In Chinese culture, red is a color full of deep meaning, it is not only the closest color to Chinese, but also the cultural symbol and spiritual sustenance of Chinese, symbolizing joy, liveliness and harmony.
Whether it is the national flag fluttering in the wind or the red scene that can be seen everywhere during the New Year's holidays, red has become the iconic color of China. So why are Chinese so fond of red?
Is it because neither the vibrant green nor the luxurious purple can compare to the striking red? In fact, the Chinese's "Chonghong" complex was already evident in ancient times.
As early as ancient times, people would wear red ornaments, depict red petroglyphs, make red pottery, and even decorate corpses with hematite powder at funerals. There are three main theories about the origin of red worship, which are from the sun, fire, and blood.
Among them, the "Red Cave Petroglyphs" are the most representative examples. The beauty of red was discovered by the ancient people, who used hematite powder to make red pigments, which were used to paint murals, ornaments, and pottery.
Unlike China, where cave paintings in Europe use a variety of colors, Chinese cave petroglyphs are almost always depicted in red. This is the historical origin of the Red Cult, a story full of mystery and beauty.
Among the ancient cave petroglyphs, the most eye-catching are the red ornaments. These ornaments were made by the ancestors with animal teeth, fish bones, shells and other materials, strung together with red bands, and worn on the body with their unique beauty.
The red color in these ornaments, as hot as a flame and as strong as blood, brought strength and courage to the ancestors, and at the same time brought them a first sense of beauty.
1.The red pottery found in the cave man site is one of the major events in human history, and it symbolizes the invention of pottery and the beginning of a new chapter in history.
2.Among the many pottery unearthed from Neolithic sites, red pottery is the most representative, and its unique red decoration shows the confidence and pursuit of life of the ancestors.
3.Red pottery, the earliest color known by the ancient ancestors, is bright and eye-catching, full of vitality, is their yearning and pursuit of a better life.
4.The red pottery in the cave man site on the top of the mountain is an important discovery in human history, which not only reveals the history of the invention of pottery, but also reflects the love and pursuit of life of the ancestors.
In the painted pottery art of Yangshao culture, which praises the praise of hematite powder and cinnabar, there is a unique funeral method called "red burial".
This method was widely popular among the ancient ancestors, and people used hematite powder to collect corpses, painted corpses with vermilion paint, and padd corpses with cinnabar.
The emergence of this method reflects a custom of the ancient ancestors who are still red and worship red. Red is a symbol of life, a symbol of fire, and a symbol of the sun.
In this way, it expresses the deep attachment and prayer of the living to their deceased loved ones, hoping that they too can have a source of life in another world.
The use of red is not only a praise for life, but also a pursuit of beauty.
In the painted pottery art of Yangshao culture, the use of red has reached a supreme artistic realm, which not only brings visual enjoyment to people, but also makes people feel the lifestyle and spiritual pursuit of the ancient ancestors.
Red, a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, carries a long history of human history. As early as ancient times, red became a beloved color, symbolizing life, blood and vitality, and was simple and popular.
In the period of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, the meaning of red was sublimated and was respected as the positive color of China. The five colors, blue, red, white, black, and yellow, correspond to the five directions, and red is the oldest red, symbolizing the south, fiery and powerful, and also the color of fire.
Emperor Yan, the ancestor who invented the technology of making fire, is also revered as the "Red Emperor", and together with the Yellow Emperor, has become a symbol of the Chinese nation. Red is our pride, inheriting our culture and carrying our history.
From ancient times to the present, the "five elements" and the "five colors" are closely related, and the idea of yin and yang and the five elements was born. It is recorded in "Shangshu Hongfan": "Five elements: one is water, two is fire, three is wood, four is gold, and five is earth. ”
The colors of the five elements are black, red, blue, white, and yellow, and they symbolize a system of mutual growth and mutual restraint. In China's feudal political system, the idea of yin and yang and the five elements played a decisive role.
The Xia Dynasty got the "wood" virtue and advocated the blue color, because it got the favor of the "wood" of the five elements, and the green dragon landed on the outskirts of the capital, and the grass and trees grew exceptionally strong and lush; The Yin Dynasty obtained "golden" virtue and admired white, because silver flowed from the mountains; The Zhou Dynasty got the virtue of "fire" and admired red, because there was a rune like red crow; Yellow, on the other hand, means "earth" and is a symbol of the land.
After the unification of Qin Shi Huang, because of the change of the Zhou Dynasty in the world, and Qin Wengong went out hunting, he once got a black dragon, which is "water" De (water overcomes fire), so he advocated black and renamed the Yellow River "Deshui".
The Han Dynasty admired red because Liu Bang was the son of the Red Emperor, and he beheaded the White Snake, which was the son of the White Emperor. In the period of Emperor Xiaowen, some people thought that the Han Dynasty was a water virtue, so they advocated yellow.
No matter what color you admire, the favorite is still red. During Wang Mang's new policy, he made his servants wear red clothes to show his curse on the Western Han Dynasty.
Ancient people had a deep understanding of colors and grades. In their eyes, natural phenomena, creatures, and even human activities are dominated by gods. In order to pray for well-being and avoid disasters, various rituals were invented in ancient times.
This kind of sacrificial activity first began in the period of Emperor Shun, when Emperor Shun met with the princes of the Quartet, he stipulated the color standards in the ceremonies of people of all ranks: the princes should hold yellow and red silks, the princes should hold black silks, and the vassal kings should hold yellow silks.
This marks the beginning of a connection between color and status. By the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, color grades began to be standardized. The Tamamo records the grading of the color of clothing, in which the monarch wears red, the doctor wears white, and the scholar wears black leather.
There is a similar rule in the Analects that a gentleman should not wear blue shoes, and red and purple clothes could not be used to make profane clothes. This is because red, purple, and black are all precious colors and occupy an important position.
In ancient times, red was regarded as the color of sacrificial clothing, and in the Sui and Tang dynasties, red and vermilion became the exclusive colors of the royal family, and ordinary people were limited in their choice of clothing colors.
At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, red was the spot color of the imperial palace and could not be used by ordinary people, but in the late Ming Dynasty, with the change of social atmosphere and the change of people's values, red began to enter the homes of ordinary people, forming a red wedding dress.
During the Qing Dynasty, yellow became the exclusive color of the emperor and queen, while red was widely popular among the people on various festivals and festive occasions.
February**Dynamic Incentive Program The reason why red can be widely popular is that on the one hand, it is easy to make and simple red pigments such as hematite can be used, and on the other hand, people believe that red can ward off evil spirits, so in folklore, people will wear red ropes and socks during the natal year.
In the intergenerational transition, red has become a specific symbol of Chinese culture. The love of red has been deeply integrated into the hearts of Chinese after countless generations of subtle influence.