The color green is most commonly associated worldwide with sustainability, nature and the global celebration of Earth Day.
Green is symbolic for, among other things, environmental protection, health, ecology, organic substances and nature. Many countries have also adopted the color of green in their military and traffic lights.
However, the following facts about the use of green in Chinese culture would astonish you.
Green means a share’s price has gone down in China.
In the U.S., investors would be more than happy to witness all their stocks turn green. However, a “green” day in the stock markets in China might be the worst day for moneymen.
Chinese stock markets employ green for down and red for up, which is the opposite of U.S. stock markets, because “red” is an auspicious color in China. U.S. dollars are also printed in green, while the 100 RMB bills (the largest denomination) in China are printed red.
Green hats suggest dishonesty in marriage or relationships in Chinese culture.
Green refers to St. Patrick, and people wear green hats to celebrate this festival. But be careful not to give your Chinese friends “green hats” as gifts. In China, if a man is seen wearing a green hat, there might be some infidelity in his relationship.
Green does not match well with red in Chinese dress.
When people talk about Christmas clothes, green and red always match well with each other in the U.S. But, in China, if you wear the combination of colors you will be judged by your dressing taste and will be mocked as being rustic.
Green represents “wood” in the Chinese Five Elements Theory.
Five Elements Theory, also known as wu xing, is an ancient Chinese philosophy that explains the interactions of five fundamental elements — metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Those five elements are considered as the basis of everything on the planet. The “green” wood represents creativity, luxuriance, blooming and flourishing.
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Green is associated with pandas in China.
The loveliest use of green is affiliated with the cute pandas. The Panda of Five Friendlies (Fuwa), the mascot of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was green. The distinctive black patches around the eyes of giant pandas make them among the most popular animals around the world. Pandas feed on bamboo; thus, people always combine this rare species with the color green and with best wishes of its existence.
Bo Yu is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers beach volleyball, track and field, cross country and volleyball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Bo_YuB.
