The paper first suggests that there are parallels between certain dominant conceptions in criminological theory and the assumptions contained within the philosophical distinction between Yin and Yang. It then argues that a four-part unity can be constructed from the Yin and Yang, the further division of which produces a pattern of three-line "Eight Diagrams." The combination of any two of these three-line "Criminal Eight Diagrams" generates 64 possible combinations. Each one of these six-line combinations correlates with a given "personal" or "social" determinant of crime. In the upper half of the "Criminal Eight Diagram," line six represents biological and psychological factors; line five, opportunity; and line four, the small group environment. In the lower half, line three represents moral norms; line two, social ecology; and line one, structural factors. The paper goes on to apply this theoretical model to crime waves in China between 1950-90. The same pattern of six- line combination provides a system for studying criminal causes, each line corresponding to a school of criminological thought: line six, biological, psychological, and genetic perspectives; line five, situational perspectives; line four, labeling and Chicago School; line three, subcultural approaches; line two, social disorganization and anomie; and line one, economic models of crime, radical criminology, and theories that relate crime to natural disasters. 8 figures