Black
Overview
In the five-colour system black is Water's colour and belongs to the north. It is also the colour of ink, which gives it a separate and more positive association with writing and painting.
Meaning
Black is the colour of Water, of the north and of winter — associated with the deepest and the unlit.
Traditional Interpretation
Sources treat black as the colour of the formless and of the unknown, while ink-black carries the whole prestige of the calligraphic tradition.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does black symbolize in Chinese tradition?
Black is the colour of Water, of the north and of winter — associated with the deepest and the unlit. In the five-colour system black is Water's colour and belongs to the north. It is also the colour of ink, which gives it a separate and more positive association with writing and painting.
Is black an auspicious color?
It depends on the setting rather than on the color alone. Black is the colour of Water, of the north and of winter — associated with the deepest and the unlit. The ink association is what rescues black from a purely negative reading — the tradition's most valued art is made entirely in this colour.
How is black read in Chinese tradition?
Sources treat black as the colour of the formless and of the unknown, while ink-black carries the whole prestige of the calligraphic tradition. It is grouped under Water (水) in the five-element system.
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