RED
For Chinese people, red color is the color of good fortune, happiness and joy. This is why the tradition Chinese wedding colors are red. The bride is dressed in red qipao or long form-fitting gown or cheongsam. The groom wears a big red sash with a bow over his long black gown.
Nowadays, many bridges and grooms also wear white wedding gowns and tuxedos like in the west, but they will always have a traditional Chinese red costume to change into after the formal exchange of vows.
Babies and anything associated with fertility is also symbolized by red. For example, a new mother will give out hard-boiled eggs dyed red to all her friends, in this way she is thought to pass on her fertility and good fortune to them.
Additionally, red is thought to ward off evil and bad luck. The Chinese believe that one is typically unlucky in the zodiac year in which one was born. For example, if you are born in the year of the dog, then every dog year is considered especially dangerous for you. in order to protect themselves in their zodiac year, many Chinese wear bright red underwear all year around. So the next time you see red underwear flying on a clothes line, you can bet the resident was born in the current zodiac year.
WHITE
White is a color most often associated with funerals. Funeral homes are decorated with white flowers and wreaths. White flowers are given to the family of the deceased as a sign of condolence. Thus it is crucial not to give white flowers to Chinese friends, especially not as a gift to someone who sick.
In additional to giving gift, it is taboo to wear white in one’s head, such as hair accessories. White is a funerary color and wearing it meant that one of the family member has just passed away. Furthermore, wearing white in head when no one has died is considered very unlucky. In fact, it is even thought to precipitate an untimely death of a family member.
BLACK
Black is a somber color in Chinese. It signifies formality and is also a funerary color. When attending a funeral, friends and distant relatives all wear black.
Whereas white is reserved for the immediate family.
And for months after the funeral, children of the deceased often wear a black cloth armband to indicate mourning. The grandchildren, however, have a small red square stapled on their black armband. The little red square indicates that the deceased had lived long enough to have grandchildren, so it is a symbol of fortune and longevity.
GREEN
Green is typically an innocuous color. The only thing to be aware of is not to give anyone, especially a man, a green hat as a gift. A green hat on a man indicates he is a cuckold or associated with infidelity. Calling someone a turtle also means the same.
YELLOW
Yellow signifies neutrality and good luck. Yellow is sometimes paired with red in place of gold. Clothing and objects that are yellow in color still resemble a higher social status. Although each dynasty designates each official rank with their own color, yellow is reserved for the emperor himself.
Yellow color represents freedom from worldly cares in Buddhism. Yellow color is also used as a mourning color for Chinese Buddhists.
Yellow is relating with earth. A beautiful color.
Land & soil are more precious than everything.
Yi S. Ellis & Bryan D. Ellis
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