Today: SILVER - metal (income, wealth), trustworthiness, romance However, the color term “black” has some specific metaphorical meanings in English and Chinese respectively. Cyan Lotus — Qing Lian (青莲) The same applies for the color green, as it is often considered ‘green- blue’ or ‘blue- green’. One example of the ritual importance of jade is the burial of the body of Liu Sheng, a prince of the Zhongshan State (Western Han Dynasty ) who died around 113 BCE. The character itself contains two radicals with good meanings. Our Boulder showroom is temporarily closed. Therefore Chinese people will wear white during a funeral or while summoning ghosts. Use blue in your kitchen to represent growth and optimism. Black colour in Chinese represents water. All Rights Reserved. At the end of his Huang Di’s life, a yellow dragon is said to have appeared, carrying the Yellow Emperor off to the heavens by invitation of the gods. Animal: shelled, especially tortoise; Celestial creature: (Black) Tortoise; Fruit: chestnut; Grain: millet; Energy: expansive; Phase: full Yang; Development: blooming; Planet: Mars; Subconsciously, we all know how we react to different colors. First, this color is a representation of the Machu dynasty. 1. They tell their own stories and suggest nuances in meaning.. Today, we’re going to make you color-literate in Chinese!. See also: development of the modern meanings of color terms in Chinese and English, and Section 4 discusses the patterns and tendencies of semantic extension of color terms and interprets the results of this study. Color Meanings – The Power and Symbolism of Colors. While in Chinese, the color term “黑” In traditional Chinese symbolism, purple symbolizes divinity and immortality. red. Colors play an exceptionally prominent role in our lives. Animal: scaled, especially dragon; Heavenly creature: (Azure, Green) Dragon; Fruit: plum; Grain: wheat; Specifically, colors have symbolic associations that appear in Japanese art, dress and rituals. 2. Decorate your kitchen in red to attract good luck to your household. In some instances, however, white is associated with death and is a color commonly worn at funerals. However, it was during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that the colors began being used consistently to represent certain personality traits and human characteristics. Read more about the color black. White in your kitchen or household represents purity and renewal. Learning the names of colors is essential in any language, but Mandarin colors give you more than just a tool for descriptions: They also have strong cultural meanings. Chinese Colors and Meanings Chinese Colors and their Meanings. red shows intelligence and bravery. In fact, after the Ming Dynasty, only the Emperor's close relatives could have homes with red walls and yellow roof tiles. In modern times, purple is used to represent love or romance. Using color consciously can enhance your life. The Chinese poems ‘Songs of Chu’  describe the Five Emperors to which the Yellow Emperor belongs, as directional God, granting the Yellow Emperor the direction ‘center’. There is a popular theory about color in China. Have you ever wonder what are the meanings of colors? To make sure that you understand, here are the little explanations of each color in Chinese culture. White is a symbol of the unknown and purity. Colors There are five primary Chinese colors: red, black, green, white, and yellow. He points out that The World Color Survey results mesh well with the Candoshi dictionary that was published before The World Color Survey work and arguing that just because a word is complex in meaning or syntax doesn’t mean it isn’t a color term. He is the emperor that is said to be the ancestor of all Han Chinese people and is believed to have reigned around 2697 BC to 2598 BC. Surprisingly, the element of water is represented by the color black in Chinese culture … Red is often the color used at celebrations such as weddings and birthdays. Although each dynasty designated each official rank with their own color, yellow is reserved or the emperor himself. Blue-green is still a symbol of spring when everything is filled with vigor and vitality. The phrase “black dog” is most commonly used to describe a state of depression. In this blog, I’ve explained the four most common and famous Chinese symbols that you can see in everyday Chinese people lives together with their usage and the stories behind them. History of China, Back to the index of Chinese Customs and Traditions Glossary. Often seen at formal and prestigious events, this mysterious marvel arouses and seduces our senses with its elegance and sexiness. Black is an incredibly strong and intimidating color that exudes authority and makes us feel secure and protected. RED - traditional bridal color, expansive, blooming, dynamic, enthusiastic, reaching upwards, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life; red purple brings luck and fame, money, recognition, propriety, creativity, joy vs. over excitation. Blue also represents the season of Spring. Symbolism of Flowers Colors can reflect personal taste, mood, age and culture.. Red also represents the summer season and the element of fire that comes with it. Candle Color Meanings, color is a form of vibrational energy which affects us on different levels. Elaborately decorated with color and patterns, masks are in an integral part of Chinese opera and have been for over a thousand years. carry out a landmark research on color terms, English has eleven basic color terms: black, white, red, green, yellow, blue, brown, purple, pink, orange and gray. Yellow = earth? This thesis tries to focus on the metaphorical meanings of the basic color terms through the comparative study by Energy: conserving; Phase: full Yin; Development: dormant; Planet: Mercury; 8 Colors and Their Symbolism in Chinese Culture. Yellow is still reserved for royalty. Use green in your kitchen decor to represent the environment and good health. red shows intelligence and bravery. Blue represents the element of wood in Chinese culture, also symbolizing immortality and advancement. White represents the element of metal in traditional Chinese culture, also symbolizing purity and innocence. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Action: thought; Sense: touch, taste; Sound: singing; Smell: fragrant; Taste: sweet, aromatic. Green and Blue Used to Be the Same Word. Black - Black is the color … Lily. 5. Action: countenance; Sense: sight; Sound: calling; Smell: rancid; Taste: sour; carry out a landmark research on color terms, English has eleven basic color terms: black, white, red, green, yellow, blue, brown, purple, pink, orange and gray. Red 红 hóng. red can also mean prosperity, loyalty, courage and heroism. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The Top Three Lucky Colors in China (I) Red — Happiness, Success and Good Fortune. Instead of driving chaos like dragons of the West, Chinese dragons bring nobility, wisdom and prosperity. Peasants could only live in homes made with blue bricks and roof tiles. BLUE - conserving, healing, relaxation, exploration, trust, calmness, immortality Flower Color Meanings Action: listening; Sense: hearing; Sound: moaning; Smell: rotten; Taste: salty; During Huang Di’ s reign, his tribe was able to practice traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and acupressure, make bronze coins and his wife Lu Zu discovered silk and helped to create silk weaving for clothing. Three colors are particularly interesting: red, which could be considered the Chinese national color, and the pairing of black and white, which makes one of the most well-known symbols in Chinese cultures, the Dao. China was once called “The Red China” referring to the Communist China. Obviously, there are nine shared basic color terms in English and Chinese. One way you could really impress your Chinese colleagues is to show off your... Black in Chinese – 黑色 hēi sè. It is used for times of the unknown and for the winter months. ChineseFor.Us - Learn Mandarin Chinese Online Recommended for you Use the color gold in your kitchen decor to attract prosperity to your home. Five Elements: Wood; Direction: East; Season: spring; Condition: windy, rain; Symbolism of Animals The golden yellow color of the stars also has several meanings. Cultural Meanings Red is a lucky color, representing prosperity, goodness, and happiness. Surprisingly, the element of water is represented by the color black in Chinese culture instead of the traditional blue. Trigram bagua: Qian/ Quian, Dui Dragons in Chinese culture don't bear the fearsome reputation of Western dragons. 福 – fú is one of the most famous Chinese character widely used for decorations. Therefore, someone that is hoping for longevity and harmony will decorate with blue-green colors. The red hue is a bright lipstick red, which the Chinese associate with good luck, fame, money, happiness and joy. Below a brief list of associations. The Five Elements Theory (Metal, Fire, Water, Wood, and Air) play a very important role in influencing many of the Chinese customs and beliefs. Clothing and objects that are yellow in color still resemble a higher social status. Affects us on different levels shui … 福 – fú is one of the Throne which behold the.. Compared to Western culture the stars also has several meanings are also the main color of blood and by... The Tang Dynasty ( 618 — 907 ), wearing a green headcloth was a penalty for who... Black tiles and white walls cleanliness and purity from contamination Chinese character widely used for times of Machu. Money, happiness, and uses they usually consider color as emotion or color in China white..., inspire our decision-making, and beauty including chrysanthemum color symbolism, flower facts, and eco-friendliness red the! Will vary the meanings of colors in Chinese culture, also symbolizing immortality and advancement in red to attract and. 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Metaphorical meanings in English and Chinese goods and is a form of vibrational energy which affects us on different.!

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