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What color is good luck in Japan?

Red Red is also believed to bring good luck in Japan, especially when paired with white. White is the color of divine purity, which is why is it commonly found in Shinto shrines, especially in the famous white sand or pebble gardens.

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Colors in Japanese Culture and Their Meanings

China has heavily influenced traditional Japanese colors and their meanings throughout history. The origins of important Japanese colors and their symbolism date back to the 7th century when Chinese presence was heavy on the island of Japan. Though the color meanings are not the same as in China, Japanese colors have their roots in the Chinese philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Taoism was not a significant philosophy in Japan as it was in China, but it played a small role in how Japanese ideals are represented differently than in China. Confucianism led to the association of each social class with color and partly influenced the meaning of certain colors in Japan. The largest Chinese influence on traditional Japanese color symbolism was the philosophy of Zen Buddhism and the native Japanese religion of Shintoism. Under these animalistic ideologies (in which nature spirits were worshiped), colors represented the core values of living a pure and modest life. White, black, red, and blue are considered the only genuine and primary colors in Japanese culture. Other colors also hold symbolic meaning, but most Japanese traditions, clothing, architecture, and events are represented through the primary colors of the language.

White in Japanese Culture

White is a popular color in Japanese culture because it is symbolic of purity. It is used as the background on Japan's flag to represent the nation's purity and reverence for the gods in the light of the rising sun. White is especially symbolic when paired with red. White is also known as a color that symbolizes divinity, truth, simplicity, humility, and mourning. Initially, white was only worn at funerals. It was rarely worn in everyday life. Over time and through Western influence, the color of mourning has shifted from white to black. Modernly, white is worn in the commonplace, and black is generally reserved for sorrowful events such as funerals. In Japan, white is a traditional color that represents purity. Combined with red, it holds significance in representing the nation on the Japanese flag. White is used as the focal point of many Japanese Shinto shrines. White sand, white pebbles, and other white decorations are representative of the purity of the gods. Drawn from Buddhism, white can additionally represent the wisdom and knowledge of the gods present at Shinto shrines.

Black in Japanese Culture

Another important traditional Japanese color is black. Black is commonly associated with formality (or formal events), elegance, and mourning. It may also represent unhappiness, fear, evil, bad luck, or misfortune. Black has been historically used in formal attire such as that of samurai, inspired by the social ranking system of Confucianism. The color black also represented the lowest two ranks in the Japanese social class system, opposite purple. The oldest known use of the color black was in tattoos. Fishermen and hunters would draw fish tattoos or game on their skin to protect them from bad fortune. Black tattoos later labeled prisoners who had performed acts of bad luck. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), some individuals would dye their teeth black using a solution of dissolved iron and vinegar to be fashionable. Black is also used in calligraphy and ink painting to create simplistic yet beautiful pieces of artwork.

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Red in Japanese Culture

Red is one of the most dominant colors in Japanese culture. It is the symbolic color of the imperial nation, represented as a filled circle (to symbolize the sun) on the national flag. The color red is associated strongly with authority, strength, sacrifice, joy, and happiness. It is regarded as an auspicious color in Japan, especially when paired with white (also used on the national flag). Red is used in decorations at important events such as weddings and birthdays, and it is also commonly worn at gatherings such as these. The color red is used heavily in Japanese architecture, especially at Shinto shrines. The specific red color, akani, is believed to offer protection from evil or disaster. It also increases the spiritual connection between humans and the gods worshipped at Shinto shrines, or kami. Shinto celebrations use the color red to reach out to the gods more effectively as well. In ancient history, red colors were created using pigments from the Rubia Akane or the Safflower. Colors in Japan are heavily influenced by Shintoism. Red is used on many Shinto shrines across Japan to represent strength, sacrifice, and joy.

Blue in Japanese Culture

The final primary color in Japanese culture is blue. Blue commonly represents the sea and the sky (for which Japan is surrounded) and symbolizes purity, dignity, calmness, stability, security, and fidelity. Indigo is a natural and popular shade of blue made from the leaves of the indigo plant. It is used extensively in clothing and textiles, common-wear, and formal attire. Many business people and students wear blue clothing traditionally to show their calm and serious intentions in the workplace. Blue can also be found in some architecture and technology, but it is not as commonly seen in these applications as the other primary colors.

Other Japanese Color Meanings

The primary colors of Japan are not the only colors that hold significance in the nation and its culture. Other popular colors in Japan include: Purple is most notably the color of royalty, but it can also reflect on nobility, spirituality, and wisdom.

Orange is symbolic of love, happiness, and the sun.

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Green represents nature, freshness, vigor, and good luck.

Pink denotes youth. Life, happiness, and spring (as well as new beginnings).

Each of these colors represents essential values and ideals of Japanese society. They are among the most used colors in traditional and celebratory clothing, including on kimonos, a traditional Japanese robe. Vibrant purple robes usually are used to honor a member of society. In contrast, vibrant green and pink floral patterns are used on kimonos and other clothing articles to symbolize peace, life, and happiness. The geisha famously wore a different colored kimono for every month of the year.

Colors in Chinese Culture and Their Meanings

The important colors in Chinese culture have changed over time but have remained heavily influenced by the religions found throughout the region. The preferred colors result from the cosmological philosophies of Taoism/Daoism, which teach the balance of cosmological forces to attain spiritual harmony. There are five elements to Taoism, each represented by a different color and each representing a different relationship to the spiritual forces. The philosophies found within Taoism balance through feng shui, a belief which describes elements and colors being used to control the flow of spiritual energy in a specific setting. The five traditional Chinese colors are red, yellow, qing/grue (green-blue), black, and white. The lucky Chinese colors are used in art, architecture, everyday life, and more.

Red in Chinese Culture

Red in Chinese culture is associated with fire. It is a lucky Chinese color that brings vitality, success, and happiness. Red is very commonly found in Chinese decorations, clothing, and architecture and during festivals such as the lunar New Year celebrations. The color red can also be found on invitational red envelopes to these events. Red is the color used to represent the Chinese government and connects to Communism. It is prohibited to be used or worn at mourning events (such as funerals) and cannot be used to write names or letters. Red is a very lucky color in Chinese culture. It is used in many festival decorations such as lanterns, as well as in clothing and architecture.

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