Yin-Yang Insights is one of several mysterious manuals scattered throughout Where Winds Meet that can grant permanent stat boosts when used correctly. Unlike regular consumables, these cryptic books require you to stand in a specific location before activating them. Use them in the wrong spot, and you'll end up with the Spellbound status effect instead of any benefit.
Quick answer: Travel to the cave beneath Moonveil Peak, stand on the Yin-Yang Dial, then open the manual from your inventory and use it.
Finding the Yin-Yang Dial location
The Yin-Yang Dial sits inside a hidden cave system underneath Moonveil Peak in the Qinghe region. This same location features prominently in the Ominous Yin-Yang Wandering Tale quest, where you'll encounter cultists and solve dial puzzles to unlock sealed doors. The dial itself is a large circular floor pattern displaying the classic yin-yang symbol.
If you haven't discovered this area yet, look for cave entrances around the base of Moonveil Peak. The underground chambers connect to the back of Jianlong Temple, where the ground opens up during certain quest sequences. Once inside, navigate through the cavern until you reach the room with the distinctive black-and-white dial embedded in the floor.

Activating the manual correctly
Step 1: Open your bag by pressing B, then navigate to the weapon section (the crossed swords icon). Select the Develop subsection rather than Gear or Quick Use. The Yin-Yang Insights manual appears here, not in your regular consumables.
Step 2: Position your character directly on top of the Yin-Yang Dial. Stand in the center of the symbol for best results.
Step 3: With the manual selected, use it while standing on the dial. If positioned correctly, you should receive the intended effect rather than the Spellbound sickness.

What happens if you use it wrong
Activating Yin-Yang Insights anywhere other than the Yin-Yang Dial triggers the Spellbound status effect. This ailment requires healing to remove, either by visiting a healer NPC or using certain remedies. The manual remains in your inventory after a failed attempt, so you can try again once you've cured the sickness and traveled to the correct location.
If you used the manual and can't find it afterward, check the Develop subsection of your weapon inventory rather than your consumables. Many players initially miss this because mysterious manuals don't appear where you'd expect regular items to be stored.
How other mysterious manuals work
Yin-Yang Insights follows the same pattern as other mysterious manuals in Where Winds Meet. Each book requires a specific environmental condition or location to function properly. Sinking Boat Fist, for example, grants +5 Coordination when used while standing knee-deep in water. Wind Beneath Wings: Leopard likely has its own trigger location, though players haven't definitively identified it yet.
The general rule for these items is straightforward. If a manual makes you sick, you're either in the wrong place or missing some other condition. The manuals persist in your inventory until they successfully activate, giving you multiple attempts to figure out the correct usage.

Is Yin-Yang Insights worth using
The unreliable nature of this particular manual raises questions about whether it's a genuine reward or an intentional trap. Some mysterious manuals purchased from vendors like those in the Ghostly Market turn out to be scams, with the seller admitting as much if you return to confront them. Yin-Yang Insights doesn't appear to fall into this category since it does have a legitimate activation location, but the inconsistent success rate makes it less valuable than manuals with guaranteed effects like Sinking Boat Fist.
For players focused on maximizing their character stats, attempting the manual at the Yin-Yang Dial costs nothing beyond travel time and a potential trip to the healer. The Spellbound status is a minor inconvenience rather than a serious setback, and curing it actually grants a small amount of Mindset experience.