Asia
China (Traditional) Color Palette
Cinnabar red, imperial yellow, and ink-wash green — five-element color theory across two millennia.
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 (cí huáng) was reserved by sumptuary law for the emperor. Cinnabar (zhū sā) 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 descendent of this palette.
The palette
Cinnabar Red (朱砂)
≈Crimson Core ClearMercury sulfide pigment, classical seals
Imperial Yellow (帝王黄)
≈Saffron Core PureReserved for emperor's robes; Forbidden City roof tiles
Celadon (青瓷)
≈Olive Tone MutedSong Dynasty Longquan kilns
Indigo Blue (青)
≈Sapphire Shadow VividPersicaria tinctoria — Han textile dye
Ink Wash Black (墨)
≈Crimson Ink FaintPine-soot ink stick (mò)
Jade Green (碧玉)
≈Aqua Core DustHetian and Burmese jadeite
Plum Red (梅子)
≈Merlot Dusk VividPlum blossom, Song poetry
Suits
Premium tea / spirits packagingHeritage brand designEditorial illustrationCultural-tech product UI
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
More from Asia
Japan
Indigo, sumi ink, and unbleached paper — restraint as aesthetics.
India
Saffron, marigold, and the Holi powder spectrum — the most chromatically maximalist national palette.
Korea (Obangsaek)
The five Obangsaek directions — the most disciplined ceremonial palette in East Asia.
Vietnam
Áo dài silk, lacquer red, and tropical green — Indochinese color culture in saturated form.