Philosophical Implications of Color Symbolism in Yongle Palace Mural Art
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Abstract
This study investigated the philosophical and religious significance of color symbolism in the murals of Yongle Palace, focusing on how specific colors convey spiritual, ethical, and metaphysical meanings within Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian contexts. Additionally, the research compared these Chinese traditions with color interpretations in Indian and Persian religious art to uncover shared and divergent symbolic meanings. Using a qualitative and interdisciplinary methodology, the study employed textual analysis of classical scriptures, semiotic interpretation, historical contextualization, and comparative cultural analysis. Key texts from the Dao De Jing, the Analects, and Buddhist sutras were examined alongside visual analyses of mural imagery to interpret the symbolic roles of red, gold, green, blue, and white. Findings revealed that each color communicated layered spiritual messages across traditions: red symbolizes vitality, compassion, and authority; gold reflects divinity and nobility; green conveys renewal and harmony; blue represents wisdom and tranquility; and white embodies purity and transcendence. The study concluded that color functions not merely as decorative but as a philosophical language within religious art, reinforcing moral values, imperial legitimacy, and metaphysical teachings. This research contributes to broader discourse in art history, religious studies, and semiotic theory by highlighting color as a powerful medium for visual theology and ideological expression.
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