ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.03.001
A Study of Chinese Traditional Color Philosophy Based on the Five-Color Concept
Yuan Meng1,*, Chunfa Sha2
1School of Art, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China.
2Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China.
*Corresponding author: Yuan Meng
Published: March 20, 2026
Abstract
The “Five-Color Concept” (green, red, yellow, white, black) is a fundamental element of traditional Chinese cultural heritage, originating from the ancient sages’ unique logical thinking and philosophical cosmology. Deeply intertwined with Yin-Yang and the Five Elements (Wu Xing) theory, it has permeated folk art for five millennia and continues to influence Chinese aesthetics. Unlike Western chromatics based on physics and optics, traditional Chinese color embodies the politics, economy, social customs, and aesthetic ideals across different historical periods. This study employs literature research to first trace the formation of the Five-Color Concept within the Yin-Yang and Five Elements framework, and then systematically analyzes the emotional and cultural connotations of each color—green (qing), red (chi), yellow (huang), white (bai), and black (hei). By integrating philosophical origins with emotional analysis, this dual methodology reveals that the Five-Color Concept constitutes a distinct philosophical system of color, integrating cosmic order, ethical values, and human sentiments. The findings underscore its value as a cultural and aesthetic paradigm, offering deeper insights into the traditional Chinese worldview and artistic expression.
Keyword
Five-Color Concept; Traditional Chinese Color; Color Emotion
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Copyright
© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
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How to cite this paper
A Study of Chinese Traditional Color Philosophy Based on the Five-Color Concept
How to cite this paper: Yuan Meng, Chunfa Sha. (2026) A Study of Chinese Traditional Color Philosophy Based on the Five-Color Concept. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 10(3), 239-243.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.03.001