The yinyang dichotomy is one of the most powerful of Chinese designs, representing cosmic duality. Within the circle, which represents unified, undifferentiated oneness, are two similarly shaped interlocking units representing duality. These two are assigned to represent certain contrasting elements - male/female, dark/light, and so forth. Each contains an element of the other, demonstrating that they are inextricably linked. In the symbol, everything is balanced, representing the universal harmony when everything finds its proper place in the universal scheme. Yinyang, therefore, also acts as a symbol of enlightened harmony.

This snuff bottle is striking in its elegance and is one of the most impressive of the simpler designs in glass overlay. The intense sapphire-blue, set off by the white ground beneath, brings great strength to the simple design and the unusual prominence of the symbol used as the main decoration adds weight to a formally perfect bottle.