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Why do Chinese people love the color red?

You will find the color red all over China. Why? Well we’ve compiled the top reasons.. Click here to

learn more!

The word “red” as a symbol in the Chinese language carries a profound culture and needs to be studied

carefully as a second language. The color “Red” also known as pinyin “Hong” in Chinese has unique

symbols regarding its metaphorical usage, idiomatic expression, and figurative meaning in the Chinese

language.

The color red is always associated with good fortune and happiness and it’s always the preferred choice of color in Chinese celebrations and occasions such as

the New Year. It is the Chinese national color and quite popular since it is extensively used in everyday’s

life.

But the two imperative sectors agriculture economy and trade economy. These two are the traditional

source of income and employment for the majority of the Chinese population. These two sectors employ

over 70-percent of the labor force of the country. The income that was sourced from these two areas accounted for more than sixty percent of the

country’s GDP.

The Symbols of Red in Chinese Culture

A symbol of happy eventsIn China, red reminds them of the red sun, the source

of life on earth. The sun brings warmth, vitality and life on earth and the Chinese people have regarded

the color red as a color of warmth, happiness, auspiciousness, life and so many other positive things.

Most often than not, red is connected with respect, celebrations and praises in the Chinese culture.

Red is also symbolized of joyfulness. During most of the Chinese traditional customs such as the Spring Festival or even some paramount days, most of the

civilians do wear red clothes and hang red lights. Also, the seniors give some money to newlyweds in a red

envelope.

Red is also primarily involved in the Chinese cultures involving marriage. It is usually regarded a symbol of

joy and luck, and the red woman is a matchmaker who goes between the connection of marriage. The Chinese god of marriage has the red cord that binds

the betrothed couples for life.

A symbol of revolutionIn China, red can also symbolize socialism and

revolution. It didn’t exactly originate from China but was adopted from the French Revolution (1789-1794) where they used the bonnet rouge and the red flag. The Chinese Communist Part gave it a much stronger sense of revolution with the Chinese flag being red

which was in honor of the blood of the revolutionaries.

Red area means, the base area established during the second revolution civil war by the Communist Party.

During the revolutionary war years referred to as Red evolution, such terms were used red power, red-

document, red guards, red guards and red-tasseled spear.

The Association with a Certain EmotionIn China, red-faced would mean somebody is

embarrassed or angry. The color can also easily catch attention thus it’s used as a signal of emergency or

danger. It can also be associated with excitement and exuberance. Red can also symbolize restraining or

warn as a reminder to people to guard against. Hong Deng or red light is a signal asking you to stop at

crossroads. A red alert would mean an emergency and red flag means the area is under construction.

Symbol of Youth, Health, and BeautyIn China when you say a baby is red-faced it means that she/he is beautiful while rue-faced, and ruddy means somebody that is spiritual and healthy. They use red girl’s apartment to refer to a girls bedroom

and red gem to mean the color of a beautiful woman. The westerners have never associated red with a

woman hence this is quite strange.

A symbol of Fortune, Fame, and powerRed is associated with benefit and fortune.

Historically, red quotation meant the price of goods the first day after Spring Festival Day. There was also

the red benefit to mean bonus, divide the red to mean dividend, full hall red to mean successful in

business. In China, the rise in the stock exchange is represented in red during the decline in green but the

opposite in the western stock market.

Chinese New Year and Color RedLegends and folktales say that Chinese New Year

beginning was marked with a fight against a mythical beast called Nian or Year. Nian used to come to every

New Year and attack crops, livestock, and even villagers. As a way of protecting themselves, they

would keep food by the front door so that it would it and wouldn’t attack them.

But once people realized that Nian was scared away by a little child putting on red, they knew he was

afraid of red during New Year; they would hang on the windows red lanterns to scare him away or use

firecrackers.

New Year Practices in ChinaThe color red is used in all decorations liberally and

red packets are given to the juniors and children. The red packets always contain money which should be in

even form. Fireworks, during the ancient times gun power was filled with bamboo stems then burnt to create small explosions used to wade off evil spirits but in modern times, firecrackers are used instead.

Most of the people dress up in color red because it’s believed it will scare off bad fortune and evil spirit. The

lanterns used are red in color and oval shaped. The color red is quite commonplace and important in China

both traditionally and in the modern world. It is the color of choice for brides and if you are doing business in China try and incorporate a bit of red in marketing.

Understanding Chinese culture will help you efficiently communicate with them, and color terms form an

integral part of cross-cultural communication.

BonusClick on the link below to read the full blog post!

https://blog.laowaicareer.com/red-china-the-role-of-red-in-china

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