The Forbidden City is painted in red in Beijing because red is traditionally associated with luck, happiness, and prosperity in China, and this color was reserved for the emperor, a symbol of power and divinity.
Red emerged in China as early as the Zhou period (around 1045 to 256 BC) as a color symbolizing royalty and fortune. Later, under the Ming and Qing dynasties, this color became the quintessential imperial hue. Palaces were systematically repainted in red to signify supreme authority and reinforce the concept of the emperor's celestial power. Originally, this bright red came from mineral pigments extracted from iron oxide, which were relatively easy to obtain. The use of this shade in official buildings and palaces thus had both a strong symbolic meaning and a practical reason related to the available materials.
In China, red primarily embodies luck, joy, and prosperity. It is the lucky color of traditional festivals, weddings, and the Chinese New Year. There, it is believed that red drives away evil spirits and protects against misfortune. This belief originates from an old legend in which a monster, frightened by this bright color, is repelled by the vivid red that decorates homes. Since then, the custom has persisted: red is both a weapon against bad luck and a symbol of lasting happiness. It is no surprise, then, that the walls of the Forbidden City display this color to attract luck and harmony to the imperial palace, the spiritual center of the country.
The color red in the Forbidden City is primarily a matter of power. In Chinese imperial architecture, red is clearly linked to the supreme authority of the emperor. This bright red served as a constant reminder to visitors that they were in a territory reserved for the sovereign, clearly marking the separation between ordinary mortals and the imperial figure. Widely used on walls, doors, and columns, the red hue directly imposed respect and submission. It also symbolized the stability of a regime meant to last forever, as nothing better than a color associated with vital energy and prosperity could reinforce the image of a dynasty at its peak.
Painting the walls red with traditional paint made from red ochre allowed for better protection of buildings. Why? Simply because these paints contain iron, which acts as a kind of natural antifungal. It easily repels mold and limits wood rot. Red also made the walls a bit more resistant to weather because the paint formed a protective layer against wind, rain, and sudden temperature changes. Basically, it wasn't just beautiful: it was smart and practical at the same time.
To effectively protect wooden structures in buildings against harmful insects and mold, the traditional red paint used contained tung oil, a natural ingredient with protective and repellent properties.
In ancient China, the combination of red (walls) and yellow (roof tiles) in the Forbidden City symbolized absolute power: red represented prosperity and good fortune, while yellow was reserved exclusively for the emperor.
Only the emperor and his close family could move freely in all parts of the Forbidden City, which explains its name: it was off-limits to ordinary people and foreigners during the imperial era.
The red walls of the Forbidden City were made from natural pigments primarily derived from iron, which gives them this particularly weather-resistant hue.
No, although the original hue is still respected to maintain historical authenticity, the chemical composition and manufacturing method of the red paint have evolved to avoid the toxic effects of cinnabar traditionally used.
Indeed, red is traditionally associated in China with good luck, prosperity, and the warding off of evil spirits, which explains its popularity in many religious or spiritual contexts beyond the political sphere.
Yes, the golden yellow of the roofs is also emblematic, representing imperial authority. The blue and green, on the other hand, were generally reserved for religious buildings or imperial summer residences.
Absolutely, the traditional Chinese red paint used at the time often included cinnabar, a natural pigment rich in mercury that also has insect-repelling and protective properties for wooden structures.
Yes, in the imperial era, red symbolized supreme power and prosperity. As a result, its use was strictly reserved for imperial and official buildings, especially those directly related to the emperor, such as the Forbidden City.
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