Vermilion
Overview
Vermilion is mercury-based cinnabar, and its traditional role is as the pigment of the seal: the red stamp that authenticates a document. It is also the red of imperial architecture.
Meaning
Vermilion is the specific red of seal paste and of palace walls — a defined pigment rather than a general red.
Traditional Interpretation
Sources treat cinnabar as both a pigment and a medicinal substance, which gives vermilion a dual role unusual among colours.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does vermilion symbolize in Chinese tradition?
Vermilion is the specific red of seal paste and of palace walls — a defined pigment rather than a general red. Vermilion is mercury-based cinnabar, and its traditional role is as the pigment of the seal: the red stamp that authenticates a document. It is also the red of imperial architecture.
Is vermilion an auspicious color?
It depends on the setting rather than on the color alone. Vermilion is the specific red of seal paste and of palace walls — a defined pigment rather than a general red. The seal-paste association is the operative one: vermilion is the colour of the mark that makes something official.
How is vermilion read in Chinese tradition?
Sources treat cinnabar as both a pigment and a medicinal substance, which gives vermilion a dual role unusual among colours. It is grouped under Fire (火) in the five-element system.
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