Blue Green
Blue and green are not always distinguished in East Asian cultures. While people can certainly perceive the difference in color between dark blue and lime green, these are seen as part of the same spectrum of color and given the same metaphorical meanings and associations. In elemental theory, blue-green is considered the color of wood, spring, and east on a compass. In the Chinese language, qing (青) refers to a narrow band of blue-green colors—similar to the logo of the Lam Museum.
This contrasts with the Japanese language, where ao (あお) refers to a large range of colors. Historically, Japanese used only this word until the word midori (みどり) for “sprout” began to refer to the color of plants. This historical development has led to blue and green being used interchangeably in many contexts, such as blue traffic lights meaning “go” alongside green ones.
The Chinese color term qing was first written down during the first millennium CE, when sources like the Book of Rites stated that the emperor wears clothes of this color. As the technology of blue-green dye production continued to develop, blue-green clothes eventually became more accessible for governmental officials with low rankings, students, and even ordinary citizens. Only a few hundred years later during the Han dynasty, blue-green was the color for peasants, servants, and slaves. During the Ming dynasty a thousand years after that, the meaning of blue-green had changed again. Daoist priests wore blue-green robes to show their status as part of the government-sponsored religion. In contemporary times, female characters in Chinese opera are dressed in blue-green shirts to signify their youth and low social status. Rather than a fixed meaning, blue-green has come to represent different social groups based on the culture of the time.
Coat
Japan
1986.04.E.148
Loud and large patterns define this haori. It is probably intended for a young, unmarried person to wear during the spring. Traditional clothing is often worn only during specific seasons.
Outfit
China
2009.07.E.18.a&b
The style of this outfit is a blend between the historic fashions of the 19th century and modern influences of the 20th century. The multicolored floral and butterfly embroidered design, as well as the large cuffs and collar, contrast with the more modern pants.
Portraits
Japan
1986.04.E.162.a&b
Silk paintings were made during the late 19th century by using gouache paint on silk fabric, called eginu, which is typically thin and coarse. The silk is then backed onto a stiff card, called urauchi, to make the painting more durable. These paintings depict a high-status couple.
Robe
China
1986.04.E.495
Various shades of green, purple, pink, and yellow make up the silk embroidery floral design. It was considered very fashionable in the 1930s, when this style of clothing was worn in the Hong Kong nightlife scene.
Jewelry
China
1990.12.E.1,2&3
Turquoise is a blue-green mineral often used in jewelry. In Tibet, turquoise was prized as a stone symbolizing the sky. In other parts of China, turquoise was often a substitute for the more highly valued jade.
Explore the other colors in this exhibit:
