FIVE BASIC COLOUR TERMS AND COLOUR TABOOS IN ANCIENT CHINA (PART ONE)
FIVE BASIC COLOUR TERMS AND COLOUR TABOOS IN ANCIENT CHINA (PART ONE)

Summary/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 de-tailed 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 carriedwell-defined symbolic meanings in China, for instance, red is associated with wealth, dignity andhappiness. Besides, the five basic colours are linked to elements and cardinal points: yellow – Earthand Centre, red – Fire and South, white – Metal and West, black – Water and North, cyan – Woodand East. The investigated ancient Chinese texts provide evidence that colours implied high andlow social ranks, good and bad personal qualities or fortune. The use of some colours in specific cir-cumstances, as well as by people with a certain status, was prohibited. The cultural and social taboophenomenon was connected with expressing self-identity and manifested itself in clothes and folkcustoms as well as in numerous other ways.

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