Forests of Imagination

The Symbolism of Colour in the Chinese Tradition.

talk by Padmayogini/Wendy Le Ber 2007

This talk is in part based on the information available at Colour Order Systems in Art which I recomend you visit for more examples and pictures.

There are five basic colours in the Chinese tradition. It may be that the imagery and symbolism of some of these colours might inspire you to work with them today.

Red related to Fire and the action or force of reaching upwards.
Red corresponds to the South and to the Summer, Fowls and Poultry.

Black related to Water, delving into the depths the North and Winter and the Tortoise.

Green related to Wood, the East and Spring and the Dragon.

White which is related to Metal the West and Autumn and the Tiger.

Yellow related to Earth it’s taste is sweet and it is the primary source and nutrition. Yellow has a particular significance by it’s connection to the world of men and women.

In the Chinese tradition black and white are not opposites but linked in the same circle.

If you were born in the spring and you are drawn to the dragon, you might want to use the colour green and explore what the symbol of the dragon might mean for you. Or perhaps the colour red and the action of reaching upwards is something you are interested in. There are two diagrams relating to the Chinese tradition, and it’s twin processes of Generation and Dominance. In the generation aspect, whose characteristic is continuity, shown in the lower diagram, each element, each animal and so on becomes the procreator, or gives birth to the next element or follower. It is also the offspring of the preceding element. For example “ the armoured animals like the tortoise, which corresponds to the north, water and the colour black, procreate the scaled animals like the dragon, which are always green, since these belong to wood and are located in the east. The scaled animals in turn create the fowls and poultry, to which the south and the colour red are ascribed. The feathered birds in turn create the fur covered animals such as the tiger and the horse, which are associated with the west, the metals and the colour white.” This is shown by the colours moving round the circle in a continuous way.

Water brings forth wood, and wood nourishes the fire. Fire (ash) fertilizes the earth, and the earth brings forth metal. Metal creates water” and the cycle continues.

In the top diagram the system of dominance is illustrated. It’s characteristic is moderation. In this system each element dominates another “ the earth sucks up the water, water extinguishes fire, fire melts metal and metal splits wood, This system alternates rather than being continuous. Each element is kept in check by the next one. So these two aspects run side by side, continuity and moderation.

Colours are also seen to have both a dynamic quality and a more static aspect in this tradition. These five primary colours also contribute to the organization of the world and it’s place within the harmony of the cosmos.