Colours in Ancient Civilisations

It is amazing how vibrant our world is when it comes to colours! We’re immersed today in a world of colours, most of us aren’t even aware of the vast colour range we have, we don’t know all the names; Blue Stone, Hit pink, Paris Green, Diesel,…. and thousands of other names that describe the endless colour shades we have access to.

Our world in beautiful, we cherish art, we love fashion and we are spoiled with so many colour choices in all the aspects of our lives : cloths, shoes, decor, paintings, kitchen items, and more. Colour has never been more accessible than it is today.

This wasn’t always the case ; in ancient civilisations, before BCE, colours ranged from 2 to 6 choices only!

Colours in Ancient China

The Yin-Yang theory is widely present in many aspects of Chinese culture. From the acupuncture medicine to the Feng Shui – the art of harmonising individual energies with their surroundings -, the Yin-Yang theory is strongly trusted to guide each individual to a healed, harmonious and balanced existence.

This theory is also very present in the subtle world of colours.

In fact, it was recorded first in the Zhou Li dynasty (7th to 3rd century BC) that colours used in the silk textiles, mostly for royalties and noble families, are a representation of the Yin and Yang principles.

Colours were mainly five shades, each representing a life element:

Blue/Green-Blue: Represents the wood element, and is associated with planet Jupiter;

White : Represents the metal element, and is associated with planet Venus;

Black : Represents the water elements, and is associated with planet Mercury;

Red : Represents the fire elements, and is associated with planet Mars;

Yellow : Represents the earth element, and is associated with planet Saturn.

Colour symbolism

Colour was, and still to this day, a part of a complicated system to understand and navigate life. Each colour was attached to a meaning and a Yin-Yang principle. Blue (or green-blue) for example, was attached to the Yang energy (the masculine energy), symbolising life, longevity, prosperity and harmony. It was used for roof tiles and to ornate temples’ interiors to call in the values it represents.

Black, on the other hand, represents a Yin energy ( the feminine energy) and the element of water, strong but soft, flowing, stable, conservative and powerful.

In many cultures, black would be considered a mourning colour, but not in ancient and modern chinese culture. In fact, it was the colour for young boys, who would continue the family lineage. It represented youth, knowledge, trust and adaptability, and all the values attached to water, the source of life! Today, black is becoming associated with professionalism.

Among the five colours, Yellow represents the balance between Yin and Yang. According to Chinese tradition, one is most powerful when Yin and Yang are balanced. For this particular reason, Yellow is, to this day, the colour of royalty, reserved for the emperor himself. It is associated with balance and freedom and high social status.

Similarly, Red has maintained its significance throughout time. Up to this day, red is still considered a symbol of joy, celebration and prosperity, hence the strong presence of red colours in Chinese tradition, in temples, clothing, decorations, and – with no surprise – in weddings and festivals! Red is masculine, it represents the full Yang, alive, warm and joyful.

Lastly, white was probably the least popular colour in ancient China, as it represented mourning and grief. It was only worn in funerals. Today, whit is still worn at funerals in Chinese tradition, but also in ghost festivals, to summon spirits.

Conclusion

Colours play a significant role in Chinese culture. Deeply rooted in the Yin-Yang theory and the five elements, each colour carries profound meanings and reflects the deep values of the rich culture of ancient and modern China. 

Colours in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians had a profound appreciation for life, clearly portrayed in their art. They lived in great abundance, enjoyed life to the fullest, and bequeathed a rich heritage spanning thousands of years for present generations to marvel at.

To create their magnificent art, ancient Egyptians used a palette of six primary colours: white, black, red, blue, green, and yellow.

Unlike in ancient Chinese culture, colour in ancient Egypt was used to tell a story, describe a character or emotion, or provide information about an event or person.

Colour Symbolism

Red, for example, was used to paint flesh, symbolising life and vitality, but it was also used to describe destruction and danger. In fact, Set, the god of disorder and violence, was always painted in red—either part of his body or his whole body—to symbolise his dangerous and violent character.

Alternatively, blue was associated with protection. Blue signified fertility, protection, and the heavens. The myth says that Egyptians were the first society to have discovered and named the colour blue. From then, awareness of the colour spread to the modern world. Blue also symbolised water and, in much Egyptian art, it represented the river Nile.

Yellow represented eternity and the gods for Egyptians. In many artworks depicting the afterlife, the background would be yellow, describing eternity. Gods would be painted in yellow or gold to describe their power, eternity, and sacredness. Even priests and priestesses would sometimes be painted with yellow or even paint themselves with yellow during events to represent “god” in these ceremonies.

Similar to Chinese culture, green represented life for Egyptians. It was also the colour of Osiris, the god of agriculture, death, life, and resurrection.

White was probably the most used colour in real life in ancient Egypt. It simply represented a daily life colour. Clothing and homeware were often white. Priests and priestesses always wore white clothes, and temple attendants were required to dress in white as a symbol of cleanliness and respect for the sacredness of the temple.

Black represented death, darkness, and the underworld, but it also represented life, birth, and resurrection. Unlike red, which represented evil, black had no connotations of evil; it symbolised death and the afterlife. If we look closely at ancient Egyptian art, black and green were often used together as a symbol of life.

Conclusion

Ancient Egyptians carried a reputation of being obsessed with death and the afterlife. However, by closely examining their arts and understanding their colour symbolism, one realises they were deeply engaged in living and enjoying life to the fullest; their focus on the afterlife was merely an extension to their profound appreciation for life.