Learning journeys
Colour symbolism
Colour is very important in Chinese culture and art. There are five primary colours: red, white, black, green and yellow. Each of these colours also has symbolic meaning. When we look at Chinese artefacts, we need to consider the meaning of the colour, as well as the decoration.
Look at the chart below. It shows what each of the primary colours relates to.
| Element | Property | Direction | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | wood | cold | east | spring |
| Red | fire | warmth | south | summer |
| Yellow | earth | humidity | centre | |
| White | metal | dryness | west | autumn |
| Black | water | coolness | north | winter |
These categories were first written down in an ancient Chinese book called the Book of History (Shujing).
Green
Red
Yellow
White
Black
