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The civilizational autonomy of China is beyond doubt. Chinese culture is vast and beautiful. However, we know very little about her. Firstly, the language barrier is difficult to overcome (Chinese learners will attest to how difficult it is to learn the required number of characters in order to fluently read scientific and fiction). Secondly, in order to understand Chinese specifics, it is necessary to move away from Eurocentricity (forget, for example, west and east - this is not the right and left of Europe) - which is very difficult to do, because the study takes place primarily on the books of Russian and European authors. However, let's try to immerse ourselves in the history and symbolism that arose within the framework of Chinese civilization.
Perhaps no other country in the world is as passionate about color as China. Hidden meaning black, red, yellow will follow you everywhere.
All "ten thousand things" in nature have their own color. IN real life We meet a huge number of colors and their shades. As scientists have proven through the analysis of the color spectrum, there are more than 10 million different colors in the world. But for the Chinese, the situation is much simpler: they believe that only five colors are basic, namely: black, red, blue, white and yellow. These colors are recognized as "pure" (open, pure), and all the others are nothing more than various combinations of the mentioned base colors mixed in different quantities and proportions. The Chinese call these colors "mixed". "Pure colors" signify fidelity to tradition, stability, constancy and nobility, while "mixed colors" are considered vulgar and even base. So, in ancient China, by color women's clothing it was possible to determine which of the women was the wife and which was the concubine. According to the regulations, wives were to wear only "pure colors", and concubines were allowed to wear "mixed colors" outfits.
Why do the Chinese single out the five colors mentioned above? This is dictated by ideas about the structure of the universe.The symbolism of color should be viewed through the prism of the traditional system of five elements. So, the Chinese divided the world (and all its components) into five categories: wood, fire, metal, water and earth. Each of the elements was a symbol life processes flowing both in man and in the universe. Colors are also part of this system.
Let's imagine for a second what surrounded China in antiquity.
On east
- the endless forests of the valley of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The element of the East - wood, color -blue-green
. It corresponds to youth, spring, wind.
On south
- the hot sun, the element of the south - fire, its color -red
.
It is the color of joy, happiness, summer.
On west
are the highest mountain peaks in Asia. And in the foothills, metals were once mined. Therefore, metal corresponds to the west. For the Chinese for a long time the west was associated with danger - warlike tribes, the ancestors of the Tibetans, lived in the mountains, nomads came from the west. And the cold snowy peaks determined the colorwhite
. Cold winds blow from there, this is the color of mourning, autumn.
North
associated with waterblack
color - there, north of Great Plain, unknown dark rivers flowed (it is no coincidence that in Chinese Amur sounds like heilongjiang
黑
龙江
- black dragon river The north also symbolized winter and the moon. But this is not the color of mourning - it is the color of a secret transformation (as nature rests in winter, but harbors magnificent awakening and growth in spring). That is why Chinese scientists wore black clothes.
And finally the center is China
, it corresponds toyellow
color. This relationship is easily explained: the soils in China are loess, yellow in color (they consist of compacted tiny particles of sand brought by the wind from the deserts of Central Asia).
Yellow
symbolizes the Center of the world, the Celestial Empire. Yellow is the designation of the element Earth, which has the properties of fertility, nutrition and transformation, because the seed thrown into the earth, before ripening, was subjected to changes in the process of growth. The center, the earth - these were manifestations of the "original", undergoing changes in the "circle of life transformations". These properties extended to the color scheme. pointing to heaven and earth, yellow meant stability, fertility, support, law, success and eternity, and was also associated with the imperial family. During the Qing Dynasty, only the emperor was allowed to wear yellow clothes. Of the mythological characters corresponding to this color, one can name the Yellow (imperial) dragon with five claws (which indicates power over the whole world) and the Yellow Emperor Huangdi (the first ruler who united most China).
In feudal China, yellow was considered the most revered color, for which there are several explanations. According to one version, the Chinese belong to Mongoloid race and have a yellowish skin tone, so the love of yellow is simply “in their blood”. According to another version, precisely because the Chinese civilization originated in the basin of the river, which is called the Huang He (Yellow River), this river is called the "mother" of all Chinese. In addition, the first proto-state in China was formed in the region of the Loess Plateau, in the central part of the Yellow River basin, where the lands are highly fertile. After all, this river has regularly flooded for thousands of years, leaving loess sediments and gradually forming an accumulative plain. The loess plateau is the cradle of the Chinese nation and, at the same time, an integral part of Chinese culture, and therefore the yellow color of fertile deposits is endowed with special significance in the Middle Kingdom.
For a long time in China, it was believed that only emperors or very noble people were allowed to wear yellow clothes and accessories. The yellow color symbolized a noble origin and chosenness, and therefore the emperor’s ceremonial clothes depicting a dragon - the mythical progenitor of the Chinese nation, as well as imperial palace were just yellow. During the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911), the emperor granted yellow magua jackets (a jacket worn over a robe) as a badge of distinction to officials who had significant merit. Among the people, yellow was valued and respected, as it is the color of gold. In this regard, many words and expressions associated with the yellow (gold) color appeared in the language. For example, the Chinese gave the word "golden" figurative meaning“happy, auspicious” and began to call those periods of development and life of the state that were characterized by stability and prosperity: the “golden era”.
as such blue and cyan in color scheme the Chinese did not exist, they merged with the green. blue-zgreen (qing) denoted the east, by its natural essence represented the wind, by the element it belonged to the elements of the tree. The properties of the tree are the ability to grow (transition from passive yin to active yang), and therefore with the birth of a new life. 
The divine character here is the Turquoise Dragon (Qinglong), which was a protector from evil spirits and was often depicted in well-wishing pictures as a source of various wealth. Blue color, on the one hand, is a symbol of Heaven (the temple of Heaven was always covered with tiles of the color of heavenly azure, the clothes of dignitaries participating in the worship of heaven should have been the same color), but on the other hand, it was considered to bring misfortune. After all, the wind is fickle, although it can be humane and fair. The dragon also has wisdom and great power, but, in addition to blessings, it can also bring destruction.
Blue is the most fickle color that can change at any time. Sometimes it "turns" into green - the color of Nature, full of vital energy and strength, and sometimes - in blue-green or dark blue color(blue-black), may turn purple.
Red
symbolized the south with the riot of life in all its manifestations, corresponding to the elements of fire (maximum vitality and activity) and the sun. Fire and everything that corresponds with it are characterized by heat, heat, and upward aspiration. The mythological animal here is the Red Bird (Phoenix), which means wisdom, beauty, auspiciousness, and the character is the Fiery Emperor Yan-di (Shen-Nong), who taught people to grow bread, and is a healer god by association that the sun is life. Therefore, in the most joyful moments of life, the Chinese preferred red clothes, for example, the bride and wedding paraphernalia were always red, conveying vitality sun and fire. Such power scares away evil spirits and brings good luck to the house and harmonizes the general atmosphere. If, according to the Chinese, a red thread is wound on the child's hand, it will protect the baby from the evil eye.
Expression红火
(red fire) means that your life is developing like a red flame. And this is very good!火了
means "popular"火爆
(fire and explosion) - a place with a bunch of people or a book / movie with elements of an action movie. Recall that red is a traditional color for Chinese holidays and parties.
The Chinese consider red the color of celebration, festivities, weddings. In the representation of the Chinese, this color is a symbol of joy, auspicious signs, success and celebration. During wedding ceremony the bride, according to tradition, should be dressed in a red robe, and on the Spring Festival ( New Year according to the traditional Chinese calendar), the Chinese glue paired hieroglyphic inscriptions with good wishes written on red paper on the doors of houses, and hang red lanterns everywhere. Rewarding those who distinguished themselves in study and work, the Chinese present red flowers.
When an enterprise or production, having achieved profits, pays dividends to its shareholders, this is called "sharing the red profit." Red color represents enthusiasm, justice and symbolizes the fullness of energy. If a person has a blush on his cheeks, then this person is healthy and cheerful. The Chinese ideas about the color red, its meaning and the attitude of the Chinese towards it are perfectly reflected in such films by the famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou as "Red Kaoliang" and "Light the Red Lanterns".
White color
personified the west - a place where chaos and death reign. This color is contradictory: he called the natural essence - cold and the element - metal (a symbol of the beginning of the decline from yang to yin), and was associated simultaneously with treachery and purity. The animal of the West is the White Tiger (Baihu), which, on the one hand, is the lord of the world that is destructive to man, and on the other, it is the protector of people from evil forces and the guardian land of the dead. Therefore, the image of a white tiger is often a talisman, and therefore often found on various decorative and household items.
White is a color associated with old age, autumn, wilting, i.e. completion of the cycle and going beyond the edge of the world. That's why White color in clothes means mourning, and emphasizes the significance of objects as related to funerals.
Black color
was the color of the north and was associated with something mysterious, although it carried the shade of death (winter). The element for this color was water (as a minimal manifestation of activity, passive yin), which has the properties of fluidity, coolness, and the ability to move backward. Here the main character is the warrior Xuanwu, the “black turtle”, which is a symbiosis of a snake and a turtle, and is also identified with the mythical ruler Zhuan-xu, who put a separation (break the connection) between earth and sky, why people stopped ascending to heaven.
Mystery is the destiny of scientists, the snake is wisdom, the turtle is longevity, water penetrates everywhere, remembers everything. From these images, the definition of black is formed - knowledge and learning, deepening into the unknown.
Now, I hope, our understanding of color in Chinese culture has become more extensive. In the second part, the symbolism of color will be revealed in everyday life.
And the tale of Chinese culture does not end, there are also ornaments, patterns and traditional costumes ahead of us.
Bibliography:
Color in China.
sacred creatures
In Chinese mythology great place was assigned to four sacred creatures: a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, a tortoise. The dragon was considered a symbol of spring and east, the phoenix - summer and south, the tiger - autumn and west, the tortoise - winter and north.
in Chinese folk beliefs, the dragon - the lord of the water element - gave people moisture. He generously irrigated the fields of those who faithfully served him, protecting the peasants from innumerable disasters. In the hierarchy of Chinese deities, the dragon occupied the third place after heaven and earth. He was portrayed in the most bizarre forms. The eyes of the dragon are like those of a rabbit, and the ears are like those of a cow; he has a long mustache; the body is like the body of a snake, covered with scales; four tiger paws have eagle claws. There is another option: the head of a dragon, like a camel, a mustache, like a hare, eyes, like a bull, a neck, like a snake, a belly, like a lizard, scales, like a carp, claws, like an eagle, paws, like a tiger. Sometimes the dragon was depicted as a large snake or an animal resembling both a tiger and a horse. But in all cases, the appearance of the monster was majestic, severe and warlike.
There were four types of dragons: the celestial dragon guarding the abodes of the gods; the divine dragon who sent wind and rain; the dragon of the earth, who determined the direction and depth of rivers and streams; dragon guarding the treasure.
Popular fantasy has created many varieties of dragons - the lords of the water element. There was a belief that the seas, rivers and lakes were controlled by dragons that did not rise into the sky. They are known by the name: yellow dragon (huang lung), serpentine dragon (jiao lung), writhing dragon (pan lung). Almost all incomprehensible natural phenomena people began to associate with the tricks of the dragon. He was depicted in clouds and in fog or in waves to give an idea of the ability to cause wind and waves. He soared into the sky and soared in the clouds, bared his fangs and extended his claws.
The image of a dragon in China could be seen everywhere: in temples, in palaces, on memorial obelisks, on ancient structures, on the walls of peasant houses (in the form of a picture or paper cut). IN different time, especially often in May and June, there were religious processions in honor of the dragon - "Prayers for rain". Composite element such a procession was the dragon dance. Near mythical monster banners of various colors waved: yellow and white symbolized wind and water, black and green - clouds. On the way of the procession, bonfires were laid out - "sacrificial money" was burned on them.
Of all the animals in myths and legends, the tiger was especially revered, which personified strength, lust for power, severity, courage and ferocity. It also symbolized military prowess. The image of a tiger is found on bronze and porcelain items of the distant past. The entrance to monasteries, government buildings, rich shops, residential houses of feudal lords were decorated and protected by stone statues of a tiger.
In ancient China, the tiger was associated with the feminine yin, with the underworld and the West (where the sun sinks underground). In the Feng Shui system of geomancy, its opposite was the green dragon, the bearer of the masculine yang. Only later, in Buddhism, did the tiger and the green dragon change places: the hieroglyph yang began to denote the courageous nobility of the tiger, especially since its forehead is decorated with a sign that recognizes the hieroglyph wang, which means "king". The image of a tiger (yin) in a bamboo grove (yang) corresponded to the ancient Chinese image corrupted, diseased society: that is, darkness that has infiltrated the realm of light.
A special role in China was played by the tiger-like monster dao-dai ("devourer"), the mention of which dates back to the era of the Han Dynasty. Images of dao-dai are found, as a rule, on objects of the funeral cult, and sometimes the funeral urn itself was made in the form of a tiger. This image is the earth devouring the dead and thus giving food to the living.
The image of a tiger was used in the fight against poisonous reptiles. Therefore, on the holiday of summer, large and small tiger masks were made from silk, velvet and cotton. The head of a predator was painted on the shields of warriors; it was engraved on the wooden doors of military fortifications to intimidate the enemy. The image of a tiger, embroidered on the clothes of military officials, served as a sign of distinction. In ancient times, trying to instill fear in the camp of the enemy, Chinese warriors in tiger skins went to the enemy with wild cries, reminiscent of the roar of a real tiger.
In order for the tiger to terrify evil spirits, the head of this predator was painted on the walls of residential buildings and monasteries and embroidered on the clothes and shoes of children.
Along with the tiger, the lion enjoyed great respect among the people, although the king of beasts was never found in China (the Chinese word for "lion" - shi comes from the Persian shir). A lion dance was held in his honor. Usually, two brightly colored toy lions were carried through the streets, which competed with each other in wrestling or played with a "pearl" - a kind of ball. The covered wooden frame of the lion was supported by several people. Under the beat of drums and sounds musical instruments the toy lion jumped up and down, tossed its head, wagged its tail, and opened its mouth.
The most beautiful and most revered among the feathered tribe was the bizarre mythical phoenix bird. She has the throat of a swallow, the beak of a rooster, the neck of a snake, the tail of a fish, the forehead of a crane, the head of a duck, the colors of a dragon, the back of a turtle. Phoenix has five colors of feathers - yellow, white, red, blue, black. They symbolize five virtues: philanthropy, duty, decency, knowledge of rituals, fidelity.
The magical phoenix bird is kind and merciful: it does not peck insects, bamboo seeds serve as food for it, and it quenches its thirst only from a pure spring. The origin of the phoenix bird is associated with the sun and fire, so it symbolizes the warmth that is inseparable from summer and a good harvest. The Phoenix is the emblem of the Empress. The tortoise was also considered a sacred animal; she personified longevity, strength, endurance. Her domed back was likened to the vault of heaven, and her belly to the earth. The turtle's longevity has become a symbol of eternity; believed that she lives up to three thousand years. The sacred tortoise had the head of a snake and the neck of a dragon. Her statue served as an adornment of the imperial palaces and pedestals for monuments on graves. noble people. Other living beings were also deified. The cult of snakes, foxes, monkeys, lizards, and rats became widespread among the people. The fox was endowed with supernatural properties: it supposedly could work miracles. It was believed that the fox could cause a fire, poison food and generally harm a person, and also turn into anyone. When a fox turns 50, it can turn into ordinary woman, at the age of 100 years - to become a beautiful young girl or a magician who owns all the secrets of sorcery; having reached the age of a thousand years, the fox can be admitted to heaven and then turn into a "heavenly fox."
Most often, the fox sorceress tried, taking the form beautiful woman, marry ordinary person. For a sensible husband who does not seek out the secrets of his wife, the fox could bring happiness; the desire to find out about her past could lead to big troubles. To recognize a fox in a woman, one had to consider her shadow when moonlight. In this case, the shadow of even the most beautiful woman gave an accurate image of an elongated fox muzzle with pointy ears. The fox is extremely cautious and distrustful, but decides on the most cunning tricks to gain the trust of mortals. If a person is morally corrupt and prone to debauchery, then the fox can cause him especially many troubles. If a person is honest, the fox is afraid of his straightforwardness and avoids him. Morally weak and deceitful, she drew her power from the dark, cold beginning of yin. An honest person receives knowledge and virtues from the life-giving principle of yang.
To appease the fox, sacrifices were made to her. The peasants, in order to protect themselves from her wrath, drew large white circles on the walls and hail of houses. To kill a fox was considered a great crime, and the culprit was threatened with serious punishment.
The tricks of the fox are beautifully described by the Chinese writer Pu Sung-ling (18th century) in the short stories "Fox Charms". The monkey was also considered one of the sacred animals. The hero gained popularity folk tales- the king of monkeys, who was called Sun Houzi or Sun Wukong. There were various legends about him.
Four heavenly creatures
These include the DRAGON, PHOENIX, UNICORN and TURTLE; they are believed to have sacred spiritual powers and symbolize various aspects of happiness. Their images, especially the Dragon, are found everywhere.
DRAGON or Lung symbolizes strength and generosity, courage and endurance. It carries the spirit of rebirth and change, life-giving rain, representing the productive forces of nature. It is also a symbol of vigilance and security, which separates from all celestial creatures and unites all scaly creatures of the Universe. It can live on land, in water and fly in the sky without wings, be the size of a silkworm or a mountain. However, the Dragon is not a god, and whether he actually exists or not is unknown. For the Chinese, the Dragon is a symbol of their nation and all the good things, so many Chinese restaurants and companies use its image; and for many centuries the imperial power in China was identified with it. The image of the Dragon is especially suitable for those born in the year of the rooster, the most fortunate of which can transform into the Phoenix, the wife of the Dragon. These two creatures are so common in Chinese literature and mythology, which occupy the main position in symbolism.
PHOENIX or Feng Huang unites all feathered creatures of the Universe. It is believed that it appears only during times of peace and prosperity. Phoenix symbolizes the warmth of the sun, summer and fire and helps childless couples, and paired with the Dragon - a fruitful union and is depicted during the wedding. In Feng Shui, this creature symbolizes the south, therefore, good luck will visit the houses facing the entrance to it, since the south is summer, warmth, life and harvest time.
UNICORN or Chi Lin - the third heavenly creature, mystical good omen. Symbolizes long life, festivity, splendor, joy, famous descendants and wisdom. Sometimes referred to as the dragon's steed, the Unicorn carries the qualities of gentleness, kindness, and benevolence toward all living creatures. The Chinese believe that he is always alone and appears only during the reign of the state by a generous leader or when a great sage is born. His image is called upon when help is needed in the organization of a branch or the success of children.
TURTLE - the fourth heavenly creature, which is considered a sacred animal. This symbol of long life, strength and endurance is considered immortal. She is identified with the north and winter. Those who want to live a long healthy life keep turtles at home.
Animals symbolizing longevity
One of the important components of happiness for a person according to Eastern concepts is the ability to live a long, healthy and decent life, reaping the fruits of their labor and enjoying the happiness of watching their heirs, who honorably bear generic name. In addition to the turtle and the unicorn, there are several other creatures that symbolize longevity. These are BAT, DEER, HARE, CICADA and CRANE.
BAT - a symbol of happiness and long life; its origin is based on the semantics of the combination " bat", which in Chinese means "happiness". If it is used as a symbol of good luck, then it is drawn in red - the color of joy. The image of a bat is often found on the robes of Chinese officials, and sometimes looms so carefully that it resembles a butterfly. Among ceramic products and images of a bat occurs in groups of five, thereby symbolizing the five earthly blessings: old age, wealth, health, virtue and natural death, which are the essence of the concept of happiness in the Chinese mentality.
The DEER is the only animal that managed to find the mushroom of immortality, so it symbolizes a long life. The deer is always depicted next to the God of Longevity. Like the deer, the HARE means longevity, and if its red image is found, then this is considered an auspicious omen.
CICADA - an insect whose summer "singing" is so loved by the Chinese, is considered a symbol of immortality and resurrection. In ancient times, it was customary among wealthy Chinese to put a cicada made of jadeite into the mouth of the deceased before burial to ensure eternal life. She also personifies happiness and eternal youth, as she is the only insect living for more than seventeen years. Cicadas made from jadeite are very popular among the people of Hong Kong, because these tiny creatures are believed to inspire great ideas and symbolize the liveliness of thought.
And finally, the beautiful CRANE, an extremely popular bird, often depicted in paintings, screens and used in other forms of Chinese art. It is believed that he is endowed with many mystical properties and attributes, including purity and the ability to live long. Usually the crane is depicted standing under a pine tree, another symbol of longevity.
Protective animals
Another group of animals that is very significant in symbolism, and the meaning of which is important to understand in the context of Feng Shui. Some of them give protection to the house, others - courage and endurance. These are BEAR, TIGER, ELEPHANT, HORSE, LEOPARD and LION.
BEAR means courage and strength, and its image, hung at the entrance to the house, is an effective defense against burglars.
TIGER - a symbol of military prowess, the image of which is used in the fight against demons and impudent spirits. In Feng Shui, this animal appears as a 500-year-old White Tiger, which connects with the Green Dragon and produces huge amounts of Cosmic Qi. The symbol of the Tiger is used with great care, as it is a very ferocious animal that, if handled inappropriately, can "devour" its owner. Using it to protect your home, check if there are any among your family members who were born in the year of animals that make up the food of the tiger (boar, rabbit, rooster, etc.). This warning is so serious that the mothers of sons born in these years strongly object if they want to marry a girl born in the year of the tiger; it is believed that such a wife can cause premature death your spouse. Women born in the year of tiger food animals are warned not to have children in the year of the tiger, as a small "tiger" can "swallow" the mother during childbirth. Despite all this, the Chinese believe that the spirit of the Tiger is so strong that better protection from external malicious intentions not to be found.
ELEPHANT, although not so common in Chinese art, however, is a symbol of strength, invincibility and wisdom. This animal is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism, and in countries such as Thailand and India, where this religion is widespread, the elephant is considered a sacred animal. For the Chinese, it also symbolizes strength and energy and is used as effective remedy fighting terrible spirits. Near the tombstones of the Ming Dynasty, huge stone elephants, standing and kneeling, guard the path leading to the tombs. The legend says that childless women come to these elephants, praying for their help so that an heir is born.
The HORSE, like the elephant, is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism; it symbolizes speed and perseverance, and the Chinese often compare smart children to young horses. She is not a heavenly creature, but, nevertheless, because of her noble qualities, she is very popular among the people.
The LEOPARD symbolizes courage and warlike ferocity.
The LION has long been associated with energy and prowess. Stone lions were often placed at the entrance gates to temples and large family homes. They are perceived as excellent protectors of the home and public places especially against evil spirits. In Buddhism, the lion is a sacred animal, and the Chinese often dance a special Lion dance to loud music on festive occasions, which scares away demons and attracts good luck.
Birds that bring joy and happiness
In addition to the phoenix and the crane, some other winged creatures also symbolize joy, beauty and happiness. Among them, the most prominent are PHEASANT, PEACOCK, COCK and DUCK.
PHEASANT is a widely used emblem of beauty and happiness, and PEACOCK - beauty and nobility. For centuries, thanks to the beautiful colors of its tail feathers, the peacock has symbolized official ranks, especially during the reign of the Ming Dynasty.
IMPERIAL DUCK is associated with marital fidelity and happiness. This beautiful view duck is considered the best among its kind and is given to young couples so that tenderness and happiness remain in their relationship all their lives.
The COCK is considered the main symbol of the Yang element and the bearer of many virtues. The crown on his head speaks of his literary gift, the spurs on his legs are about courage and courage, the protective instinct towards his chickens reflects his benevolence, and the daily early call - reliability. The Chinese believe that the image of the Red Rooster in the home or workplace is an effective protection against fire, and the White Rooster drives away evil spirits at night.
Trees and fruits of longevity
There are four of them: BAMBOO, PINE, PLUM and PEAR.
BAMBOO is a revered plant at all times, widely represented in the art, poetry and literature of the Chinese nation and has the meaning of longevity, strength and endurance, which remains green throughout the year. The Chinese believe that he has mystical power, and by hanging it at home, you will be reliably protected from the effects of evil spirits. Bamboo in the form of a flute or "singing wind" is also a conductor of auspicious energy, and therefore is widely recommended by Feng Shui masters.
PINE most famous symbol long life, mainly due to the fact that it is an evergreen plant. It is often planted next to CYPARIS, and since they do not wither and are able to endure even the most very coldy, then they are a sign of eternal friendship that can withstand any test. They are often found in poetry and landscape paintings on the theme of fidelity and devotion.
PLUM along with peony, lotus and chrysanthemum symbolize the four seasons (plum corresponds to winter). Plum flowers, due to their aroma and purity, are valued as highly as its fruits, from which, at one glance, "drooling flows." The plum is a symbol of longevity, as its flowers appear on practically bare and seemingly lifeless branches even when the tree has reached a very middle age. It is believed that Lao Tzu was born under a plum tree.
Flowers that bring blissful joy
There are five significant flowers that have gained exceptional popularity in China and symbolize good luck and many happy occasions, and which are exhibited in houses on holidays. These are PION, CHRYSANTHEM, LOTUS, MAGNOLIA and ORCHID.
The majestic PION is highly valued in China and rightly called the "king of flowers". It is also known as the flower of wealth and honor, symbolizing the Yang element, spring, love and affection. When a peony bush blooms, it is considered a good omen, and therefore they try to grow it near the house.
Like the peony, Chrysanthemum, which symbolizes autumn, joy and easy life, is very much loved in China. Especially common is the custom of giving each other yellow chrysanthemums on holidays, which create an atmosphere of happiness.
The sacred LOTUS holds a special place in the hearts of the Chinese, especially those who practice Buddhism. He is often depicted as subtly and majestically hovering over dark water, symbolizing stunning cleanliness in a polluted environment. This is a flower symbolizing summer; the flower in which the beloved Buddha Padmasambhava was born. Images or lotus flowers in the house are used to create a calm, peaceful atmosphere, as well as to awaken spiritual consciousness.
Other beautiful flowers - MAGNOLIA and ORCHID - symbolize sweetness, love and sophistication.
fruits of happiness
These include PEACH, ORANGE, POMEGRANATE and PERSIMMON, each of which is valued for different reasons.
PEACH is the Chinese symbol for eternity and matrimony. ancient legend describes the peach tree of the gods that grew in the gardens of the Queen of the West, Si Wang Mu and bore fruit eternal life once every three thousand years, which gave strength to eighteen Immortals, and the god of immortality itself came from an immortal peach. Paintings of this god, Sau Seng Kung, holding a peach in his hand are a popular gift for the head of the family, as it symbolizes long life and longevity.
ORANGE means happiness, abundance and prosperity. It is often given to each other, and images are hung around the house during the Lunar New Year, not only because of the name ("godfather", orange, in Chinese means "gold"), but also because of its rich joyful color and juicy aroma. Finally, POMEGRANATE symbolizes numerous offspring and success in the activities of the branch of the company, as well as honor, glory and success; HURMA means joy.
Symbolism is present in the life of the people of any country, even the most civilized and highly developed. Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have believed in magic power various mystical paraphernalia - amulets, idols, amulets, talismans. Most often, their role was played by images of elements of wildlife, primarily real and mythical animals.
Each nation has its own beliefs about the influence of the forces of nature on people's lives. In China, this is the famous Feng Shui teaching (“wind” and “water”). Feng Shui talismans that activate different kinds there is a great variety of energy that brings positive changes to a person's life. Some of them, over the thousand-year history of their existence, have become a kind of symbols of the Celestial Empire.
Dragon 龙 long
One of the most beloved characters, which must be depicted with a precious "accessory" - a pearl of wisdom in its paws. The dragon is the divine patron of the emperor himself. Despite its intimidating appearance, this mythical character represents kindness, absolute harmony, wisdom and greatness. The duty of the dragon is to provide for its owner financial success, good luck in business and building a career, protect from ill-wishers.
According to legend, the Dragon has the body of a snake, the belly of a frog, the horns of a deer, the eyes of a hare, the ears of a cow, the golden scales of a carp, the tail and paws of a tiger. The dragon, which eventually became the symbol of all of China, arose as collective image animals that surrounded primitive hunters. The features of a boar, a horse, a camel, a snake merged into one, and the result was a dragon, the image of which has remained unchanged for four thousand years.
The first drawings of dragons were found on oracle bones and tortoise shells.
According to Chinese folk beliefs, the dragon - the lord of the water element - gave people moisture. He generously irrigated the fields of those who faithfully served him, protecting the peasants from innumerable disasters.
In the hierarchy of Chinese deities, the dragon occupied the third place after heaven and earth. He was portrayed in the most bizarre forms. The eyes of the dragon are like those of a rabbit, and the ears are like those of a cow; he has a long mustache; the body is like the body of a snake, covered with scales; four tiger paws have eagle claws. There is another option: the head of a dragon, like a camel, a mustache, like a hare, eyes, like a bull, a neck, like a snake, a belly, like a lizard, scales, like a carp, claws, like an eagle, paws, like a tiger. Sometimes the dragon was depicted as a large snake or an animal resembling both a tiger and a horse. But in all cases, the appearance of the monster was majestic, severe and warlike.
There were four types of dragons: the celestial dragon guarding the abodes of the gods; the divine dragon who sent wind and rain; the dragon of the earth, who determined the direction and depth of rivers and streams; dragon guarding the treasure.
Popular fantasy has created many varieties of dragons - the lords of the water element. There was a belief that the seas, rivers and lakes were controlled by dragons that did not rise into the sky. They are known by the name: yellow dragon (huang lung), serpentine dragon (jiao lung), writhing dragon (pan lung). Almost all incomprehensible natural phenomena people began to associate with the tricks of the dragon. He was depicted in clouds and in fog or in waves to give an idea of the ability to cause wind and waves. He soared into the sky and soared in the clouds, bared his fangs and extended his claws.
The Chinese loved their dragons and gave them high honors. Among the many titles of the emperor, the most honorary was "living dragon". The imperial throne was called the "dragon throne". The dragon was on the coat of arms of the state.
The legendary ruler of China, Fuxi, introduced, according to legend, ranks and ranks for officials and assigned a special dragon patron to each of the classes. So, the ceremonial robes of officials of the highest, seventh rank were decorated with a dragon of moons embroidered with gold threads, which had five claws on its paws. The attire of lesser dignitaries was befitting the dragon man, which possessed only four claws.
Dragons were divided not only by the number of claws. At the highest rung of the dragon hierarchy were dragons that could fly. They had dragon spirits under their control. Then - earthly dragons: they were once flying, but for various reasons they lost this ability. The list was closed by underground dragons, whose duty was to guard the treasures.
One "contemporary of dragons" Wang Chong reasoned in this way: "The dragon has a form. If it has a form, it can move. If he moves, he must eat. If he eats, he is of material nature. A being having a material nature is real.”
There were a great variety of dragons - from gigantic to very tiny. They even talked about a dragon the size of a little finger - a kind of dragon-with-a-finger.
The image of a dragon in China could be seen everywhere: in temples, in palaces, on memorial obelisks, on ancient structures, on the walls of peasant houses (in the form of a picture or paper cut). At various times, especially often in May and June, there were religious processions in honor of the dragon - "Prayers for Rain". An integral element of such a procession was the dragon dance. Next to the mythical monster fluttered banners of various colors: yellow and white symbolized wind and water, black and green - clouds. On the way of the procession, bonfires were laid out - "sacrificial money" was burned on them.
Phoenix
The prototype of the red bird Phoenix was the sacred symbol of the ancient Egyptians - the Benu bird. Phoenix (Chinese: Fen-huang) symbolizes the infinity of being and resurrection in fire after death. He also personifies good luck and the rebirth of the human spirit in a difficult eternal struggle against the temptations and complexities of the material world.
qilin 独角兽
With the light hand of the first missionaries, who pursued a good goal - to adapt Chinese folklore to European ideas about the fauna of the East, the qilin began to be called the Chinese unicorn. Descriptions of the qilin in Chinese mythology are highly controversial.
There are at least six "breeds" of this miracle beast, of which the kirin is the most popular. He presides over all animals living on land, and in Feng Shui personifies the divine unity of the two principles, awakened consciousness, inner peace, nobility and wisdom.
Turtle
Symbolism is present in the life of the people of any country, even the most civilized and highly developed. Since the dawn of civilization, a person has been characterized by faith in the magical power of various mystical paraphernalia - amulets, idols, amulets, talismans. Most often, their role was played by images of elements of wildlife, primarily real and mythical animals.
Each nation has its own beliefs about the influence of the forces of nature on people's lives. In China, this is the famous Feng Shui teaching (“wind” and “water”). There are a great many Feng Shui talismans that activate various types of energy that bring positive changes to a person's life. Some of them, over the thousand-year history of their existence, have become a kind of symbols of the Celestial Empire.
Dragon 龙 long
One of the most beloved characters, which must be depicted with a precious "accessory" - a pearl of wisdom in its paws. The dragon is the divine patron of the emperor himself. Despite its intimidating appearance, this mythical character represents kindness, absolute harmony, wisdom and greatness. The duty of the dragon is to provide its owner with financial success, good luck in business and career building, and protect it from ill-wishers.
According to legend, the Dragon has the body of a snake, the belly of a frog, the horns of a deer, the eyes of a hare, the ears of a cow, the golden scales of a carp, the tail and paws of a tiger. The dragon, which eventually became a symbol of all of China, arose as a collective image of animals that surrounded primitive hunters. The features of a boar, a horse, a camel, a snake merged into one, and the result was a dragon, the image of which has remained unchanged for four thousand years.
The first drawings of dragons were found on oracle bones and tortoise shells.
According to Chinese folk beliefs, the dragon - the lord of the water element - gave people moisture. He generously irrigated the fields of those who faithfully served him, protecting the peasants from innumerable disasters.
In the hierarchy of Chinese deities, the dragon occupied the third place after heaven and earth. He was portrayed in the most bizarre forms. The eyes of the dragon are like those of a rabbit, and the ears are like those of a cow; he has a long mustache; the body is like the body of a snake, covered with scales; four tiger paws have eagle claws. There is another option: the head of a dragon, like a camel, a mustache, like a hare, eyes, like a bull, a neck, like a snake, a belly, like a lizard, scales, like a carp, claws, like an eagle, paws, like a tiger. Sometimes the dragon was depicted as a large snake or an animal resembling both a tiger and a horse. But in all cases, the appearance of the monster was majestic, severe and warlike.
There were four types of dragons: the celestial dragon guarding the abodes of the gods; the divine dragon who sent wind and rain; the dragon of the earth, who determined the direction and depth of rivers and streams; dragon guarding the treasure.
Popular fantasy has created many varieties of dragons - the lords of the water element. There was a belief that the seas, rivers and lakes were controlled by dragons that did not rise into the sky. They are known by the name: yellow dragon (huang lung), serpentine dragon (jiao lung), writhing dragon (pan lung). Almost all incomprehensible natural phenomena people began to associate with the tricks of the dragon. He was depicted in clouds and in fog or in waves to give an idea of the ability to cause wind and waves. He soared into the sky and soared in the clouds, bared his fangs and extended his claws.
The Chinese loved their dragons and gave them high honors. Among the many titles of the emperor, the most honorary was "living dragon". The imperial throne was called the "dragon throne". The dragon was on the coat of arms of the state.
The legendary ruler of China, Fuxi, introduced, according to legend, ranks and ranks for officials and assigned a special dragon patron to each of the classes. So, the ceremonial robes of officials of the highest, seventh rank were decorated with a dragon of moons embroidered with gold threads, which had five claws on its paws. The attire of lesser dignitaries was befitting the dragon man, which possessed only four claws.
Dragons were divided not only by the number of claws. At the highest rung of the dragon hierarchy were dragons that could fly. They had dragon spirits under their control. Then - earthly dragons: they were once flying, but for various reasons they lost this ability. The list was closed by underground dragons, whose duty was to guard the treasures.
One "contemporary of dragons" Wang Chong reasoned in this way: "The dragon has a form. If it has a form, it can move. If he moves, he must eat. If he eats, he is of material nature. A being having a material nature is real.”
There were a great variety of dragons - from gigantic to very tiny. They even talked about a dragon the size of a little finger - a kind of dragon-with-a-finger.
The image of a dragon in China could be seen everywhere: in temples, in palaces, on memorial obelisks, on ancient structures, on the walls of peasant houses (in the form of a picture or paper cut). At various times, especially often in May and June, there were religious processions in honor of the dragon - "Prayers for Rain". An integral element of such a procession was the dragon dance. Next to the mythical monster fluttered banners of various colors: yellow and white symbolized wind and water, black and green - clouds. On the way of the procession, bonfires were laid out - "sacrificial money" was burned on them.
Phoenix
The prototype of the red bird Phoenix was the sacred symbol of the ancient Egyptians - the Benu bird. Phoenix (Chinese: Fen-huang) symbolizes the infinity of being and resurrection in fire after death. He also personifies good luck and the rebirth of the human spirit in the difficult eternal struggle against the temptations and complexities of the material world.
qilin 独角兽
With the light hand of the first missionaries, who pursued a good goal - to adapt Chinese folklore to European ideas about the fauna of the East, the qilin began to be called the Chinese unicorn. Descriptions of the qilin in Chinese mythology are highly controversial.
There are at least six "breeds" of this miracle beast, of which the kirin is the most popular. He presides over all animals living on land, and in Feng Shui personifies the divine unity of the two principles, awakened consciousness, inner peace, nobility and wisdom.
Turtle
Chinese characters are an integral part of one of ancient cultures on the ground. To understand how “old” China is as a state, it is enough to pay attention to the fact that only written historical sources cover a time period of three and a half thousand years.
And there is also oral traditions, and archeology. That is why Chinese characters (pictures various characters presented below) actually refer to a religious and ethical system that really took shape over thousands of years, naturally going through certain metamorphoses, but never changing in essence.
Chinese characters and their meanings are deeply rooted in history. Ancient China, back in the so-called "pre-imperial China" (this historical period ended in 221 BC). Later, the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties were replaced by Qin and Qing, while traditional Chinese characters (there are many photos of these characters on the Web, and we will analyze some of them within the framework of this material) did not change either the writing technique or the meaning, retaining the essence, figurativeness, cultural coloring. Of course, the era of "Imperial China" (until 1911) made its own adjustments to this semantic layer, but this does not mean at all that the ancient Chinese symbols (their meaning in particular) have lost something. On the contrary, before the era of "New China" the culture of this ancient people constantly enriched, in fact, many traditional teachings are still alive in China. What are the writings of the "Book of Changes", the world-famous Taoist Yin-Yang symbol, and of course the hieroglyphs.
One way or another, but the Chinese symbolism is one of the oldest on the figurative systems of the planet, at least, this is indicated by official archeology. The most famous Chinese characters - hieroglyphs - originated in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. For example, copper coins from Luoyang in the form of a hoe date back to the 5th-3rd centuries BC. On these coins we see Chinese symbols (the photo is shown below), which obviously became the “progenitors” of the modern hieroglyphic system, which, by the way, then did not change for almost one and a half thousand years. Of course, the style is somewhat different, but - in minimum degree, the differences are similar to the differences between, say, Scandinavian and Venedian runes. But, of course, unlike the runes, the Chinese symbols and their meaning are fundamentally different from what we are used to. After all, here the images are not abstract, but concrete, they lose in depth, but gain in breadth, so to speak.
In the 13th century, Genghis Khan and his Mongol hordes invaded China, taking Beijing in as soon as possible(well, yes, then, after all, there was no “great Chinese” yet). But Chinese symbolism (the meaning of symbols, their spelling, sacred meaning) remained unchanged even after decades of Mongol oppression. As a result, the Chinese symbols, the pictures of which we see in ancient books, in the paintings of temples, on archaeological artifacts, really carry a significant part of the culture, which has been preserved relatively unchanged for thousands of years ( official version Chinese historians speak of a lower limit of 5,000 years). In this sense, Chinese characters are the most famous symbols. It is important to note that hieroglyphic writing (it is also called ideographic writing, in fact, this is a “more scientific” version) is unique for the simple reason that, unlike alphabetic writing, here each character is assigned specific meaning, and not only in terms of phonetics. At the same time, Chinese characters are symbols, of which there are several tens of thousands, which, to put it mildly, is thousands of times greater than any other language system in terms of the number of structural elements. But here it should be noted that modern Chinese writing (baihua) is mostly colloquial, although the hieroglyphic signs included in it do not lose their depth and imagery. Today it is baihua that is considered official in China. Although at the same time wenyan, the so-called "classical Chinese", which has been practically not used since the beginning of the 20th century, was much closer to the original source.
Symbolism Chinese painting- This is a separate topic, to which we will devote a lot of materials. The fact is that the symbolism of Chinese painting is no less unique than the language of this country, perhaps it would be fair to call Chinese painters true masters imagery. Of course, the well-known graphic images like cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji. Animal genres even more original and profound, because it is here that we meet the famous Chinese dragon (in various variations and guises) and fox demons, which are not found in any other culture. Not surprisingly, the symbolism of Chinese painting is one of the most relevant topics for modern cultural studies.
The symbolism of Chinese knots and Chinese symbols of the year also deserve special attention. Both symbolic directions became popular at the beginning of the 20th century, when China began to lead a "more open" foreign policy. Now the Chinese symbols of the year are almost more popular than the Zodiac and other divination systems. Here, of course, it would be worth recalling the "Heavenly Branches and Earthly Roots" system. This is an ancient Chinese fortune-telling (if it is very rude) esoteric system, and traditional symbols years - this is more a consequence of the "Heavenly Branches ..." than its organic element, but this is a topic for another conversation.
The symbolism of Chinese knots is no less curious. Traditional zhongguojie, "Chinese knots" appeared on the territory of this country in the Paleolithic era, this is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. The Chinese tied knots "for good luck", "for memory", "for love". The symbolism of Chinese knots is deep and varied and also deserves a separate discussion. At the same time, one cannot ignore the Chinese symbols of the tattoo, which today can be found "every second." Unfortunately, most of these tattoos are not made in China at all, so mistakes are too common. Moreover, the Chinese tattoo symbols in China itself ... how to say censorship ... in general, you should not expect a good attitude from the local population if you have such an image on your body. In the end, this is logical, because we are talking about a foreign culture. In addition, the Chinese, like the Slavs, primordially sacredly believed that a tattoo is not a necessity at all, and in any case, if done before the age of 33, it only brings harm. That is why Chinese tattoo symbols are a topic that should not even be touched upon.
