Colors in China

7/28/2019 Colors in China

1/102


2/102


3/102

1. What does this red type of facial make-

up in Chinese traditional operas mean?A. Anger and Doubt

B. Loyalty and Bravery

C. Persistence and SincerityD. Wisdom and Power


4/102

2. If a man is referred to as wearing a green

hat (usu. an imaginary one), what do

others around him mean?

A. He looks exhausted.

B. He is super rich.C. His wife is cheating on him.

D. Hes brilliant and humorous.


5/102

3. When a person in China feels jealous or

anxious or irritated, which color do

people use to describe his eyes?

A. Red

B. GreenC. Grey

D. Golden


6/102

4. Among the following colors, which one

symbolizes the imperial family in ancient

China?

A. Bright yellow

B. Dark redC. Light green

D. Black


7/102

5. Which color did you see the most often

in street during this Spring Festival?

A. White

B. Grey

C. PinkD. Red


8/102

ImplicationofColors

in Chinese Culture


9/102

Each color has its literal and associative meanings.

The same terms of color in different languages may

have different cultural association. In cross-cultural communication, without

understanding the implication of different colors, wed

probably run into obstacles or make ourselvesembarrassed.


10/102


11/102

FiveBasic Colors


12/102

Chinese defines color composition by the five elements,which reflects our comprehension of time and space in theuniverse.

The five elements: gold (jn), wood (m), water (shu),fire (hu) and earth (t), compose the space.

Each element has a designated color: wood, the base color ofeast is dark blue or dark green; gold, related to west is white;

fire referring to south is red; water relating cold in the northso black is the representative color; and earth occupies thecenter which represents the royal color yellow.

The four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter that

rotate all year long, correspond to the colors of the fiveelements.

Dark blue/green is for spring; red for summer; yellow for longsummer, white for autumn and black for winter.


13/102


14/102

It is believed that no country in the world has ever adopteda color in such a thoroughgoing way as China, where red isa symbol that gives color to the soul of the nation.

Red is the color of the auspicious, signifying reunion,health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity.

In the past, red stood for dignity and mystery.

All traditional red things have been playing special roles inChina: the walls of ancient palaces, the national flag,

Chinese knot, lantern, couplet, clothes, traditional paper-cuts for window decorations, and even red tanghulu(sugar-coated haws on a stick).

Even now, we adore the color much more than we love it.

Shooting red-colored things in China is an easy task, as itspowerful presence can be found every-where.

It can be said that 'China Red' is an eternal theme for China,and an essential color for the Chinese people.

"China Red" has become a quite popular word, attracting

the world's attention.


15/102


16/102


17/102


18/102


19/102


20/102


21/102


22/102


23/102


24/102


25/102


26/102


27/102

R d L t


28/102

Red Lantern(hn dn lon)

Lantern is closely linked with the lives of Chinese people, as you canfind it everywhere, especially during festivals and holidays.

Hanging on the front gate of houses and stores, red lanterns decoratethe street in a unique way.

Lanterns in China are more than lighting devices and red lanterns areregarded as a basic symbol of the Chinese culture, a symbol ofbrightness, happiness and reunion.

Both the gigantic lanterns at the Tiananmen Gate and the smalllanterns of a peasant's hut express the same warm, happy and joyous

atmosphere. Supposed to warn away evil sprits while brightening the mood with the

red glow of good luck, red lanterns are considered a necessity oftraditional Chinese festivals.

Lanterns, especially the red-colored, deserve adoration for the magical

element they add to the atmosphere.


29/102

R d Chi K t


30/102

Red Chinese Knot(zhn u ji )

Chinese knot is actually an ancient art of weaving and Chinese people

have used knots as decorations since the Han Dynasty. "Knot" In Chinese has the meanings of reunion, friendliness, warm,

marriage etc, so the red Chinese knot has come to be the symbol ofreunion, luck, harmony, and love.

Traditionally, a Chinese knot must be bent, tied and crafted from a

single red rope, to express the endless circle of happy life. That is the most important characteristic of Chinese Knot.

By combining different knots or other auspicious adornments skillfully,a unique auspicious ornament, especially the red-colored whichrepresents beauty, happiness and wishes, is formed.

Today, Chinese knot has become an important element of internationalfashion.

To fit with the needs of modern life, Chinese Knot has various products,most of which are used as auspicious hanging and knitting clothingadornment.


31/102


32/102


33/102


34/102


35/102

Red Couplet


36/102

Red Couplet(du lin/chn lin)

Pasting red spring couplet has been an important part of theChinese New Year's celebration since ancient times.

On lunar New Year's Eve, families in both urban and rural

areas make it a point to decorate their gates or apartment

doorframes with the customary couplets. The couplet, written on two strips of red paper, is composed

of two poetic sentences which match and rhyme with each

other to express hopes for the coming year.

The red couplets, along with the New Year paintings on the

door, serve as beautiful decorations as well as protective

talismans.


37/102


38/102


39/102

Red Paper cut


40/102

Red Paper-cut(jin zh/chun hu)

Paper-cut art is another traditional handcraft created by Chinese people.

People cut papers into animals, flowers or people in various patterns. Pasted on the window or desks for the festival atmosphere, paper

cuttings are mainly used for decoration during the Spring Festival towelcome the Chinese New Year.

It can be very interesting to learn paper-cut, which is all made by hand.You need only a knife and paper.

But, no mistake can be made during the process, otherwise the workwould be a fail.

Daofu () is one of the most popular forms of paper-cutting. The word fu ()",which means good luck and happiness, is written on

a square red paper and often displayed upside down (do) on doorsand elsewhere.

The act of turning the word fortune upside down literally means

"Good luck is coming!"


41/102

Red Envelope


42/102

Red Envelope(hn bo)

It is a tradition in Chinese families for the youngsters to give their elders

the following greeting during the 15-day Spring Festival: "Gong xi fa cai,hong bao na lai!" which means: "Wish you a prosperous new year. Giveme a red envelope!"

The older members of the family will then give the youngsters a red (forluck) envelope called hongbao with a gift of money.

The elderly may also place the red envelopes under their pillows on theChinese New Year's Eve to give them surprises.

The custom in China is much like the one in western countries thatFather Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts inchildren's stockings when they are sleeping.

As in China color red is connected with good luck, the red envelopesare supposed to protect children from evil spirits.

The custom is extremely popular with children.

But what they really care about is the lucky money inside the redenvelopes, which they can use to buy the things they like.

It is no wonder Chinese kids love red so much!

I Chi d i th j t l


43/102

In China, red is more than just a color.

It carries the ancient history and culture of the

Chinese nation. China Red is filled with mysterious charm beyond

description and it is right here in China waiting for

you to feel, to discover!


44/102

In Chinese culture white is contrary to red which shows the


45/102

In Chinese culture, white is contrary to red, which shows theChineses material and spiritual disgust.

It is the symbol of death, lifeless performance and bad omen.

Therefore, when one passes away, the family membersalways dress in white, and the funeral they hold to mourn thedead is called bi sh (the white ceremony).

In Chinese feudal society, the common people were forbidden

to dress in any other colors but white, and they were calledbi y (persons in white )or bi dn.

In modern society, white now symbolizes brightness, purity,and fulfillment.

Nurses are respectfully called bi ytin sh(angels in white) in China.

When young couples get married, besides the traditional red

cheongsam, they wearwhite wedding gowns too.


46/102


47/102


48/102


49/102


50/102


51/102


52/102


53/102


54/102

In the Chinese traditional culture green ranks the first


55/102

In the Chinese traditional culture, green ranks the first

in the Five Colors (green,yellow,red,white and

black), signifying everything grows.

The Chinese people like drinking green tea, which is

good for health.

In the feudal society, the dress of the government

official on a lower level was regularized to be green,

so it also symbolizes humble.

Still, in whatever culture, the symbolic meaning of

green is vigor, prosperity, harmony, and energy.


56/102


57/102


58/102


59/102


60/102
http://img.lotour.com/test/zhoubian/beijing/201005/img460937.jpg


61/102
http://img.lotour.com/test/zhoubian/beijing/201005/img460937.jpg


62/102


63/102


64/102


65/102


66/102


67/102

Yellow, corresponding with earth, is considered the most beautiful color,which signifies neutrality and good luck


68/102

which signifies neutrality and good luck.

The Chinese saying, Yellow generates Yin () and Yang(), impliesthat yellow is the center of everything.

TheYellow River(hun h) is called the Mother River of China,and the Chinese are called the Descendants of the Emperors Yan andHuang (yn hun z sn)

Yellow was the color of Imperial China. It often decorates royal palaces,altars and temples, and the color was used in the robes and attire of theemperors.

In the meantime, yellow has its negative meanings.

Like the yellow leaves, this color represents the end or failure of life orthings.

If the relationship between two lovers ends, we can say this romance

hun le. If someones efforts end up in vain, can beused to describe it, too. Besides, yellow is related to sex or pornography. Dirty books and

videos are called shand di. However, Yellow Pages(hun y) means nothing derogatory.


69/102


70/102


71/102


72/102


73/102


74/102


75/102


76/102


77/102


78/102


79/102


80/102


81/102


82/102


83/102


84/102


85/102


86/102


87/102


88/102

Black is considered to be a formal, elegant, and prestigious

l i Chi


89/102

color in China.

The I Ching(), orBook of Changes, regards blackas Heavens color.

The saying heaven and earth of mysterious black was

rooted in the observation that the northern sky was black for

a long time.

Ancient Chinese regarded black as the king of colors and

honored black longer than any other color.

Lao Zi () said that five colors make people blind (ws lnrn m mn), so the Dao Schoolchose black as the color of Taoism.

In Beijing Opera, the honest and good men always have the

black facial make-ups to show their justice and honesty.

As the color of night, black implies depth, mystery,


90/102

evil, terror, even death.

The Chinese expressions hi sh hu andhi bn refer to the underworld, or BlackHand.

Someone whose heart is described as black (hi xn) is regarded as an evil person.

If one brings shame on his family or community, hes

said to have m hi. Even hackers are put into Chinese as hi k.


91/102


92/102


93/102


94/102


95/102


96/102


97/102


98/102


99/102


100/102

Th b li i f l


101/102

The symbolic meanings of colors

are shaped in the long-termdevelopment of society.

Its the very distinctive Chinese culture

that fosters its distinguishable colorimplications.


102/102

Colors in China

Documents

Transcript of Colors in China