By Ann Lin
Pictures Courtesy of Taiwan National Palace Museum
There is no better way to describe our world than as a kaleidoscope of colors. In traditional Chinese culture, colors are not just hues and pigments. Backed by five millennia of wisdom and culture, colors communicate in a language all their own. From deciphering the foundational elements of the universe to defining social hierarchy and establishing holistic health practices, ancient Chinese color theory has far-reaching implications and makes for a fascinating study.
By keenly observing the diurnal cycle and its impact on the world around them, the ancient Chinese defined the fundamental colors of the universe as being red, blue, yellow, white, and black. These colors are then linked to the basic elements of wood, fire, metal, water, and earth as well as the five directions, East, West, South, North, and Center. Together and in a reciprocal relationship, they are known as the Five Elements and Colors.
This theory is documented in various ancient Chinese texts. As stated in the Rites of Zhou, blue represents wood, symbolizing growth and vitality in the East. Red represents fire, corresponding with the heat and passion of the South. White represents gold and a bountiful autumn harvest in the West. Black represents water and the unfathomable weather of the North.
Color in Chinese Creation Myths
In the Chinese mythological tale of the universe’s creation, Pangu was born out of an egg into a world of chaos. Wielding a colossal ax, he tirelessly hacked through the haze and separated heaven and earth.
With each part of his body, he created the sun, moon, rivers, seas, mountains, and vegetation. During this process, a yellow-and-black cloud was said to have obscured the center of the world. Consequently, yellow is considered the “middle color,” representing the land on which Chinese civilization thrived.
Yellow, corresponding with the earth, is symbolic of life’s origin, imperial dignity, and central authority. Since the Han Dynasty, this color has been reserved solely for the emperor’s robes, symbolizing his deep connection with the world around him.
In an ancient tale from The Classic of Mountains and Seas, the goddess Nuwa found herself alone at the dawn of the world. To alleviate her loneliness, she sculpted humans out of clay and loved them like her children.
When Gong Gong, the god of water, destroyed the pillars of the world in a fit of rage, Nuwa sought to save the humans she had created. Searching far and wide, the goddess located the magical five-colored stones. Piece by piece, she mended the sky and guaranteed humanity’s survival. The stones she used were said to have been a conglomerate of red, yellow, blue, white, and black—colors corresponding with the five elements.
A Cultural Phenomenon
As the theory developed, the five colors were also thought to be intertwined with our five senses, five organs, the pentatonic scale in music, and more. The theory’s influence extended across various realms, encompassing politics, philosophy, economy, the arts, and medicine. It was an integral part of everyday people’s lives and to some extent, still is today.
In ancient Confucian belief, every individual has a special role to play in society and at home. This is reflected in the colors of people’s clothing. For example, during the Zhou Dynasty, regulations stipulated that the emperor should wear red, the nobles black, high-ranking officials blue, and scholars yellow. Wearing a color that did not match your station was thought to be inauspicious and a cause of social chaos.
However, as Chinese culture evolved, many of these beliefs changed with each new dynasty. For a period of time, purple was thought to be an evil and unlucky color. However, in later generations, it was considered the color of nobility.
The Palettes of Food
Chinese people believe that our five organs are aligned with the five elements and the changing of the seasons. Therefore, selecting foods with colors corresponding to the season can improve a person’s overall health.
For example, spring corresponds with the liver. Therefore, green-colored foods such as mung beans can help you detox. Summer, associated with the heart, calls for an increase in red fruits to boost blood production. Autumn is connected with the lungs, so eating more daikon and pear, and consuming white foods can improve respiratory health. Winter, linked with the kidneys, is a good time for black-colored foods such as sesame and black beans.
The spleen and stomach are central to a person’s body and health, so year-round care is recommended. Yellow produce such as pumpkins and bananas can promote a healthy digestive system.
Subtle Variations of Shades
Looking further into China’s 5,000 years of civilization, we can see that the ancient people were very attuned to the details of colors and emphasized the importance of discerning even small variations in shades.
In the Qing Dynasty, the book Principles and Stitchings of Chinese Embroidery, documented 181 shades of green, 140 shades of yellow, 95 shades of blue, 888 shades of red, and 73 different shades of purple.
The color white, when subjected to different levels of contrast, saturation, and brightness, can take on a multitude of appearances. To distinguish them, Chinese tradition has assigned a unique character to each shade: The paleness of the skin is called “xi,” white hairs are called “po,” the white moonlight is called “jiao,” and the white of accumulated snow is called “ai.”
Chinese color names are often derived from nature, with hues taking their names from the location in which they were found. However, these terms tend to be figurative and may sometimes lead to misconceptions. For example, when poets refer to the term “moon white,” they are actually referring to a pale blue, a shade used to describe the serenity of a clear and pure night under the moon.
Seasonal Colors
Beyond scenic landscapes, colors were used to differentiate the times of the year. In addition to the commonly known four seasons, the ancient Chinese lunar calendar divided the year into 24 half moons called solar terms. The name for each of these terms is taken from nature.
The astronomy section of the ancient Chinese encyclopedia The Masters of Huainanzi provided comprehensive documentation on the 24 solar terms. For example, the beginning of March is known as Jingzhe, or the awakening of insects. It heralds new growth and the coming of spring, corresponding with the color green. The second half of May is also known as Xiao Man, or grain buds. Red was designated as the color of summer to express the season’s booming vitality and the increased rainfall that foretells a rich harvest.
The solar term Bailu or quite literally white dew, marks the beginning of September and the arrival of autumn. At this time, temperatures fall and vapor condenses into a light dew on the trees at night. This is represented by the color white. Major Snow begins in December and marks the depth of winter. It is represented by the color black—a time of long nights when snow becomes heavy and accumulates on the ground.
Uniquely Chinese
Many of China’s most beloved color names drew inspiration from everyday objects, both natural and man-made. Grandmother, or emerald green, and jade green were tributes to the precious stones they were named after. Ya Qing, or duck blue, refers to a shiny purple-and-greenish-black that is reminiscent of duck feathers.
In the Ming Dynasty, a distinctive technique emerged for embellishing metal vessels using a paste of colored glass. Following the firing process, this technique produced a distinctive blue hue known as Jing Tai Lan. This unique shade of blue not only found favor among the imperial court and the wealthy elite, but is cherished worldwide to this day.
Though colors are interpreted uniquely across cultures, their significance is universal. Every hue of the palette is imbued with generations of traditions and wisdom. If you are looking for a new perspective, start by paying attention to the kaleidoscope of colors surrounding us. It might just be the key to a whole new world of possibilities.
