Black is not the happiest of colors in traditional Chinese color symbolism, representing destruction, evil, cruelty, and sadness. The Chinese word for black is 'hei' which stands for bad luck, irregularity, and illegality.
In Chinese Five Elements Theory, a traditional philosophy about natural interactions used in fengshui etc., red represents 'fire', yellow 'earth', white 'metal', black 'water', and green (or blue) 'wood'.
The color “red” can easily catch our attention, so it is used as a signal of danger or emergency. “Red” can be associated with the exuberant scene of bustle and excitement. As we know, “red” is a symbol of vitality and excitement unique to the Chinese.
The color white is used during the time of mourning, death, and during ghost festivals. Therefore Chinese people will wear white during a funeral or while summoning ghosts.
The color black in Chinese culture is associated with destruction, evil, profundity, disasters, cruelty, sadness, and suffering. It is bad fortune and must not be worn for joyous occasions like weddings. The Chinese word for black is 'hei', which stands for bad luck, irregularity, or illegality.
RED. As a symbol of joy, celebration, vitality, success and good fortune, red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture. It's famously used in important events such as weddings and festivals like Chinese New Year. You'll see everything from red lanterns lining the streets to red outfits and red letters pasted on doors.
Black also expresses the secret in Chinese, something that is happening in the shadow like the mafia. Black is also considered as a neutral color. Thus, in modern China, people usually wear black clothes in their daily life and white is usually for funerals.
Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration.
It is widely known that Chinese people love red because it is perceived to symbolise luck, blessings and happiness. In contrast, blue is considered a 'taboo' colour. This belief is found in regional folktales and is especially strong in several parts of southern China, notably Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
The Chinese believe yellow represents beauty and balance. Among the Chinese Buddhists, yellow represents purity, especially freedom from material aspirations. This is also why monks choose yellow as the preferred colour for their robes.
Red is strictly forbidden at funerals as it is traditionally symbolic of happiness. The names of the dead were previously written in red, so it is generally somewhat offensive to use red ink for Chinese names in contexts other than official seals.
White is the color for mourning and death, so is exclusively worn at Chinese funerals. It is also an unlucky color to wear or use when giving gifts, because of the reminder of death that it conveys.
WHITE 白色 (bái sè)
White, in contrast, is often associated with a lack of life, which is why it is so often used in funerals.
Evil, death, grief, mourning, the occult. Mystery, bleakness, heaviness, depression, rebellion, fear.” A color of many sentiments.
8 is the luckiest number in Chinese culture because his pronunciation “Ba” sounds similar to the word “fa”, which means to make fortune. The number 8 is associated with wealth, prosperity, success and status and for this reason business men favor it very much.
In ancient Chinese culture, there was the yin-yang theory and five-color systemthat included red, blue, yellow, black and white.
Black is not the happiest of colors in traditional Chinese color symbolism, representing destruction, evil, cruelty, and sadness. The Chinese word for black is 'hei' which stands for bad luck, irregularity, and illegality.
Wearing red wedding dresses has been a Chinese wedding tradition since the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago. In Chinese culture, the bride wears a red wedding dress such as a Qun Kwa or a cheongsam on her wedding day to celebrate the joy and happiness of the marriage.
In Japan, ordinary people were forbidden to wear purple clothes for a long time. The color purple, murasaki (紫) in Japanese, used to be very rarely seen because it was difficult and time-consuming to make.
Trimming hair and nails
Generally, this emanates from the belief that nails and hair were given to the children by the deceased as a parent and as such they shouldn't be trimmed during the mourning period and after the burial. At least you should wait for 49 days.
Chinese funerals are sombre and serious events. One is expected to pay respects to the deceased so wearing neutral and subdued colours are recommended during the mourning period. Shades of blue, black, white or any other dull colours are acceptable.
Bowing three times in Chinese culture is way of showing respect to Heaven, Earth and all life. It is a gesture that humbles us to the mystery and power of what is vast and unspeakable.
Pink In Chinese. Pink is considered to be a shade of red. Thus holds all the same meanings of good fortune and joy.
Choose your outfit carefully
Some religions and traditions have set attire for the family members, but if you are just a visitor to the funeral, colours like black, white, or muted shades are acceptable.
In China, fish, particularly the koi fish (carp), is considered a symbol of luck in several ways. Since the Chinese pronunciation of fish is the same as that of another word meaning surplus, fish are often used as a sign of wealth or abundance.