ABSTRACT
Aesthetics and traditional customs, rather than symbolism, determine the mixture of embroidery colors to be applied to the different fabric colors. This chapter describes some of the typical applications of color meanings. At first glance the vibrant colors of the fabrics on the traditional Jingju stage may appear to be random and unrestrained, a complex system of color meanings for the garments and the roles controls the stage picture. The five dominant colors for fabrics were blue, yellow, red, white, and black, all derived from natural fibers or dyes. These five colors corresponded with the color-mixing system of primaries, the basic units of color, as well as the Chinese conceptualization of the world, given the mutability of blue and green. The officers of the court were assigned robe colors according to their rank. The system of using color to distinguish court officials began in early times and became more refined during Tang dynasty.
