When you think of the color white, words like “pure” or “fresh” might come to mind. But in Chinese culture, white carries a deeper, often surprising significance. While Western cultures often link white with weddings and celebrations, in China, white tells a different story—one woven into traditions, beliefs, and daily life. Curious about why white is worn at funerals or what it means in Chinese art and symbolism?

In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating history, complex meanings, and unique uses of white throughout Chinese culture. Read on to discover what this simple color truly represents in China.

The Symbolism of White in Chinese Culture

When you think of colors representing different meanings in cultures around the world, white might seem a straightforward choice for purity or peace. However, in Chinese culture, white holds a far deeper and more nuanced significance than you might expect. Let’s take a fascinating journey into what white represents in China, how its meanings have evolved, and how this color continues to play an important role in everyday life, traditions, and symbolism.

The Origins and Historical Significance of White

White in Ancient Chinese Thought

Colors have always played a powerful role in shaping Chinese philosophy, art, and custom. As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, white was one of the five key colors associated with the elements of the universe (the “Wu Xing” system). In this cosmology, each color corresponds to an element, a direction, and a season. White is linked with metal, the west, and the autumn season. It was considered to be the color of finality—an idea that has influenced the color’s symbolic associations to this day.

Symbolism in Classical Literature and Art

Chinese poets and artists often used white to evoke images of high mountains capped with snow, flawless jade, clouds, and the clarity of moonlight. All these images blend notions of purity, emptiness, and transcendence. Yet, these serene images are also paired with the reality of transience and the cycle of life—an undercurrent that helps explain why white became a color both of celebration (in some ancient rites) and of mourning.

Core Meanings of White in Chinese Culture

Purity, Simplicity, and Cleanliness

At its heart, the color white in China symbolizes purity, integrity, and simplicity, much as it does in many cultures. A white flower, garment, or painting often suggests something unspoiled and serene—free from corruption or extravagance. The clarity of white also links to ideals of honesty and the straightforwardness valued in Chinese philosophy.

The Color of Mourning and Death

One of the most distinctive and perhaps surprising meanings of white in Chinese culture is its deep association with mourning and funerals. Unlike Western traditions (where black is the color of mourning), white is the primary color for grieving families in China. When attending a funeral or ancestor worship ceremony, it is custom to wear white clothing—typically simple white hemp or cotton robes.

This connection to mourning has ancient roots. White’s association with the “end” (autumn, the end of the harvest and the approach of winter) made it a fitting symbol for commemorating the deceased. Ritual use of white is meant to convey respect, detachment, the letting go of earthly attachments, and the hope for spiritual purity.

Spirituality and the Beyond

White is also seen as the color that lies between the visible world and the world of spirits. In Taoism and Buddhist practices, white represents emptiness or the void—a peaceful, neutral state that allows for transcendence, spiritual growth, and enlightenment. During “Ghost Festival,” a tradition to honor wandering spirits, white items are often used to symbolize openness to communication with the beyond.

White in Traditional Customs and Daily Life

Funerals and Mourning Attire

Perhaps the most visible expression of white’s cultural meaning is at Chinese funerals. Family members of the deceased wear simple white clothing, and white silk or paper decorations are used in mourning halls and processions. Money given as condolences is wrapped in white envelopes, and offerings to ancestors often include white flowers or paper goods.

Weddings: An Evolving Tradition

In stark contrast to Western culture, where brides traditionally wear dazzling white dresses, Chinese brides have long worn red dresses symbolizing luck and celebration. White, because of its mourning associations, was once considered inauspicious for weddings. However, with globalization and Western influences, some modern Chinese weddings now feature brides in white, though red often remains prominent, especially during the tea ceremony or other rituals.

Symbolism in Festivals and Religion

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, celebrated in the seventh lunar month, it’s customary to offer white foods, candles, or paper money to honor the dead and appease wandering spirits. In Buddhist monasteries, monks often wear white for special purification rites, and white lotus flowers are revered as a symbol of spiritual awakening.

Everyday Life and Etiquette

Traditionally, giving gifts or wrapping presents in white paper is avoided, as it can be seen as invoking funerary associations. Red, by contrast, is the color of luck and is favored for celebrations. That said, white is still popular in fashion and modern décor for its associations with cleanliness and simplicity, especially in urban and internationalized settings.

Variations and Related Concepts

The Five Elements (Wu Xing) and White

The Chinese doctrine of the Five Elements deeply influences the meaning of colors. Here, white (associated with metal) embodies rigidity, clarity, and justice. This gives the color an additional dimension beyond mourning—white becomes a force for order and a symbol of completion, just as metal tools are essential but also signal the harvest’s end.

Shades and Expressions in Language

There are many Chinese expressions and proverbs that use the word for ‘white’ (bái, 白). To say something is “white as jade” (白玉), for instance, is to compliment its purity. However, idioms such as “white event” (白事) directly refer to funerary matters.

White in Chinese Art, Architecture, and Literature

Art and Calligraphy

White space (known as “liubai” 留白) is central to Chinese painting and calligraphy. The deliberate use of empty space isn’t a lack, but rather a vital element that brings balance and evokes boundlessness—a reflection of Taoist and Zen philosophies. It’s the interplay between what is painted (the ink) and what is left blank (the white) that creates harmony.

Architectural and Decorative Uses

Traditional Chinese homes use white walls paired with dark wood or colorful accents, creating a sense of clarity and calm. In gardens, white stones, pebbles, or walls provide a backdrop that emphasizes the natural beauty of plants and water.

Literature and Poetry

Beyond visual art, white is a poetic color. The white moon, white clouds, and the white hair of old age appear frequently in Chinese poetry as metaphors for longing, melancholy, or spiritual purity. Legends abound of beautiful women or immortals dressed in white garments, wandering mountains or appearing in dreams.

Fascinating Facts and Folk Beliefs about White

• Dreams of white: Dreaming of someone wearing white, especially if they are deceased, is interpreted as a sign or a message from the afterlife.
• White animals: White animals, such as cranes or white tigers, are considered auspicious or even spiritual messengers.
• Seasonal change: The “White Dew” (白露) festival marks the arrival of autumn in the traditional lunar calendar, symbolizing a turning point in the year.
• White in medicine: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), foods that are white—such as rice, lotus root, and white fungus—are often linked to nourishing the lungs and promoting balance.

White in Modern Chinese Society

While the traditional symbolism of white remains strong, modernization and global influences have brought new interpretations. Minimalist white interiors, white cars, and even white clothing are now seen as clean, chic, and cosmopolitan, especially among younger urbanites. International brands often employ white in design, packaging, and advertisements when appealing to a sense of luxury and sophistication.

However, sensitivities around the use of white for wrapping gifts, wedding attire, or festive décor persist—reminding us that in China, even the simplest color can carry deep cultural resonance.

Conclusion

White is far from being a “blank” or neutral color in Chinese culture. Its story is layered, stretching from ancient philosophy and ritual to everyday life and modern aesthetics. It encompasses purity, the cycle of life and death, spiritual transcendence, and societal values. By understanding the symbolism of white, you gain unique insight into Chinese traditions, etiquette, and worldview.

Next time you see a Chinese painting’s empty spaces or attend a Chinese festival, remember: every use of white is purposeful and rich with meaning.

FAQ

1. Why is white the color of mourning in Chinese culture?
White represents the end of a cycle, finality, and the approach of the unknown. Historically associated with metal (a symbol of closure in the Five Elements system), white became the color for funerals, expressing purity, sorrow, and respect for the deceased.

2. What does white symbolize besides mourning?
White also symbolizes purity, honesty, simplicity, and clarity. In art and philosophy, it represents emptiness or the potential for renewal. It can also symbolize balance, fulfillment, and spiritual awakening.

3. Do Chinese brides ever wear white dresses?
Traditionally, Chinese brides wear red for luck. However, white wedding dresses have become more common in modern China, especially in urban areas or for certain wedding photos. Still, red usually features in key wedding rituals.

4. Is it offensive to give a white-wrapped gift in China?
Yes, white wrapping is often considered inappropriate for gifts, especially during festive occasions, birthdays, and weddings. This is because white is linked to funerals and could be seen as bringing bad luck. Red or gold are safer choices for gift-wrapping.

5. What role does white play in Chinese festivals?
White is significant during mourning rituals and ceremonies like the Hungry Ghost Festival, signaling respect for ancestors and spirits. In celebratory festivals, whites are usually avoided in favor of brighter, luckier colors.

6. Are there positive associations with white in China?
While white is connected to death, it is also respected for its associations with honesty, integrity, and spiritual clarity. Moreover, in art, white space is cherished for creating balance and beauty.

7. How is white represented in Chinese art and architecture?
White is vital as “empty space” in painting and calligraphy, suggesting harmony and openness. White walls, stones, and pebbles are commonly used in gardens and architecture to highlight other features and evoke tranquility.

8. Does the color white appear in Chinese medicine?
Yes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, white foods are associated with nourishing the lungs and fostering vitality. Foods like white rice, lotus root, and white fungus are highly valued.

9. Are there idioms involving the color white in Chinese?
Many idioms use the color white. “White event” means a funeral. “Jade white” expresses purity. Another phrase, “returning with a white blade” (coming home empty-handed), highlights defeat or loss in ancient military terms.

10. Has the meaning of white changed in modern China?
Globalization has brought new associations for white—now also seen as modern, clean, and fashionable, especially in interior design and business. However, traditional meanings are respected in ceremonies and etiquette, reflecting the enduring legacy of this remarkable color.