On the Correspondence of the Five Colors

原文

论配五色

左氏傳.子産曰.發爲五色.蔡伯喈云.通眼者爲五色.黃帝素問曰.草性有五.章爲五色者.東方木爲蒼色.萬物發生.夷柔之色也.南方火爲赤色.以象盛陽炎燄之狀也.中央土黃色.黃者.地之色也.故曰.天玄而地黃.西方金色白.秋爲殺氣.白露爲霜.白者.喪之象也.北方水色黑.遠望黯然.陰闇之象也.溟海淼邈.玄闇無窮.水爲太陰之物.故陰闇也.孝經援神契言.土之精黄.木之精青.火之精赤.金之精白.水之精黑.春秋考異郵云.北狄之氣生幽都.色黑.如群畜穹閭.南夷之氣生交趾.色赤.聚隅.如旛旗鳥類.東夷之氣生萊柞.色蒼.搔撽布散.如林木.西夷之氣生沙丘.色白.鋒積.如刀刃之浮.中央土會色黃.如城郭之形.黃氣四塞.土精舒.此五者爲正色.其變色亦五.穎子嚴春秋釋例曰.經有赤狄.白狄.然則東青.北黑.中黃.皆正色也.土戊畏於木.故以妹己妻甲.以黃入於青.故東方閒色綠也.詩云.綠兮衣兮.刺閒色亂正色也.金庚畏於火.故以妹辛妻於丙.以白入於赤.故南方閒色紅.論語鄕黨曰.紅紫不以爲褻服.木甲畏於金.故以妹乙妻庚.以青入於白.故西方閒色縹也.火丙畏於水.故以妹丁妻壬.以赤入於黑.故北方閒色紫也.孔子曰.惡紫之奪朱也.水壬畏於土.故以妹癸妻戊.以黑入於黄.故中央閒色驪黄.五行書云.甲爲青.己爲綠.丙爲赤.辛爲紅.庚爲白.乙爲縹.壬爲黑.丁爲紫.戊爲黃.癸爲驪黃.此皆夫爲本色.妻爲雜色也.柳世隆云.八卦各有其色.震爲青.離爲赤.兌爲白.坎为黑.此皆當方正色.乾爲紫.艮爲红.巽爲綠.坤爲黄.此竝閒色也.坤取未土之正色.甲乙經云.青如翠羽.黑如烏羽.赤如雞冠.黃如蟹腹.白如豕膏.此五色爲生氣見.青如草滋.黑如水苔.黃如枳實.赤如衃血.白如枯骨.此五色爲死氣見.相經曰.青氣初來.如麥生.盛王之時.如樹葉青.欲去之時.如水上苔.赤氣初來.如赭柱.盛王之時.如朱丹.欲去之時.如乾血.黃氣初來.如蠶吐絲.盛王之時.如博基.欲去之時.如枯葉.白氣初來之時.如璽璧.盛王之時.如粉上光.欲去之時.如鮮錢.黑氣初來之時.如死馬肝.盛王之時.如漆光.欲去之時.如苔垢.禮記曰.君子縗絰.則有哀色.端冕.則有敬色.甲冑.則有不可犯之色.大戴禮云.孔子曰.君子有三色焉.顯然怡樂.鐘鼓之色.意氣沈靜.憂喪之色.忿然競動.兵革之色.大戴禮.觀人篇云.人有五性.喜.怒.欲.懼.憂.喜氣內畜.雖欲隱.陽喜必見.四氣皆然.五氣誠在乎中.發形於外.人情不可隱也.喜色猶然以出.怒色怫然以侮.欲色然以愉.懼色薄然以下.憂悲之色.瞿然以靜.盛智必有難盡之色.盛仁必有可尊之色.盛勇必有難懾之色.盛忠必有可親之色.誠潔必有難汙之色.慤真必有可信之色.其質色皓然.固以安.偽色蔓然.亂以煩.夫喜色則黃.怒色則赤.憂色則青.喪色則白.哀色則黑.此皆五常之色.動于五藏.而見于外.隨其善惡盛衰之應也.君子所觀.故於此釋.

译文

Overall Paraphrased Translation
The Great Meaning of the Five Elements reveals the profound connections between nature and human culture through the correspondence of the five colors (green, red, yellow, white, black) with the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) 🌱🔥⛰️⚪️⬛️. Wood in the east is associated with green, symbolizing the growth of all things; fire in the south is represented by red, embodying intense yang energy; earth at the center is yellow, akin to the nurturing embrace of the land; metal in the west corresponds to white, reflecting the austerity of autumn; and water in the north is black, signifying deep and hidden yin. Beyond these primary colors, the interactions of the five elements also give rise to intermediate colors (green, red, light blue, purple, and li yellow), such as "wood overcoming earth results in yellow blending into green to form green," and "metal overcoming wood results in green blending into white to form light blue." The five colors are not merely descriptions of natural phenomena but are also closely linked to human emotions, health, and temperament—joy manifests as yellow, anger as red, worry as green, mourning as white, and sorrow as black. Inner states are visibly reflected through one's complexion.

🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

The five colors are the visual manifestations of the energies of the five elements, reflecting both natural laws (seasons, directions) and internal human states (organs, emotions). The system of primary and intermediate colors reveals the dynamic balance of mutual generation and overcoming within yin-yang and the five elements, while changes in complexion serve as outward indicators of inner health and emotions.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

Validation in Color Psychology: The ancient observations—"anger manifests as red, joy as yellow"—closely align with modern psychological findings, such as "anger causing facial flushing" and "joy promoting harmonious blood and energy flow."
Environment and Health Correlation: The theory of the five colors can be extended to environmental design (e.g., home color schemes influencing emotions) and health warnings (e.g., abnormal complexion reflecting organ issues).
Continuation as Cultural Symbols: Green, red, yellow, white, and black, as core elements of traditional Chinese color systems, remain widely applied in design, art, and medicine (e.g., observation diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Practical Value ⚡

Daily Observation: Preliminary assessment of physical and mental states through complexion (e.g., a greenish tint may indicate liver stagnation, a yellowish hue may suggest spleen deficiency).
Decision-Making Reference: Adjust emotions before important occasions to avoid the negative impact of "worry manifesting as green" or "anger manifesting as red" on interpersonal communication.
Environmental Optimization: Choose primary colors based on space functionality (e.g., use green in studies to enhance focus, warm yellow in bedrooms to promote relaxation).

Philosophical Reflection 🤔

The five-color system本质上 represents the ancient exploration of the unity between cosmic laws and human life activities, using "color" as a medium. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the inner and outer worlds, reminding us that truly "observing colors" is not merely a visual act but a deep awareness of nature, life, and emotions.

📚 Related Knowledge

Related Concepts: Mutual generation and overcoming of the five elements, correspondence of the five organs (liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys) with the five colors, the five virtues (benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, faithfulness) and the five colors.
Further Reading: Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon: Plain Questions section on observation diagnosis, Chun Qiu Kao Yi You on auspicious and ominous color symbolism.
Modern Research: Integration of color therapy (Chromotherapy) with the five-color theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, development of facial color difference detection technology in health monitoring.

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