China in black, white and red ~ Ander Martinez Alonso Photography

China in black, white and red

The beginning of China Red, Pingyao:

6 AM. That morning I woke up earlier than expected. It was Sunday morning in the Ancient City of Pingyao, and as anywhere else in China weekend means crowded. Therefore, I got on my boots, took my camera and went out for a calm morning walk.

The city was like a picture in black and white: Dim light and grey sandstone-constructed buildings. Although there was something else… Red! This realization is the foundation of this project and since them I have been studying, capturing and even developed a specific preset for this trio-color composition that captures the essence of China.

Feng Shui. Recognition:

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy in which the arrangement and color of objects in a room relates to the flow of energy, the Chi. Particularly, in Feng Shui, a red front door means welcome, it is known as the “Mouth of Chi” where energy gets in. For that reason most of doors in China are either painted or decorated in red in order to create welcoming energy.

Red represents the south, and its element is fire. Again, according to the Feng Shui compass, each direction is associated with different aspects of life, in this case, for the south are fame and recognition.

Prosperity:

In ancient China and Japan, red was the color chosen for the entrances to shrines. Afterwards, building codes in China stipulated that only high-ranking government officials could paint their doors red, which is why red has transcended as the color of good fortune, prosperity and joy.

Red can be found everywhere during Chinese New Year as well as other holiday celebrations and family gatherings. It is a meaningful color, for example, wearing red is strictly forbidden at funerals!

Red can be calm:

No much to say for this one. Peaceful.

Red in Architecture:

When it comes to architecture, along with red, yellow/gold is another important color in Chinese culture. It means respect and for that reason was widely used on roofs of most palaces. It is only allowed in the buildings used by imperial families, differentiating and making these palaces look gorgeous. The red can be found in the walls and pillars, it stands as a signal of hope for the stability of the emperor and the nation.

Besides, green is used for the roofs of the residence of imperial children, while blue is used for the roofs of temples.

Dressing in red:

Brides usually dress in red for the day of the wedding and their wedding books since it is believed to be an auspicious color for celebration, fertility and warding off evil . AS it has been said before, red also represents vitality and prosperity. For that reason, as well as in architecture, red is a very present color in the clothes of Chinese people.

“China Red” is becoming a more and more popular theme, attracting the world’s attention.

Red in Chinese politics:

It is believed that no country in the world has ever adopted a color in such a thoroughgoing way as China, where red is an eternal theme for Chinese people, and an essential color that gives color to the soul of the nation.

In the past, red stood for dignity and mystery. Today, westerners think that red to be a representation of China’s Revolution or the communist political system. However, this is definitely not the case as you can appreciate from studying the history of this colour through the history of China.