Psychology of blue color: description, character variations, symbol. What does blue mean? What do blue flowers mean

Has a long history. People began to attach importance to “colors” a very long time ago, and this was reflected in folk legends, ancient myths, etc. I would like to mention astrology. The rays of the Sun, which are located in the spectrum, giving seven colors, correspond to their planets. Red is Mars, blue is the meaning of Venus, yellow is Mercury, green is Saturn, orange is the Sun, purple is the Moon, purple is Jupiter.

Historical meaning of color

Blue color - its meaning in different industries is the same. It symbolizes eternity and heaven. It can also be considered a symbol of fidelity, kindness, constancy and location. However, the meaning in heraldry is somewhat different - honesty, chastity, fidelity and good fame. It is impossible not to recall the “blue blood” - after all, it speaks of the noble origin of a person.

It is worth noting that this color is quite close to black, therefore it has similar values. In ancient Egypt and South Africa, blue had a mourning meaning. The French also had such a thing as “blue fear”. Among the Slavs, it was the color of grief and sadness, associated with the devilish world.

Speaking about the meaning of the blue color, it should be noted that it also symbolizes emotionality and communication. This color gives the impression of purity, airiness, lightness and ethereality. A more saturated shade is the color of the night, which gives vision rest and peace from daylight bright light. All such shades attract with the color of ice, frozen rivers, snowy mountain peaks, high sky. Blue is a symbol of eternal peace and faith, the content of some fantastic and mysterious substance. These shades look great in the interior, but if there are too many of them, it will cause depression.

What does it mean This, first of all, is a shade belonging to such an element as Water, and to the side of the world - the North. Feng Shui says that it is not necessary to paint the walls belonging to the north side in this color in order to avoid their coldness. This shade has a calming effect. Thanks to him, a person can get rid of negative thoughts, aggressive desires, insomnia.

There are different things. Blue is able to pacify, calm a person and focus his attention on the inner world. It is best to use this color where a person does not need to be active. And you don't need to use it as the main color. Only in details - then it will be perfect.

This color is perfect for those people who were born under and Cancer. It is these signs that are in good contact with this shade.

I would like to note that the value of the blue color is highly dependent on the hue. Light - friendly and refreshing. Dark - reliable and serious. How dark or light a shade of blue a person chooses depends on his mood. The one closer to blue is calming, and the bright one, on the contrary, excites and refreshes. Dark - very solid and very calm. Therefore, when choosing a color, no matter what it is intended for, you need to determine exactly what role it should play. After all, a lot depends on this.

Study of the meaning of color in psychology, classification and their influence on human consciousness.

Each color in psychology has a different effect on consciousness and has a meaning. Seeing some shade, we feel a certain emotion. Under the influence of color, people make certain choices without thinking about it.

The meaning of color in psychology

The concept of color was developed by Goethe: light colors excite, and dark colors soothe. The palette can have a fleeting physical, and with a long look - a mental effect.

Colors are perceived through associations, for example, blue is cold. Further, perception passes to the organs - to tactile sensations. What is the meaning of each color?

purple

Denotes sensuality, standing on the verge of individuality, you can define it as suggestibility. It embodies idealism, increases self-esteem. This is a heavy tone that should be diluted with gold, as it can lead to depression. It is not recommended when working with children.

Turquoise

Wet and cold, deep mysterious. And the more blue, the stronger, more intense and colder its impact. If there is more yellow, the shade acts more harmoniously and easier. Turquoise color is used to create freshness and coolness, it also symbolizes sterility.

Red

The personification of power, a breakthrough, the will to win, the achievement of what you want. Red color wants to always be the first, it is constantly in motion, it is a source of energy.

His motto is “survival of the fittest”. It makes you alert in danger, embodies passion and excites passion.

In feelings, he is characterized by maximum. This color represents activity in everything, gives strength and inspires to continue what has been started.

blue

Blue creates a prerequisite for deep reflection on life; calls for the search for meaning, truth. However, it does not give an answer to understanding the meaning of life, driving into weakness and melancholy. Causes not sensual impressions, but spiritual ones.

Blue is:

constancy;
perseverance;
persistence;
devotion;
dedication;
seriousness;
severity.

Brown

A darkened red-yellow color, indicating that the impulsiveness and vitality of the color red is frozen and restrained. It retains a vitality that has lost its activity. Determines the vital sensations of the body.

Those who prefer this shade in clothes need physical rest and peace.

He personifies:

devotion;
stability;
calm;
support during times of turmoil.

Green

Represents peace and stillness. It always contains life opportunities, contains potential energy, green reflects a tense internal state.

Green expresses how a person treats himself - hides his secrets. It signifies new beginnings and prosperity and inspires stability.

yellow

The personification of the mind, the influence of the dominant. It helps in overcoming difficulties, promotes concentration. Under the influence of yellow, decisions are made quickly.

Those who prefer yellow fight with words, love to be admired and hate to be cornered.

They are characterized by:

a high self-evaluation;
self-confidence;
quick wits;
intuition.

orange

Responsible for the satisfaction of all kinds of abilities, always keeps in good shape. Its effect is warm, joyful and exciting. Color is associated with the desire to achieve self-assertion.

This is a symbol of bliss and glow, at the same time, the softness of the sunset shine, it pleases the eye and contributes to a good mood.

blue

A symbol of carelessness that soothes, radiating reliability. However, looking at it, it is impossible to concentrate and it does not contribute to the development of the imagination.

Blue is a shade of “calm emotionality”, which lowers stress, it is comfortable. It personifies dreams and dreams, peace and harmony.

White

The color of perfection and completeness, demonstrating the final and absolute decision, complete freedom of opportunity and the absence of obstacles.

The fundamental quality is equality, because all colors are contained in it, they are equal in it. He:

inspires;
brightens;
promotes the renewal of all colors in the body;
removes stiffness.

Lilac

Embodies balance and calmness. This unearthly color at the same time is characterized by aloofness. It is piercing and strong, it is characterized by mysticism. It is very unusual to perceive.

In a positive aspect, the color of an orchid (a shade of lilac) is a difference in a bright personality, and in a negative aspect, it is deliberate exoticism and inflexibility.

Pink

Happy, delicious, warm, feminine and delicate color. This is a holiday and pleasant emotions, the personification of romance, kindness and love. The paler the shade, the stronger the manifestation of love.

It causes a feeling of comfort, calms by getting rid of obsessive ideas, helps in a crisis situation. However, it is characterized by increased sensitivity.

Black

It is associated with curiosity and attracts to itself, frightening with its mystery. Black is always challenging to release his essence - to go through black in order to realize how much white is in you.

Black gives you the opportunity to relax, it contains hope, but it is addictive, because it does not force you to do something. With depression, only its negative characteristics remain.

Gray

Those who prefer gray do not believe in the power of emotions, in their ability to decide something, do not trust the sincerity of emotional experiences; believe that they should be shown only in certain circumstances.

Gray tends to stabilize surrounding processes, but it always means duality.

Beige

The psychological perception of this color is quite complex and ambiguous. Beige is considered the color of stagnation, since a pronounced emotional coloring is not inherent in it.

However, it is multifaceted, can soothe, has a quiet, warm and calm energy. At the same time, it is referred to as a dependent, background part of the palette.

Burgundy

The color took from red his willpower and penchant for philosophical reflection from brown. The problem of its adherents is the ability to dwell on past unpleasant events.

It is also considered to a certain extent immoral, cloying, magnetic and heavy.

coral

A mixture of pink and orange, it is characterized by youth and energy. Coral is the borderline of the red and orange spectrum, so it's no surprise that this alluring feminine shade fills you with vivacity and optimism, leaving no chance for a bad mood.

light green

The color of vegetable purity and cold expressiveness. Spectacular and juicy, it is included in the range of warm shades and includes their characteristics, on the other hand, covering the qualities of green, it has a neutralizing function.

He encourages:

seek to establish a large number of contacts;
active communication with the outside world;
knowledge of the new.

golden

A symbol of inevitable victory and glory. Its positive aspect is experience, maturity, wisdom, inexhaustible resources and vitality. The negative aspects include pessimism, dishonor, narrow-mindedness.

Gold is the combination of childish modesty with the wisdom of a real ruler. However, it can provoke conflicts.

Palette and character in children

Toddlers cannot express the full range of feelings that they experience. But the colors they chose will tell a lot more.

"Orange" and "Red" children are very noticeable: they always scream, play pranks, squeal.
"Yellow"- cheerful, cheerful, fantasize and dream a lot.
"Green" You need a sense of safety and security.
Those who chose blue- the most carefree of all.
"Blue" crumbs are calm and balanced, doing everything in detail.
purple- artistic and sensitive natures.
Here are brown and black signal a dysfunctional mental state experienced by deep stress.

Colors make our existence brighter and determine our mood, influence thoughts and actions, and you can learn a lot about a person by characterizing eye color.

We better recognize the world around us and cope with important life tasks with their help. Therefore, one should not be too frivolous about the information that they carry in themselves.

Video: Color psychology

How long ago people began to attach importance to everything that surrounds them is unknown. However, no matter what antiquity the symbolism comes from, it is still interested and paid attention to. A special place is occupied by color, which can tell a lot about a person, influence his psyche, express emotions and feelings.

What does the color blue symbolize?

In astrology, blue is considered the color that symbolizes eternity and is associated with Venus. This was reflected not only in the influence of a particular planet, but also in the psychology of a person, his social position. It is not difficult to guess why eternity was assigned to blue - after all, it is he who is directly connected with the sky and the sea, peace, tranquility, constancy. In ancient times, it was the color of fidelity, affection for someone.

If the elements of the coat of arms or its base were made in shades of blue, the clan was distinguished by such qualities as honesty, the ability to keep one's word, and chastity. All those traits that a person of the highest circle should have had. No wonder it was believed that the aristocracy had "blue" blood. And blue in classical symbolism is only one of the subtones of blue, and not an independent color.

Since blue refers to shades that are not so far away from black on the general color wheel, it is sometimes referred to as mourning tones, especially if it is muted, deep. And such an interpretation of it exists not only in the southern countries: it was also used among the Slavic peoples, where grief and “nav” were associated with blue. In some fairy tales, even demons were blue-haired.

In the modern world, blue in its close to black version is the color of restraint and confidence. In the advertising business, blue is considered one of the "expensive" colors, i. those that, when used on a particular product, will elevate the product to an elite status. This is especially emphasized when combined with blue and gold.

What does blue color mean in psychology?

You can tell a lot about a person by asking him about color preferences. Such an influence of a shade on consciousness was studied by many teachings, among which I. Goethe and M. Luscher are especially famous. Based on their research, many tests have been compiled today, as reviews confirm, giving a reliable result. What can blue say about a person?

Those who choose this color are subconsciously drawn to the sky and the sea, which means they want peace in their lives. Such a person has a balanced character and is prone to a melancholy mood. Even if he is quite sociable and active, he often needs moments of rest and silence, allowing him to be alone with his inner self. The efficiency of such people, although high, they always need a good rest.

In addition, their peace also depends on their own confidence in everything that surrounds them: people, situations, their own strengths. From loved ones, they always seek benevolence, understanding, warmth. However, having been taught by bitter experience, they do not accept these gifts for a long time, they are looking for a catch, withdraw into themselves, feel loneliness even in the crowd. At the same time, such a person will go to self-sacrifice for the sake of a loved one. If necessary, I am ready to give up the latter for the sake of a friend.

If a subconscious rejection of the blue color occurs, it is important for a person to show his omnipotence. In the eyes of others, he always wants to look like someone who does not need help, who is one step higher. However, inside such a person is often too insecure, quite closed, he is not always ready to make contact, he practically does not let those around him. His whole life takes place in tension, but he does not seek to relax. It is possible that he is satisfied with this state of affairs, or he is too used to it to let go and change something.

People who are indifferent to blue are courteous and courteous to others, although this is only a mask. In fact, they care little about other people's feelings. It is often noted that a person can reach for blue situationally - during a period of severe fatigue or illness. In addition, in moments of strong joy, blue will cause irritation, disgust, because - especially in tandem with gray - it provokes passive depression.

There are several more characteristics that can be given to those who are unconsciously drawn to blue in all its manifestations. In particular, with a love for its light tones, a person is quite accommodating, easily compromises, not wanting unnecessary disputes. He is characterized by laziness, a general relaxed state, he makes decisions after much thought. In addition, such people lack a sense of proportion in natural needs - they can go too far at the dinner table or at a gala evening with food and drink.

If a person's choice leans towards turquoise tones, which are an almost equal mixture of blue and green, then these are unpredictable personalities. In most cases, they are timid and quiet, incapable of militant moods, attempts to go against everyone, actively defend their point of view. However, such imperceptible at first glance people stubbornly go towards their goal and do not take into account those who are trying to prevent this. Therefore, they become dangerous for their opponents.

What does blue color mean in clothes and interior?

As already mentioned, knowledge of symbolism is actively used today in business, in the market of goods and services. And how can a certain color fit into the interior or used in the outfit work? What will the unconscious choice of the blue item of clothing say?

If you have given preference to a soft blue thing, the mood on this day is upbeat and light, the person "hovers in the clouds", tends to indulge in dreams. When focusing on dark blue as the base color in your wardrobe (instead of traditional black), you can be judged as a self-confident, patient person with considerable endurance. Such a person often dwells in his own thoughts, will not go into open confrontation.

Often, people who want to receive support and strength from outside at an important moment for them turn to things of this color. A bright blue, almost ultramarine, becomes the choice of a person who is self-confident and wants to be paid attention to. But at the same time, he does not want to overstep the bounds.

Designers who make sketches of the future interior often resort to symbolism when choosing colors for the room. We have to proceed from the socio-demographic characteristics and the psychological impact of the shade on consciousness. And from the point of view of the last factor, blue is not recommended for use in areas where work is in full swing. Basically, these are cabinets - both at home and in the office.

The blue color has the ability to suppress performance, relax the mind and provoke a decrease in concentration. He will not allow you to make an important decision or focus on the problem as much as possible. At the same time, interestingly, sky blue, which is a relative of blue, on the contrary, makes it possible to assimilate information and come to a compromise on any issue.

But, taking into account such qualities of blue, you can easily use it in the decoration of a bedroom or bathroom, making it dominant in the overall range. In addition, shades of blue help to lower the temperature in the room, since they are all cool tones. Therefore, walls are often decorated in such a range where there is an excess of sunlight. Moreover, the blue should be light, so that additional light reflection occurs.

What does the blue color of flowers mean?

Although the language of flowers is based mainly on plant varieties, their shades are also often taken into account. What can you say about blue flowers? Pale blue forget-me-nots and bells immediately come to mind, as the most familiar to the eye, associated with youth and purity. They were given to young girls, emphasizing the charm of their innocence. Subsequently, white flowers began to play a role similar to them. Blue irises were able to silently remind a woman that she is not alone, she has support in the person of the donor, she should gather her strength.

During the time of Catherine II, there was a “Register of Flowers”, where flowers of light blue and blue tones were also recorded, which became a symbol of fidelity in all its manifestations. Such "letters" and "promises" were sent before a long parting or at a distance from each other, as a reminder that nothing is forgotten, feelings are alive, albeit covered with longing. Blue and blue flowers were given to those who went to war or the army, becoming an unspoken promise to wait. Many people remember the song "Blue Handkerchief", which carries the same meaning as a bouquet of forget-me-nots.

But even though color once played one of the main roles, and even today a lot of attention has been paid to it in psychology, the energy of a person wearing this color or giving a gift in such a range is often able to block any of its characteristics. And not always the psychological aspects described above are completely true about a person. Therefore, the main orientation should always go to inner harmony. And the fact that someone was once assigned to a particular color is secondary.

0 Blue is a cool and calming color that shows creativity and intelligence. The color blue is popular with large companies, hospitals and airlines. It is a color that symbolizes loyalty, strength, wisdom and trust. It is also known that the value of blue color has a calming effect on the psyche. The blue color of the sky and sea is often used to represent these images. Blue is a color that usually looks good in just about any shade and is quite a popular color especially among men. I'll even tell you a secret that blue is my favorite color!

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Before continuing, I would like to recommend you a couple of other news on the subject of symbols. For example, what are Symbols of Love; what does the Symbol Triangle mean; the meaning of the Symbol Star in Knee; how to understand the red thread on the hand, etc.
So let's continue blue color meaning?

Blue is sincere, reserved and calm, does not like to do anything big or draw too much attention. Blue hates confrontation, and loves to do things his own way. From the point of view of color psychology, blue is a reliable and responsible color, radiating security and trust. You can be sure that the blue color can take control of feelings and draw the right conclusions in the most difficult situations. Blue requires order and planning in its development, including lifestyle and work.

blue color meaning

Blue strives for peace and tranquility, promotes physical and mental relaxation. Blue color reduces stress and creates a feeling of calmness, relaxation and order. Try to lie on your back and look up at the blue cloudless sky. Blue reduces metabolism. The paler the blue, the freer we feel.

Blue is known to be good for one-way communication, especially for talking to your inner self. At the same time, he is a teacher and a public speaker. Blue is your helper, savior, your friend you need. The success of blues is determined by the quality and quantity of their shades and the depth of tone. It's a giver, not a taker. Blue loves to build strong, trusting relationships, and it hurts a lot if that trust is betrayed. Blue is not a good color when applied to food, because there are too few blue foods in nature and they do not look appetizing.

blue shades

Blue represents health, healing, serenity, understanding and gentleness.
Blue is associated with knowledge, strength, honesty and professionalism.

Here's How Blue Affects You

Calms and relaxes, Prevents chaos
Makes you more open to the world
Expands your perspective and ability to intuition
Provides a feeling of coolness and peace

When you buy a blue car

Blue color makes you reliable and confident
Blue or medium blue gives the impression that you are a calm, confident, loyal and quiet individual.

By reading this short article, you have learned blue value, and now you will be aware if your soulmate prefers this particular shade.

Any color can be read as a word, or interpreted as a signal, sign, or symbol. The “reading” of color can be subjective, individual, or it can be collective, common to large social groups and cultural and historical regions. An exhaustive description of color symbolism would require a huge amount of textual material and for this reason is impossible on this site. Here we will limit ourselves to a list of symbolic meanings of primary colors and give several typical examples.

Red

Means:

1. The tension of forces, the concentration of energy- hard work, struggle, war, conflicts, tragedy, drama, anger, cruelty, rage, passions.

On the expanses of endless waters, Cloaked in purple by the sunset, She broadcasts and sings, Unable to lift the confused wings ... The yoke of evil Tatars broadcasts, A series of bloody executions broadcasts, And a coward, and hunger, and a fire, Villainous strength, death of the right ... (A. Block)

The red color was the emblem of chaos destroying Russia (Andrey Bely).

2. magical effect- attracting a partner (love magic), ensuring fertility, health, protection from evil spirits, demons, the evil eye, damage, illness, to decorate one's appearance and habitat.

Multi-colored sleeves Ladies from the "high chambers" I see a lot ... But dearer to me than all one color: Scarlet paint of love! (Yamato Monogatari)

Rice soul spell to ensure its fertility:

Oh rice, I carefully awaken your soul... I touch your soul... We smear you with the blood of a rooster, a tinganga rooster, We rub you with a substitute, Taken from a rooster, from a rooster from a height... (E. V. Revunenkova, in the book: " Myths, cults…”)

3. Insignia in society- clothes and surroundings of the king, emperor, priests, warriors, judges, executioners, wizards, courtesans, revolutionaries ...

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the scarlet robe. And Pilate said to them: Behold, Man! (Jn 19:5) And having undressed Him, they put on Him a purple robe and mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! (Matthew 27-29)

4. - painting of temples and decorations in them, sacrifices to temples and sanctuaries, images of gods and saints, scenes from sacred books, religious emblems.

I invoke Agni as placed at the head, As a god of sacrifice, a priest As a hotar, bringing the greatest treasures... ...You soar with scarlet winds, Bringing blessings to the hearth... In your desired color, all beauties are seen at once... (Rigveda, Agni's anthem) In the eastern part of the dark invisible space The mother of cows raised (her) banner ... This youth sent down (to the earth) a radiance in the east. She harnesses a train of scarlet cows. Let it erupt now! Let him put up his banner! Let there be fire in every home! (Rig Veda, Ushas hymn) Who is this coming from Edom, in scarlet robes from Bosor, so majestic in his clothes, acting in the fullness of His power? “I who speak the truth, strong to save.” Why, then, is your garment red, and your robes, as those of one who trampled in a winepress? “I trod the winepress alone, and none of the nations was with me, and I trod on them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their blood splashed on my garments, and I stained all my garments; and I trampled down the nations in my anger, and crushed them in my wrath, and poured out their blood on the ground ”(Isaiah 63: 1-6) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea: and there was blood, died at sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and fountains of water: and there was blood ... Because they shed the blood of saints and prophets, You gave them blood to drink: they are worthy of it. (Rev. 16; 3-6)

5. The language of rituals- holidays, weddings, funerals, carnivals, processions, demonstrations, parades, purification.

- And to cleanse the house, he will take two birds, a cedar tree, a scarlet thread and hyssop, and he will kill one bird over an earthen vessel, over living water ... - And he will cleanse the house with the blood of a bird and living water, and a living bird, and a cedar tree, and hyssop and scarlet thread ... (Leviticus, 14; 49-52) Crimson color instills joy in the heart, Sweetness is hidden in ruby wine. Crimson buds color the garden, Crimson sunrise, and bright scarlet sunset. For those whose lives are rich in joy, Lanites are bright, like the color of a pomegranate. Ibrahim's garden was in bloom, and Musa's fire burned like a sunset. (Amir Khosrov Dehlavi. Eight Gardens of Eden)

6. Signs and signals - danger, prohibition, sin, greed, ambition, pain; conditional color on emblems and heraldic signs.

…and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, and held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abomination and the uncleanness of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name: mystery, Babylon the great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. (Rev. 17, 3-5) On the breastplate of the high priest Aaron, a servant of the Tabernacle of the Assembly, there were four red stones - a ruby, a carbuncle, a yachont and a jasper - identification marks and talismans of the four tribes of Israel.

The state symbols and heraldry of many countries are very rich in red.

Yellow

Means:

1. States associated with positive energy: fun, relaxation of tension, joy, holiday, game, beauty.

The yellow slave from the fairy tales “1001 Nights” praises her beauty in this way: “My color is dear in this world, like pure gold. And how many advantages I have, and the poet said about someone like me: Her yellowness shines like a beautiful color of the sun. She is equal to Dinara in appearance beautiful.

An Arabic poet of the 9th century sings of the beauty of a woman dressed in a yellow dress:

She put on a yellow dress - and charmed us And captivated, conquered many hearts and eyes.

In the poem "Eight Gardens of Eden" by Amir Khosrov Dehlavi, the main character, the shah, visits the yellow palace on Sunday, the most joyful day of the week. At the conclusion of this chapter of the poem, the praise of yellow is sung:

The noblest color! Lovers have this color Lanita without an answer. Gold heals us from ailments, Because the color of saffron is poured in it. …and the sun, coming out from behind the mountains, Colors the expanse in gold. And fat pilaf on a dish smells spicy, Seasoned with a smile of saffron.

2. magical effect- immortality, happiness in marriage, treatment of diseases that cause yellowness of the body, a sign of the earth and the feminine yin.

In ancient China, the abode of the dead was called the "Yellow Keys", but the yellow crane was an allegory of immortality. (E. V. Zavadskaya, 1975). In India, the newlywed covers her hands with yellow in order to ensure happiness and unanimity in marriage. (D. Foley, Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols, 1997).

Treatment of jaundice in ancient India: “... the basis of the magical operation was to drive the yellow color from the patient to yellow beings and objects to which the yellow color stuck, such as the sun. (The rite was accompanied by spells that sent "jaundice in the sun"). The same healing power was attributed to one yellow variety of jackdaws, and especially to its huge golden eyes. It was believed that if you look closely into her eyes and the bird responds with the same look, then the person will be cured - the disease will pass to the bird ... Pliny ... ascribes the same property to some yellow stone, similar in color to the complexion of the patient.

In Greece, this disease is still called the “golden disease” and a golden amulet or ring supposedly helps to cure it ... (D. Fraser. The Golden Bough).

3. Insignia in society- the clothes and headdress of the king, the ritual clothes of the priest, the signs of royal and priestly power - the rod, the orb, the cross ... Here, the yellow color is shown on precious textures and materials - such as gold, silk, brocade, gemstones.

The main Chinese demiurge god Huang-di was called the "Yellow Emperor" (E. V. Zavadskaya).

And David took the crown of their king from his head - and in it was talent of gold and a precious stone - and David placed it on his head ... (2 Sam. 12:30) And the king stretched out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand him, and Esther came and touched the end of the scepter. (Esther 5:2)

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits- glory, divine power, attribute of Apollo, Zeus, Chinese emperors, Roman victors, sacrifice to Allah, statues of Buddha and his saints, clothes of Buddhist preachers and monks; light, sun, God, wisdom, righteousness.

“And Musa said to his people: Behold, Allah orders you to slaughter a cow ... She is a yellow cow, her color is bright, she pleases those who look.” (Quran, sura 2). “And all the people took out the golden earrings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took them out of their hands, and made of them a molten calf, and worked it with a chisel. And they said, Behold your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt! (Ex. 32:3, 4) “Golden apples in transparent silver vessels are a word well spoken. A gold earring and pure gold jewelry is a wise reprover for an attentive ear. (Prov. 25:11, 12).

5. The language of rituals- initiations, holidays, rituals, ceremonies.

Indian rite of passage into a disciple: “On the night before the ceremony, the boy was smeared with yellow powder and a silver ring was put on his forelock. After that, he was ordered to spend the whole night in absolute silence. It was a mystical rite that prepared the boy for his second birth. The yellow powder symbolized being in the womb, and absolute silence meant that the child again became, as it were, a dumb fetus. (R. B. Pandey, 1982).

In China, the Earth Festival was celebrated in yellow clothes (Sychev L.P., Sychev V.L., “Chinese costume”). On the altar of the Earth is honey-hued amber.

6. Signs and signals- a warning, a warning, yellow and black - a sign of prohibition, yellow in the form of gold - a sign of the high cost and high quality of the goods.

Yellow card - distrust, warning; "yellow acacia" in the language of flowers means "love is gone." In China, "yellow films" and "yellow literature" are pornographic products (D. Foley, p. 438)

"Yellow ticket" - an identity card for corrupt women.

In nineteenth-century England, the yellow hats of insolvent debtors, yellow rings on the raincoats of Jews from the ghetto.

7. Negative symbolism of yellow and gold- sin, betrayal, venality, madness, withering, sadness, decay, despair, illness.

Such expressions as the yellow press, yellow trade unions, the Yellow House are well known; "Yellow Jack" - the flag that was raised on ships as a sign of quarantine. In medieval Spain, heretics were dressed in yellow when burned at the stake of the Inquisition.

Judas Iscariot was portrayed in a yellow cloak as a Christ seller. In France, yellow was a sign of deceived husbands, cuckolds. A number of negative meanings of yellow are associated with the color of dying autumn foliage and a sad mood about the end of summer.

Japanese verses:

The branch that I broke for you turned yellow; Spring, and on it there is already a trace of autumn! (Manyoshu)

Anna Akhmatova: The circle from the lamp is yellow, I listen to the rustle. Why did you leave? I don't understand... From your mysterious love, As from pain, I scream, I've become yellow and convulsive, I can hardly drag my legs...

Sergey Yesenin:

I do not regret, I do not call, I do not cry, Everything will pass like smoke from white apple trees. Withering covered in gold, I will not be young anymore ... ... They drink here again, fight and cry Under the harmonics of yellow sadness ...

S. Eisenstein quotes F. Portal:

“The Moors distinguished opposite symbols by two different nuances of yellow. Golden yellow meant "wise" and "good advice", and faded yellow meant betrayal and deceit ... "

“In heraldry, gold stands for love, constancy and wisdom, and yellow stands for its opposite qualities: inconstancy, envy and adultery…”

A funny example of the negative influence of yellow on the fate of a person is found in Teffi's story "Life and the Collar". The yellow bow on the collar of her blouse turned a decent woman into a frivolous spendthrift and an unscrupulous liar.

However, examples of the negative symbolism of yellow are so numerous that the reader himself will add to this list.

Green

1. This is the color of vegetation; hence all its positive meanings: growth, spring revival of nature, hope (for the harvest), youth. The color of the Garden of Eden (Eden), an oasis in the desert, a Muslim paradise.

“The green color caresses at noon with a shadow, It gives peace to the soul and vision. And the grasses are green, and the darkness in the forests, Green light fluctuates in the eyes. Green color is the outfit of any garden, And for the jasmine, the stem is like a reward ”(Amir Khosrov Dehlavi)

In Japan, green is a symbol of spring agricultural rites (May ivy is a bed for participants in spring orgies); in Europe it is a sign of earthly love and hope: “Green clothe yourself, that is, the clothes of lovers,” writes the Sicilian Herald, author of a book on color. A knight-errant who professes the cult of a beautiful lady must dress in green. “And with the onset of May, I don’t want to see any other colors than green,” Gerold concludes. (quoted from the book by J. Huizinga "Autumn of the Middle Ages").

2. sacred symbols: in China - spring, tree, Jupiter, Green dragon; in the Middle East - Osiris, Tammuz, (Gods-cereals), in Greece - Demeter, Persephone (goddesses of fertility); in India - Buddhas from the kind of Karma, as well as a karmic type of person. In Christianity, it is a symbol of the earthly life of Christ and the saints. In Judaism, the signs of the two tribes of Israel.

One of the first Christian churches (and the most remarkable) is St. Sophia in Constantinople - built on pillars of green marble, which were taken by Byzantine builders from the temple of Diana in Ephesus.

And to all ages - the example of Justinian, When the Ephesian Diana allowed to steal for foreign gods One hundred and seven green marble pillars. (O. Mandelstam)

3. The language of communication between people: in ancient Rome, the green color in men's clothing meant delicacy and unnatural inclinations; in modern times in Europe - irony, buffoonery, bourgeoisness (as a condemned property).

G. S. Knabe gives examples of the semantics of green in ancient Rome (in the book “Ancient Rome - History and Everyday Life”, 1986): “In the house of Trimalchio, where everything is absurd and unnatural, guests are met by a doorkeeper in a green tunic. A certain Boss, a roguish and impudent acquaintance of Martial, appeared at the theater "in a grass-colored dress." The reasons for this perception are obvious. Green ... was a "feminine" color, and the use of it in men's clothing was a sign of femininity, effeminacy, a hint of unnatural depravity. There was an expression "greenish (that is, pampered, perverted) morals."

Russian cubo-futurist Alexei Kruchenykh intentionally shocks the audience with his appearance:

I have an emerald-indecent every piece Suit: cut shocking. In the mouth is a hot cloud. Steel naughty Eros My flag is an infected rag There is no order in the eyes! ... I am not reflected in the mirror!

From the notebooks of A.P. Chekhov: When I get rich, I will open a harem for myself, in which I will have naked fat women with buttocks painted with green paint. (Works. Vol. XII, M. 1949)

V. Kandinsky about green: “... green in the realm of colors is the same as in the realm of people - the bourgeoisie: it is an immobile, completely satisfied with itself, limited on all sides. It is like a fat, hefty, motionless cow, capable only of chewing and chewing, and looking at the world with stupid, dull eyes. (“On the Spiritual in Art”)

4. magical effect. Best of all, the magical effect of green is manifested in an emerald. Academician A.E. Fersman writes about this in the book “Stories about gems”: “It is difficult to find another gem that would be valued more in ancient times than the emerald, the “stone of radiance” of the Greeks. ... The juicy green color of the emerald was deeply valued as an expression of life, youth and purity. He was credited with the possession of a mysterious power to heal ailments and bestow happiness.

This stone is sung by poets of all countries of the world. The color of the emerald, according to Indian legends, "imitates the color of the neck of a young parrot, young grass, water mud, iron and feather patterns from a peacock's tail." “Zmuri,” the Georgians called this stone, believing that it, like in a mirror, reflects all the secrets of the present and future.

The Roman scientist Pliny wrote that "this stone of nature is above all earthly blessings, that its beauty is more beautiful than the fragrance of a spring flower, and that it should not be allowed to touch the virgin features of the artist's chisel."

The French poet Remy Bello sings of the green beryl stone:

Green is the best, since it looks like a mountain emerald with its deep color. It is brought to us from the Indian shores, green and golden. There is nothing more useful for the spoiled eyes and liver of the patient; He cures shortness of breath, nausea, heart diseases - and he is also the only guardian of marriage bonds for women and men. He drives away laziness, he returns a friend, before him the haughty enemy is timid with fear ...

5. Negative symbols: decay, decay, demonism, disgust, malice, envy, longing, madness, horror of death. These meanings come from the color of mold, rotting organic matter, evil mythological animals (serpents, dragons), mysterious inhabitants of the forests (goblin, Green King), eyes of predatory nocturnal animals and birds, bitter poisonous herbs, as well as some human discharge, indicating illness. . The expressions “green longing”, turned green with malice (or with envy), green snake (drunkenness) are well-known. Baudelaire’s she-devil is “a green-faced succubus”, F. G. Lorca’s: “the poison of the sunset is green, but I will drink the potion”; “My raspberry, raspberry ... You were green like a madman, you shook the birds under the sky ...” Description of the drowned woman from the poem “Somnambulistic romance”: “Swaying from the green bottom of the pool, she looked - Silver frost of sight and green hair and body ... "

The green color in the color of the human body (hair, eyes, etc.), of course, is shocking, since here it is unnatural. S. Baudelaire tells about Delacroix: “Once he came to visit, having previously dyed his own hair green, hoping to produce a great effect with this. “What is so special about this, my friend,” said the owner, “they are green for all people.”

S. Eisenstein writes about the symbolism of green: The color of the rebirth of the soul and wisdom, it simultaneously meant moral decline and madness.

The Swedish theosophist Swedenborg describes the eyes of madmen languishing in hell as green. One of the stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral represents the temptation of Christ; on it, Satan has green skin and huge green eyes ... The eye in symbolism means intelligence. A person can direct it to good or evil. Both Satan and Minerva - both madness and wisdom - were both portrayed with green eyes...

As A. Perrusho writes, the French artist Toulouse-Lautrec "saw something demonic in all shades of green."

In Indian poetics, green means disgust. You can read about this in D. Salinger's story "And Those Lips and Eyes Are Green."

In modern Russian science fiction literature, there is a noticeable tendency towards the negative semantization of green. In the stories of V. Pelevin, for example, the gates to the otherworldly "Workshop No. 1" are painted green, where the death of the worlds, including the Earth, takes place. The stories also feature the monster "Green Khidr" - an evil werewolf, a green chair of the director of the plant, in which the director turns into a skeleton; the narrator, who is mentally ill, has a green armchair and a greenish-yellow curtain at home.

In conclusion of this short story about green, I would like to say the best about it with words from the Koran (Sura 55).

46. And to him who fears the dignity of his Lord, two gardens 48. having branches 62. and besides two, two more gardens, 64. dark green 66. palm trees, and pomegranates 70. in them - solid, beautiful, - 72. black-eyed, hidden in tents, - 76. leaning on green pillows and beautiful carpets ...

Blue

The symbolism of blue comes from an obvious physical fact - the blueness of a cloudless sky. In the mythological consciousness, the sky has always been the abode of gods, ancestral spirits, angels; hence the main symbol of blue is divinity. Its associated meanings are mystery, mysticism, holiness, nobility and purity (spirituality), constancy (in faith, devotion, in love), perfection, high origin (blue blood), justice (God's work).

Blue depict: objects of the cult of the gods in Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome (Zeus, Hera, Jupiter, Juno); the cover of the Tabernacle of the Assembly (Old Testament), the clothes of the high priest in the Tabernacle; the clothes of Jesus and the Mother of God in icon painting and painting; In Pseudo-Dionysius, blue denotes incomprehensible secrets. In Christian churches, blue domes symbolized the sky, the ceilings in the temples of Ancient Egypt did the same.

In medieval Europe, blue was the color of a knight's costume, wishing to demonstrate fidelity in love to his lady; "Bluestocking" - the nickname of a woman engaged in science (originated in Venice in the 15th century). In Europe of the New Age (England, Russia), orders and awards were hung on blue ribbons - the "Order of the Garter", awards at the races, prizes for speed, etc. (signs of valor, superiority). The sign of high origin is "blue blood".

The negative symbolism of blue comes from the proximity of this color to black, that is, the color of death and evil. In addition, blue is the opposite of red and yellow, symbols of life, joy and flowering. The transcendence of demonic forces and death itself also gives rise to the negative symbolism of blue.

In China, it is the color of evil demonic creatures (Myths of Ancient China), in Japan it is the color of villains and devils (Kabuki theatre).

In Muslim India - the color of sadness, mourning.

“A week later they grieved, Everyone went in mourning, everyone in blue” (Amir Khosrov Dehlavi)

In the human body, blue and blue are good only as an eye color. Where blue is inappropriate, it denotes vice, drug addiction, a painful condition from cold, hunger, etc.

“I myself, shameful and corrupt, With blue circles from my eyes ...” (A. Blok) “But Blue mouths cringe in blackened faces ...” (S. Yesenin - about convicts)

In medieval Europe, the expression "blue skirt" meant that a woman belonged to the first oldest profession.

“Who has provided me with blue cotton, What pokes everyone with his finger, let him die!” (Johan Huizinga. Autumn of the Middle Ages)

A. Blok has blue - the color of twilight, mystery, cold and sadness.

“You sadly wrapped yourself in a blue cloak, On a damp night you left the house.”

D. A. Prigov’s “blue transparent river” is deceptively beautiful. In essence, this is the Styx - a hellish river in which all people perish.

The symbolism of blue has a slightly different character. In our time, it is either doubtful, or frankly negative. Most often, this color denotes sentimentality, eroticism (sodomitism), manilovism (empty dreams), frivolity and problem-free (in the worst sense), philistinism.

Blue is the opposite of pink physically, but is identical to it symbolically. This is how extremes converge.

White

White color has been a multi-valued symbol at all times and among all peoples. Its shitty and original meaning is light. White is identical to sunlight, and light is a deity, goodness, life, the fullness of being.

Symbolic meanings of white:

1. Complete rest, serenity, non-action, peace, silence, purity (sattva), emptiness (shunya), chastity, virginity, concentration.

“White You, undisturbed in the depths, Strict and angry in life, Secretly anxious and secretly loved - Virgo, Dawn, Kupina ...” (A. Blok)

2. magical action- white clothes and coloring - a means that promotes purification, good luck in war (among primitive tribes), long life, health, good. “In the Bemba tribe, initiated girls are covered with whitewash. At the same time they sing a song: - We made the girls white, like white herons. We made them beautiful... They are now whitened from blood stains... "White beads ensure fertility for women." (W. W. Turner. Symbol and Ritual)

3. Sign of social status- nobility, nobility, greatness, prosperity. White clothes of Egyptian pharaohs, priests of the Ancient East, togas of Roman patricians, dresses of women "from society" in antiquity, the Middle Ages and in other eras; "white collars" - a sign of intelligence, white suits, cars, shirts, interiors - a sign of belonging to a wealthy class.

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits- white clothes of gods, angels, saints, righteous people in paradise, the appearance of Yahweh (Sabaoth), Brahman, Atman, Akshobhya - the first Buddha of the Tibetan five-membered mandala (icon); clothes of ministers in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, white coloring of Christian churches.

White color in the Old Testament:

“His head and hair are white, like a white wave, like snow; and His eyes are like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14)

“And I saw the heavens open, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it is called Faithful and True, who judges righteously and makes war” (Rev. 19:11).

“And the armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white and clean linen” (Rev. 19:14)

According to Pseudo-Dionysius, "The white surplice is the image of the flesh of Christ, the purest passionless garment of divine glory, the garment of incorruption." (Bychkov V.V., Byzantine aesthetics, 1977)

In our time, the white color is accepted as a symbol of the deity in new religious and philosophical teachings - theosophy, agni yoga, "living ethics", ecumenism. So, the Roerichs wrote about the "earthly abode of the gods" - shining Shambhala; its ancient name is White Island, where the White Brotherhood lives. There is also the White Mountain, or White Burkhan. “This is the World Stronghold of Light, which from time immemorial has been fanned with the loftiest hopes and secret aspirations of all peoples of all times”… (Uguns, January 1990)

5. The language of rituals- white clothes are worn during the holidays of baptism, communion, the Nativity of Christ, Easter, Ascension, the consecration of churches. Among primitive peoples, many rituals are accompanied by staining with white paint, putting on white clothes, using white animals and birds. Among the African Banyoro people, white cows were handed over to the sovereign as a sign of loyalty. Participants in the sovereign's coronation ceremony were showered with white powder. White was also the main color of the royal regalia. The royal cook had to cleanse himself before performing his duties. For this purpose, half of his body was covered with white clay. (W. W. Turner. Symbol and Ritual)

An example from Renaissance culture in Italy: The solemn worship service on the occasion of Carlo Malatesta's accession to the city of Rimini was accompanied by a procession of nine thousand white-clad men and eight thousand women. (A. Venediktov, Renaissance in Rimini, 1970)

6. Signs and signal s - in Japan - chrysanthemum, white storks and cranes; in China - a sign of the West, autumn and metal; in India - "the white image of the sun", the color of the Brahmin caste; in Christianity - a white lily, a white rose - the symbols of the Virgin Mary. The white flag is an offer of peace. In heraldry, white is widely used as a symbol.

7. Attribute of supreme beauty— what could be more beautiful than white clouds, chrysanthemums, jasmine, cherry blossoms, white swans? In the Arabian tales “A Thousand and One Nights,” a white slave praises her color in this way: “They say that whiteness said: “I am a brilliant light, I am a rising moon, my color is clear, my forehead shines, and the poet said about my beauty: She is white, with smooth cheeks and tender, like a hidden pearl in beauty.

... My color is like a happy day and a plucked flower and a sparkling star ... My color is a miracle, and my charm is the limit, and my beauty is the end, and any clothes like me are good, and souls strive for me. And there are many virtues in whiteness, such as the fact that snow descends from heaven white, and they convey that the best of flowers is white, and Muslims are proud of white turbans, and if I began to recall what was said to whiteness in glory, the exposition, rightly, would drag on .(The story of the six slave girls, vol. 5).

The positive meanings of white are succinctly and gracefully stated in Dehlavi's verses:

White clothes - for anyone for the future. “There is no better cover!” the prophet said. We prefer white flowers We write and read in white. Honorable is the whiteness of gray hair, Allah Almighty Himself exalted it. And the day in its wide limits Includes all colors, but he himself is white.

8. Liberation from the shackles of tradition in art. The revolution in painting of the twentieth century changed the symbolism of the white color, giving it unprecedented meanings. Thus, suprematists see white as a symbol (or equivalent) of a non-Euclidean n-dimensional space that immerses the viewer in a kind of meditative trance that purifies the soul like a Zen Buddhist practice. This is evidenced by the founder of Suprematism K. Malevich himself: “The movement of Suprematism is already moving in this direction, towards white non-objective nature, towards white excitations, towards white consciousness and white purity as the highest level of this state, whether it be peace or movement.” (Collection of Lenz Schoenberg, catalogue, 1989)

The peak and completion of Malevich's Suprematist painting was the work "White Square on a White Background". “Casimir the Great” himself, as his associates called him, was delighted with his discovery. “I broke the azure screen of color restrictions,” he exults, “and stepped out into whiteness; set sail and follow me, comrade navigators, towards the abyss, I have erected beacons of Suprematism... Rule after me! Free white abyss - infinity - in front of you. Abstractionists of the second half of the 20th century consider K. Malevich their teacher. And, as capable students, they surpassed the master in the field of comprehending the bottomless depths of white. I recommend reading the article by Raimund Gierke in the catalog of the Lenz Schoenberg collection cited above, 1989.

8. Negative white symbolism.

White can mean death, illness, evil, alienation, suffering.

Among the Zairian Comos, white is associated primarily with filth, illness, and death. This is the color of fear, non-existence (Iordansky V. B., Chaos and Harmony, 1982). A black slave girl from Arabian tales recalls that gray hair is a sign of the approach of death, and white is the color of a dead man's shroud, leprosy and lichen, an eyesore. White lime is the cheapest material, while black musk is the most expensive.

In Japanese classical poetry, white symbolizes coldness, separation, the suffering of unrequited love.

The dew washed away the white-woven sleeves. And penetrating with cold, the autumn wind blew.

In the culture of Europe of the New Age, white marks: death, fainting, cold, silence, exhaustion, loneliness, even hatred and cruelty. Suffice it to recall the afterlife images of European novels (ghosts, shrouds of the dead); in the 20th century, members of the Ku Klux Klan wear white hoods; the fury Bernardina Alba lives in the white house (in the play by F. G. Lorca); the heroine of Jean Cocteau, before committing suicide, lives in a room where everything is white; the victim of the cruelty of our time, Marilyn Monroe is also sent to another world from the snow-white room.

In Russian poetry of the beginning of the century, white is associated with negative emotions and with thoughts turned to the other world. In A. Blok, white often means death, melancholy, alienation, trance. “My face is whiter than a white wall. Again, again, I will be shy when She comes ... "

“By a white dream, motionlessly chained To the shore of later times ...” “Thorns crown the humble and wise with the White Fire of the Bush.”

Velimir Khlebnikov's white color combined with gray and black creates a tragic flavor. Here, for example, is a self-portrait of the poet:

“My face book is so unraveled: On white, on white - two gray znya! Behind me, like a gray pigalitsa, A sheet yearns for Moscow.

Black

The symbolism of black in most nations is mostly negative. In the black sky, in the depths of caves, pits, wells, in deep shadows, something mysterious and dangerous is hiding. Black makes a person's vision powerless, which in itself threatens with danger.

1. MAIN SYMBOLS: death, decay, disintegration of matter, night (as a time of passivity), sadness, grief.

“Among the banyoro people of Uganda,” writes V. B. Iordansky, “black is associated with night, death, evil and danger ... White animals were usually sacrificed to the banyoro gods, and the presence of even a black hair in the tail of a sacrificial cow could deprive the entire rite of effectiveness . On the contrary, when a person was possessed by evil spirits, a black goat or chicken was sacrificed to them (the spirits). Black banana fiber was worn as a sign of mourning. The Banyoro god of the underworld ate from dishes covered with soot. His food was smoked and the milk he drank came from a black cow.”

In the Russian folk language, the word "black" means something old, dirty, unfinished, devoid of brilliance: a black old woman, a black woman, a back door, a black floor, a draft; as well as gloomy and gloomy: black humor, "drinking black" ...

According to the research of W. W. Turner, among the Ndembu African people, “blackness” is:

1. evil, bad things, 2. lack of purity or whiteness, 3. suffering or misfortune, 4. illness, 5. witchcraft and witchcraft: if a person has a black liver, he is capable of killing, he is a bad person, 6. death, 7 . sexual desire, 8. night or darkness.

2. Magic symbol: black magic, demonism, witchcraft.

Magic rituals have been an integral part of the culture of all times and peoples (see above). In Europe during the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, etc. distinguish between white and black magic. Calling up the spirits of the dead, killing or inducing "damage" at a distance, instilling love passion or hatred were considered black magic. Occult procedures were usually carried out in the dark, underground, while black clothes, black animals appeared, even black blood was required (we recommend reading the book by E. Parnov "The Throne of Lucifer", M. 1991).

3. Ethical characteristics: pride, secret envy, sinfulness, malice, meanness, vindictiveness. Black is the color of executioners, murderers, pirates; the expressions "black ingratitude, black malice, etc." In ancient India, black color corresponded to the concept of tamas - a state of constriction, oppression. We see impressive images of black in the poetry of A. Blok:

Old, old dream. From the darkness Lanterns run - where? There is only black water, There is oblivion forever... The skeleton, wrapped up to the eyes in a cloak, Is looking for something, grinning with a black mouth... The living sleep. The dead man rises from the coffin. And he goes to the bank, and goes to the court, to the senate ... The whiter the night, the blacker the anger, And the feathers creak triumphantly. (Dance of death)

4. Language of communication with gods and spirits: black is the color of the Mother Earth, the inhabitants of the underworld, demonic creatures. One of the myths of Ancient China speaks of the "underground kingdom of Yudu", in which black birds, black snakes, black leopards, black tigers and black foxes with fluffy, fluffy tails lived. There was also a big black mountain where black people lived. Black is the color of femininity (as a killing and generating principle, similar to Mother Earth). Among the African Ndembu people, women with very black skin are valued as lovers, not as wives. Women of the white race in our time prefer a black dress (heavily decollete) as an evening dress (and if the climate permits, even during the day).

Black can symbolize "divine darkness" or "super-light darkness" (Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite), the value of black is no less than white.

“I clothe the heavens with darkness, and make sackcloth their cover” (Is. 50:2).

5. The language of rituals: funerals, weddings, occult ceremonies (see above, paragraph 1). The "blackest" rite is the "Black Mass"; the most dangerous magic is "black magic". From the Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols of D. Foley: “The secret sciences that witches and sorcerers were engaged in, as well as others who dealt with the “Prince of Darkness”, the devil, were called “black magic” (p. 420).

6. Signs, symbols: the sign of death on the flags of anarchists, pirates, signs of neo-fascists - swastikas, black shirts; a black patch in a British court is a sign of a death sentence, a mourning suit in Europe, a black cassock is a sign of monasticism.

7. Positive black values: youth, beauty, peace (rest). Black is especially valued in the Muslim East. The black slave from the tales of “1001 Nights” praises her color in such expressions: “Don’t you know what is given in the Koran ... the word of Allah the great: I swear by night when it covers, and by day when it shines!” And if the night had not been more worthy, Allah would not have sworn by it and would not have put it ahead of the day - with this the shrewd and perspicacious agree. Don't you know that blackness is the adornment of youth, and when the gray hair falls, pleasures go away and the time of death draws near? And if blackness were not the most worthy of all, Allah would not have placed it in the depths of the heart and eye. And among the advantages of blackness is that ink is obtained from it, with which the words of Allah are written ... And besides, is it good to meet lovers otherwise than at night? ... "

The caliphs of the Abbasid dynasty liked to dress in black. Their banner was also black. Amir Khosrow Dehlavi writes:

The color of the glorious Abbasids is black. It belongs to the first of the planets, And the darkness of nights is always black, It descends in life-giving peace. And the mole of the beauty is black, As pitch, her thick hair is a wave.

9. Black stones - talismans: the stone of the Kaaba - the main Muslim temple in Mecca; jet, hematite, obsidian, black agate and others. (see the book by E. Gonikman “Your Talisman”, M., 1997) A few excerpts from this book: “The jet figure was worn from the evil eye, from evil and disease ... fear. Gagat is a stone of the night and night secrets. Very often, black magicians used jet to call the souls of the dead and contact them. Hematite (bloodstone) symbolizes wisdom and courage (in India). In the old days, bloodstone was credited with properties ... to stop bleeding, extinguish outbursts of anger, and treat tumors. Obsidian, worn in a ring, bracelet or necklace, will give you composure, concentration. The ancients called it a stone - a savior, warning against bad deeds and from unworthy, impure love.

Orange, purple and magenta- colors intermediate between the main, adjacent in a circle. Their values largely coincide with the values of neighboring colors.

Violet: it stands out from all spectral colors with its complexity, balancing between red and blue, and also between blue and black. Hence its semantics and symbolism. Basic meanings: mourning, fear, sadness of a suppressed spirit, mystery (mysticism), old age, the extinction of life, tragedy, pain, sad circumstances (among the Germans), love passion (in medieval Japan).

A few examples:

“It is not at all an accident that among some peoples the purple color is chosen exclusively as mourning ... The sight of this color acts depressingly, and the feeling of sadness caused by it is consistent with the sadness of a depressed spirit” (S. Eisenstein - M. Nordau). Paul Gauguin conveys a woman's fear of a ghost by depicting a scene against a purple background (painting "Manao Tupapao"). The semantics of violet is indicated by its names in the catalog of colors of the early twentieth century - ecclesiastic, fandango, Ophelia and many others, denoting phenomena that are deeply impressive and with a touch of tragedy.

Japanese verses:

If you love me, You keep love deep in your heart: Violets of a dyed dress Don't show the color!

Violet, leaning towards blue, is called lilac, and its whitened shades are called lilac. These are melancholic, mysterious, sad-romantic colors:

I don’t feel sorry for the years wasted in vain, I don’t feel sorry for the soul of a lilac flower ... (S. Yesenin)

Lilac is poeticized black:

Or maybe in the dens of San Francisco, the Purple Negro gives you a coat. (I. Vertinsky)

Purple

The color of wealth, royalty, supreme beauty. He was perhaps the most honorable and beautiful in Greco-Roman antiquity. In Homer, this color is worn by heroes and gods.

“The mantle was woolen, purple, double, he was clothed” (Odyssey, XIX, 225). Heroes in the Iliad wear a glistening purple belt. The verses are repeated many times: “A young woman came out of the darkness with purple fingers Eos”; “Purple waves rustled around his keel terribly ...” In the Roman poet Virgil, purple is even more honored than in Homer:

“The fabrics here are dismantled with art and proud purple ...” “Tie legs with purple also with koturna” (Aeneid, 1, 635, 335).

In ancient Rome, only emperors were allowed to wear purple clothes. Senators were only allowed to have stripes or borders of this color on their clothing (usually white).

In Byzantium, purple is the imperial color. Vasilevs signed with purple ink, sat on a purple throne, and wore purple boots. “The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431) decided, as a sign of the highest veneration of Mary and Anna, to depict them in purple clothes” (Bychkov V.V. Byzantine aesthetics, 1977, p. 103) “... purple united the eternal, heavenly, transcendental ( blue, cyan) with the earth (red). Combining opposites, the purple color has acquired a special significance in the culture of antinomic thinking. (Bychkov V.V., ibid.)

The purple of Christ was a symbol of His martyrdom and reproach, and on the imperial purple there was a trace of the bloody cruelty of royal arbitrariness - these are the negative symbols of this luxurious color.

All shades of purple are loved in the folk art of the Slavs. There is a lot of crimson and crimson in the poetry of S. Yesenin:

“Play, play, talyanochka, raspberry furs. Come out to meet the groom to the outskirts, beauty ... "" Dawns are blazing, fogs are smoking Over the carved window there is a crimson curtain ... "

You can recall the folk expressions "raspberry ringing", "not life, but raspberries." In folklore, everything that is gratifying, beautiful, and spacious is painted with this color.

Grey

The color of poverty, boredom and melancholy, urban crowding, rotten fog. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, it was not valued at all. He was considered the color of the rags of the poor, the color of misfortune and mediocrity. The gray-blue color of the ancient Romans symbolized envy. In the ancient East, they sprinkled ashes on their heads as a sign of sorrow.

In ancient Russian literature and folklore, gray and gray-gray are epithets of predatory animals or birds (“gray wolf”, “gray-gray eagle”); to these colors, as it were, the antipathy that people feed on these animals passes. The gray color was a distinctive feature of the clothes of a poor peasant (sermyaga).

In the works of N.V. Gogol, gray accompanies everything mediocre, indefinite, and degraded. There is a lot of gray around Manilov and in Plyushkin's dwelling (a thick layer of dust and old rubbish). The cassock of the clerk Foma Grigorievich, once black, acquired a gray color (the cassock of the clerk Foma Grigorievich was the color of a chilled potato jelly).

In the poetry of S. Yesenin, the motifs of melancholy, withering, fatigue are painted in gray.

"I'm not sick of anyone's betrayal, And I'm not happy with the ease of victories - Those hair golden hay Turns into gray."

The urban landscape in the poetry of A. Blok is replete with gray spots: tin roofs, a gray-stone body, a smoky-gray fog, a dusty-gray haze ... this hopelessly tragic color suffocates and oppresses a person.

“The street stood up, full of gray, Woven with cobweb yarn ...”

V. Kandinsky also evaluates gray rather negatively: “Grey ... consists of motionless resistance on the one hand and of immovable immobility (like a wall of infinite thickness and a bottomless, boundless abyss going into infinity.” “Gray is an inconsolable immobility. And the darker it becomes, the more the preponderance of the inconsolable grows and the suffocating appears.” (“On the Spiritual in Art”)

Positive gray values

In the late Renaissance, gray gains value. It becomes the color of grace, elegance, nobility. Florentine nobles wear gray velvet and brocade, Spanish princesses and Dutch noble ladies flaunt gray satin, on Salviati’s canvases all colors seem to have faded and become more or less gray, in El Greco shades of gray occupied almost the entire field of the picture, creating a frame for “precious stones" - chromatic colors. In the 18th century, gray becomes the most elegant color. Powdered wigs, men's and women's dresses, tapestries, upholstery, wall papers and tapestries - everywhere you can see many shades of gray - mother-of-pearl, pearl, "colour of a pigeon's neck", etc.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, gray was accepted as the most "practical" in clothing, the most calm in the interior. The beauty of gray wool, furs, wood was appreciated. Gray has become the color of elegance, a sign of good tone, high taste. The expression "noble mouse color" appeared.

Brown

The fate of brown and its role in culture is similar to the fate of gray. In nature, this color is very common, and in all natural objects is valued by people. However, in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, this color was given a negative meaning. In ancient Rome, brown tunics were worn by slaves or lumpen proletarians; for the upper classes of society, this color was forbidden. In Islamic culture, brown is perceived as the color of decay and decay. Sura 87 of the Quran says:

"one. Praise the name of your Lord, the Most High, 2. who created and proportioned, 3. who distributed and directed, 4. who brought out the pasture, 5. and made it brown litter!

In medieval Europe, brown and gray in clothes meant suffering and hopelessness. “I wear gray and brown, I hope and wait exhausted” (Johan Huizinga, “Autumn of the Middle Ages”).

In the 20th century, Art Nouveau masters express moods of sadness, withering, premonitions of death, fatigue and melancholy in brown. Andrei Bely, describing the life of D. Merezhkovsky and Z. Gippius, notes that even the very atmosphere in their house was brown, and all things were the same, since the owners are “gloomy people”. In the apartment of Vyacheslav Ivanov there are "square-brown" carpets, and the colors of the houses on the street are "brown" and "chocolate".

Apparently, there is something in this color that attracts a tired and sickly soul that has lost the immediate joy of life. Very characteristic in this sense is Joseph Brodsky's essay "Trophy", which lists many brown things that are very pleasant for the poet: a radio, a gramophone, boots, photographs of Venice.