Five Basic Colour Terms and Colour Taboos in Ancient China (Part Two)

Wei Bi

doi:10.18290/rh25739.6

Published : 2025-11-19

Vol. 73 No. 9 (2025)

Five Basic Colour Terms and Colour Taboos in Ancient China (Part Two)

Wei Bi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rh25739.6

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the use of five basic colour terms and colour taboos in ancient China. Looking at many literary texts, including Classic of Poetry, Collection of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Discussing Writings and Explaining Characters, and several other collections, the paper offers a detailed analysis of the etymology and meanings of the following Chinese colour terms: huang 黄 ‘yellow’, chi 赤 ‘red’, bai 白 ‘white’, hei 黑 ‘black’ and qing 青 ‘cyan’.

Colours have always carried well-defined symbolic meanings in China, for instance, red is associated with wealth, dignity and happiness. Besides, the five basic colours are linked to elements and cardinal points: yellow – Earth and Centre, red – Fire and South, white – Metal and West, black – Water and North, cyan – Wood and East.

The investigated ancient Chinese texts provide evidence that colours implied high and low social ranks, good and bad personal qualities or fortune. The use of some colours in specific circumstances, as well as by people with a certain status, was prohibited. The cultural and social taboo phenomenon was connected with expressing self-identity and manifested itself in clothes and folk customs as well as in numerous other ways.

Keywords:

Chinese basic colour terms, etymological analysis, oracle bone inscriptions, colour taboos, symbolic meanings

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