Traditional Chinese Colors and Clothing

Colors

The Chinese believe that there are three basic colors governing life regardless of race, ancestry or gender. The basic colors are red, black and white, and illustrate life, feelings and human experience.

Of the three colors, red is the most important and most favored among Chinese. Red stands for positive things in life such as happiness, joy and prosperity. It is always associated with good luck and fortune. Red is part of the Chinese identity. The importance of the color can be especially observed during Chinese festivals and other Chinese rituals.

Black is inauspicious to the Chinese and if possible is avoided. Black is associated with sadness, suffering and death. Black signifies misfortune. Traditionally black is worn at funerals and must not be worn during festivals, and happy occasions. Some people regard black as noble and solemn. Many Chinese today have a fondness for black clothing. But if the traditions of old are to be observed, black must be avoided.

White is the intermediate color between red and black. It functions to balance out these two colors. White symbolizes purity and innocence. However, white is also used at funerals because it can harmonize with all sentiments. Many Chinese say that white can be used in all rituals and activities because it is neutral in the color spectrum.

Apart from these three basic colors, purple, gray, brown, blue, green and yellow are classified according to their darkness or brightness. For instance, black symbolizes extreme grief. Purple, gray and brown are dark colors that symbolize grief of a lesserdegree. Yellow is often the color of royalty.

Clothing

Chinese customs do not specifically outline how to dress. Traditional costumes like the Cheongsam for men and the Chipau for women are no longer fashionable among modern Chinese. Most people now dress for comfort or according to the fashion of the day. The most important aspect of dressing is the color of one's clothing.

Chinese prefer bright-colored clothing. The color must also be suited to the nature and environment of one's work place. For those who do manual tasks, dark colors such as brown, dark, blue and green are more appropriate. Likewise, it is best for farmers to dress in brown. In terms of dressing according to one's age, elderly women are not encouraged to wear t-shirts and skirts because these are more suited to teenagers.