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Colors can remind us of traveling to our favorite cities and countries.
Also, colors can evoke associations associated with natural phenomena or some important and special events for us. Colors affect how a person feels. But the meaning of color in the cultures of countries is perceived differently. Over the years, colors have shaped people’s beliefs, emotions, and history.
History of color symbolism
Since ancient times, the ability of color to influence the emotions and physiological functions of a person has been noticed. This is evidenced by archaeological and ethnographic data on the ritual and military coloring of ancient and primitive peoples; mythology and folklore all over the world also testify to this. Colors affect all people in different ways, depending on social and national affiliation or on the conditions in which color is perceived.
Long time ago a certain range of favorite colors began to take shape in the culture of all peoples. National colors are historically explainable and traditional, they correspond to the character and temperament of the people, the nature surrounding them: the red-yellow-black colors of the Spaniards and the calm white-blue colors of the Finns. The closer to the equator, the greater the craving of people for open bright color combinations. The usage of colors in costumes and works or art depends on the nature of surroundings, the temperament of the people, customs and traditions, aesthetic norms and religious beliefs.
Medieval color symbolism explains strict religious dogma (in the countries of the Muslim world – Islamic, in Europe – Christian, in China or the countries of Southeast Asia – Confucian, Buddhist or Shinto, etc.). Each color or special symbol corresponded to the canon of religion, its replacement or distortion was considered a criminal deviation from the truth.
In India and China, the symbolism of colors was strictly canonized. In contrast, in Japan, several color canons coexisted, enshrined in different religions. In addition, there has always been a great desire for a subtle perception of color, but not rational, but subjective, personally intimate. The tendency towards a similar perception of color among the Japanese did not violate the attitude towards color introduced by them and consecrated by a religious cult. Attention and love for color reflect their sensitive and extremely subtle sense of nature.
Color psychology
Color psychology influences all cultures of the world, causing various emotions. In one culture the color may represent happiness and warmth, in another it may be associated with betrayal and jealousy. Here is a list of different colors and their symbolism based on the known color psychology of numerous world cultures.
Red color
The first color seen and reproduced by humans was apparently red. Traditionally, the explanation of this “primogeniture” of the red color is associated with the fact that it was associated in the minds of people with blood, fire, the sun, autumn leaves. Ancient myths associated the creation of man with red. The red ocher found by primitive people was perceived by them as the blood of the mythical giant first man, the demiurge, from whose body all living things were created. In the first myths, a person is molded from clay (red paint is always present in clay – iron oxides).
For the ancient Greeks and Romans, red was a symbol of fertility. The statue of Priapus (the god of fertility) was painted in red. In ancient China, there was a legend about a red bird that flew in the sky, holding nine ears of corn in its beak. The seeds fell into the ground and sprouted. Bread not only saved people from hunger, but was ever-growing. Since both life and fertility are associated with love and marriage, the red color is a sign of everything that accompanies these phenomena. In medieval Japan, red was a symbol of love.
The life-giving power of red, according to the beliefs of the ancients, is also manifested in the fact that it scares away evil spirits, demons and other evil spirits. Therefore, the pillars of the Cretan palaces were painted red, people wore red amulets, bandages, painted various objects. Newborn children were painted with red paint entirely or only the face, put on a red bandage. Boys were dyed the same way during initiation to protect them from disease and evil spirits.
All of the red values listed above are positive. But this color also has many negative meanings, which, unfortunately, sometimes outweigh the positive ones. Red marks death, murder, sin, violence, retribution, demonic forces. This color is associated with aggressiveness, carnal desires. It is a symbol of sin and shame.
Since the 18th century, in Europe, red has often been replaced by pink. Shades of “vermilion”, “frisky shepherdess”, “merry widow”, “thigh color of a frightened nymph” come into fashion. In the applied art of the 19th century, red fades, muffles, darkens. It turns into a pomegranate color and burgundy.
