China (Traditional) Color Palette

The palette

• Cinnabar Red (朱砂)

  ≈Scarlet Core Clear

  #C0392BClick to copy

  Mercury sulfide pigment, classical seals

  AaWhite text 5.44:1 · AA

• Imperial Yellow (明黄)

  ≈Apricot Radiant Pure

  #FFB300Click to copy

  Reserved for emperor's robes; Forbidden City roof tiles

  AaBlack text 11.70:1 · AAA

• Celadon (青瓷)

  ≈Moss Tone Muted

  #9CB48FClick to copy

  Song Dynasty Longquan kilns

  AaBlack text 9.34:1 · AAA

• Indigo Blue (青)

  ≈Sapphire Shadow Vivid

  #1A4378Click to copy

  Persicaria tinctoria — Han textile dye

  AaWhite text 9.92:1 · AAA

• Ink Wash Black (墨)

  ≈True Gray Ink

  #1C1C1CClick to copy

  Pine-soot ink stick (mò)

  AaWhite text 17.04:1 · AAA

• Jade Green (碧玉)

  ≈Aqua Core Dust

  #5F9EA0Click to copy

  Hetian and Burmese jadeite

  AaBlack text 6.88:1 · AA

• Plum Red (梅子)

  ≈Merlot Dusk Vivid

  #9B2335Click to copy

  Plum blossom, Song poetry

  AaWhite text 7.82:1 · AAA

Cultural context

Traditional Chinese color culture organized hues around the wu xing (five elements) system: blue-green for wood, red for fire, yellow for earth, white for metal, black for water. Imperial yellow (明黄 míng huáng) was reserved by sumptuary law for the emperor. Cinnabar (朱砂 zhū shā) red defined Forbidden City lacquer and seal stamps. Celadon green-gray defined Song Dynasty ceramics. Modern Chinese internet brand color (red as 喜庆 / auspicious) is the descendant of this palette.

Suits

Copy as CSS

:root {
  --cinnabar-red: #c0392b;
  --imperial-yellow: #ffb300;
  --celadon: #9cb48f;
  --indigo-blue: #1a4378;
  --ink-wash-black: #1c1c1c;
  --jade-green: #5f9ea0;
  --plum-red: #9b2335;
}

Further reading

• Five Elements color theory
• Forbidden City colors

More regional palettes