In Chinese culture, red is a lucky colour; it’s often used for gift giving or weddings. Similarly in Hinduism, red is considered lucky (as far as I’ve read) and brides wear red at their weddings. The only commonality I can see between Indian culture and Chinese culture (in terms of beliefs) is Buddhism, is it because of this or something entirely different or a coincidence?
This could be a good starting point. It seems that in China, red represents fire, and fire back then was like electricity today. As for India, I’ve found this article which says that red symbolizes the Hindu goddess Durga for her feminine power and new beginnings (which may or may not be because of menstrual or postpartum bleeding)
So, a coincidence?
I guess, but at the same time, I don’t think red necessarily means luck in India based on the sources that I’ve read.
It does, the article that was linked even says red is a very auscipious colour in Indian culture
Isn’t it the cheapest color to produce?
Do you have a source on that?
I can’t see (in Chinese culture at least) that the cheapest colour would be used for something like a wedding, it would not reflect well on one’s family to use something cheap. The reds i’m referring to are bright reds, like jewel red, not like a dull/muddy red
Source: Barns were painted red for the reason of cost savings/ease of production. But that might fall into a rusty/muddy hue and not a vibrant red like you’re referring to.
It is a rust hue, because the iron used in its production is what makes it cheap
Also, red usually faded to a clay-ish brown. (Which is why the British used it for their marines…)
might not have been in China… the rarity of iron removes one of the common sources of red tint… it may be the exact opposite… red was probably a rare and highly prized dye, and therefore associated with wealth and luck… like purple around the Mediterranean…
Like… Cinnibar?
It’s the red stuff used for stamps/seals/signatures in East Asia. The Olmec were also keen on their red pigment, as you can see from the Tomb of the Red Queen.
It’s also mercury-based, so pretty fucking toxic.
Edit: Also for OP, the Wikipedia articles on Vermilion. Pigments were usually prized everywhere, and both China and India have very long art histories that predate most religions anyway but Buddhism is only 2000 years old.
if it was associated with Luck, it was almost certainly because for a very long time only wealthy people could afford it
