Scarlet
Overview
Where crimson is deep and formal, scarlet is bright and declarative. Both belong to the official colour vocabulary rather than to the festive one.
Meaning
Scarlet is the bright red of the highest official grades and of formal dress — rank, rendered in the most visible red.
Traditional Interpretation
Sources assign specific reds to grades of office, and getting the shade right was a matter of regulation rather than of taste.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does scarlet symbolize in Chinese tradition?
Scarlet is the bright red of the highest official grades and of formal dress — rank, rendered in the most visible red. Where crimson is deep and formal, scarlet is bright and declarative. Both belong to the official colour vocabulary rather than to the festive one.
Is scarlet an auspicious color?
It depends on the setting rather than on the color alone. Scarlet is the bright red of the highest official grades and of formal dress — rank, rendered in the most visible red. The regulation of shade is the notable point: the tradition distinguishes reds by rank in a way that has no modern equivalent.
How is scarlet read in Chinese tradition?
Sources assign specific reds to grades of office, and getting the shade right was a matter of regulation rather than of taste. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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