Yanantin

[3] Much like in Chinese Taoism, Andean philosophy views the opposites of existence (such as male/female, dark/light, inner/outer) as interdependent and essential parts of a harmonious whole.

Because existence itself is believed to be dependent upon the tension and balanced interchange between the polarities, there is a very definite ideological and practical commitment within indigenous Andean life to bringing the seemingly conflicting opposites into harmony with one another without destroying or altering either one.

Among the indigenous people of Peru and Bolivia, the union of opposing yet interdependent energies is called yanantin or "complementary opposites."

Because the relationship of opposites as a harmonious partnership is considered the primary organizing principle of creation, yanantin infuses all aspects of social and spiritual life within the indigenous Andean worldview.

When drinks are served, the Macha pour a few drops on the ground as an offering, while at the same time speaking the name of the receiving divinity.

"[4] According to Vasquez (1998), the Quechua of Cajamarca say that something that is incomplete is referred to as chuya [alternate spelling], meaning “the one who is missing its other.

Regina Harrison noted, “Quechua speakers persistently distinguish objects which are not well matched or ‘equal’.

This indicates the process by which the yanantin pair becomes “pared” in Platt’s terms, or harmonized to achieve a perfect fit.