Cultural Corner: June | Colour and meaning in China
The meanings of colour vary from culture to culture. In China, five colours are traditionally seen as key: red, qing (blue/green), yellow, black and white. These colours have associations with the five elements: fire, wood, earth, water and metal.
红Hóng
Red is associated with the element fire. It has very positive connotations as the colour of happiness, celebration, prosperity, good luck and longevity. Hence, it is the commonly used colour for traditional weddings with the bride and groom wearing red silk outfits. When money is given in little packets at Chinese New Year, the packets are usually red or pink. It is the colour firecrackers, of the Communist party and the base of the national flag.
There is an exception to this positivity of red and that is with names. You should not write someone’s name with red ink. Stories abound about why this is. Is it because names on Chinese tombstones are sometimes written on with red lettering or is it because, in past years, if the Emperor wanted you dead he would write your name in red on a list? What have you heard?
Another exception is if you are described as ‘having red eyes’; this would mean you are jealous of another person (Chai and Chai, 2007). It is also not OK to wear red at funerals.
Pink is seen as a variety of red. When China’s first taikonauts to orbit the Earth landed in 2005 they were greeted with bouquets of pink flowers (Chai and Chai, 2007). This would have been an unusual choice for male pioneers in Western nations, of course.
绿 Qīng
Qing is a blend of Western colours ‘green’ and ‘blue’. It is associated with the element, wood. As in many other cultures, this colour has connections with all things natural and calming. However, there is one special item that when worn by a man is not good to have in green. If a man wears a green hat in China, it signifies that his wife is being unfaithful. The origins of this comes from an old legend about a wife that would send her husband off in a green hat when he was heading out of town on business so her lovers knew that she was on her own!
For more on qing check out https://www.lomography.com/magazine/337259-color-chronicles-deconstructing-qing
黄Huáng
Yellow represents royalty, power and sacredness in China. In past years, only the Emperor could wear yellow. Anyone else wearing the colour could be put to death. Despite this very regal reputation, yellow can also suggest pornography (eg. ‘yellow pictures’) so should be used with care.
白 Bái
Traditionally, white is linked to the element metal and is seen as the colour of death. Decorations and clothing at funerals are usually white. Chinese ghost stories often describe ghosts wearing white burial gowns. This colour also has other meanings such as purity and fulfilment. In fact, Western wedding dresses have been worn for decades in China, often alongsidea more traditional red qi pao. Despite this, you should never wrap a gift in plain white wrapping.
黑 Hēi
Black is linked to the water element. It is a neutral colour in some ways but traditionally, you should never wrap a gift in black paper. In past years, wearing a lot of black clothes might invite a comment as many Chinese people prefer more vibrant colours but this is changing now with the globalisation of fashion trends.