicativeName kung-fu teaching]], Mr. Han takes him up a tall mountain to the Dragon Well, where drinking from it purportedly make one invincible. The well is a shallow fountain with a yin-yang symbol in the center.

For the most part, resemblance to RealLife is a case of YMMV: Most Thai and Vietnamese temples are more likely to feature icons of the various [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhas]] instead, though ''Chinese'' temples may have dragon reliefs sculpted into the wall, pillars and/or the roof and/or a small taijitu scuplted at the top of the main entrance. This is because the ''taijitu'' originated from Taoism- a deviation of standard Buddhism teachings that isn't as widely embraced by Thai or Vietnamese culture, but is widely embraced in Far East Asia. Depending on area, most Asian city folks may go for days without seeing either symbols, and the only dragon one might find in most martial arts schools will be a BruceLee poster in a corner. Other Asians may see it daily due to the presence of an altar in the home.

* The NintendoDS video game ''NinjaGaiden: Dragon Sword'' has various dragon-themed {{MacGuffin}}s, including Dragonstones, the Eye of the Dragon, and the eponymous Dragon Sword. Further, the Eye of the Dragon is a jewel shaped like half of the ''taijitu''

*** Additionally, in the Japanese versions, Reshiram is known as the White Yang Pokémon while Zekrom is classified as the Black Yin Pokémon (the same way Pidgey's species is classified as Tiny Bird Pokémon).

* Hanzo from ''VideoGame/Overwatch'' has a close relationship with dragon motifs: not only does he have a dragon tattoo across his chest and arms, his ultimate attack summons two spectral dragons.

For the most part, this has little resemblance to RealLife: Asian temples are more likely to feature icons of the various [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhas]] (though ''Chinese'' temples may have dragon reliefs sculpted into the wall, pillars or the roof, Thai and Vietnamese temples don't usually have them- this is because the ''taijitu'' originated from Confucianism instead- a deviation of standard Buddhism teachings that isn't widely embraced by Thai or Vietnamese culture), most Asians will go for days without seeing either symbol, and the only dragon one might find in most martial arts schools will be a BruceLee poster in a corner.

For the most part, this has little resemblance to RealLife: Asian temples are more likely to feature icons of the various [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhas]] (though ''Chinese'' temples may have dragon reliefs sculpted into the wall, pillars or the roof), most Asians will go for days without seeing either symbol, and the only dragon one might find in most martial arts schools will be a BruceLee poster in a corner.

For the most part, this has little resemblance to RealLife: Asian temples are more likely to feature icons of the various [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhas]], most Asians will go for days without seeing either symbol, and the only dragon one might find in most martial arts schools will be a BruceLee poster in a corner.