In general, the color yellow is associated with light, gold, happiness and energy. But where do these relationships between said color and a series of objects, elements and even emotions come from? Have the same associations been made in all cultures?
In this article we will see some of the meanings attributed to the color yellow in different cultures as well as the main paradigms for describing the chromatic systems that exist.
When it comes to describing colors, the main color systems are divided into two broad categories: one describes the light properties of each color; and the other defines its pigmenting characteristics.
The above dates back to the 17th century, when Newton’s studies on the decomposition of light allowed him to establish a spectrum of seven main colors: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Later, a system of colors was established, which are those that the human eye has the ability to differentiate, and which are therefore known as primary colors. These are yellow, cyan and magenta, which usually translates to yellow, blue and red respectively. For their part, the colors that are derived from the mixture of the latter are known as secondary colors.
At the same time, the German scientist and novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe developed a theory of colors where he analyzed the nature and form of representation of each one. Consequently it became possible to attribute symbolic meanings to each one. In his theory, Yellow is associated with the following values and categories:
Furthermore, yellow is considered a warm tone, which can lead to hot colors (those that are generated from mixing yellow-red, yellow-orange). But, at the same time, yellow can give rise to cold colors, as long as it is mixed with the color with green.
In the same sense, far from there being an exclusive relationship between yellow and a specific cultural meaning, it is a series of ambiguous meanings that have crossed different cultures.
Meaning of the color yellow
Yellow and the different meanings (and even emotions) it can evoke have had particular characteristics in different cultures. Although color psychology has studied how color exposure produces a series of physiological reactions, and a specific emotional experience; Anthropology has also given an account of how colors have been loaded with different cultural meanings. At the same time, colors have represented important elements or phenomena for different times and cultures.
We will see below the meaning associated with the color yellow in three different cultures.
1. Western Europe
For centuries, in Western Europe yellow was used to mark lives deviated from Christianity, for example, for prostitution, the sick, lepers, heresy, or anyone who does not profess the same religion, such as the Jews.
So in the past yellow had been associated with devaluation, especially during the Middle Ages. In this sense, it invoked the idea of disturbance and related attitudes.
Although it had previously been a symbol of divinity due to its relationship with the sun, and had subsequently expressed the idea of wealth; Soon yellow acquired meanings in the opposite sense: an association with the color of bile, which represents both anger or debauchery, as well as lies, betrayal and heresy.
In pre-Hispanic cultures, such as ancient Mexico, yellow was associated with fire and the sun (along with red). Likewise, the yellow It is related to one of the four deities that make up the universe according to the Tarascan worldview: the Tiripeme of the north.
It also represented one of the symbols of maintenance due to its association with corn. In fact, it is one of the four colors related to the ritual of said food, very important in cultural terms. Likewise, yellow was the color associated with the stars, and therefore, it was related to the connection between the latter and gold. In the same sense, yellow could be a symbol of wealth, but at the same time of death. On the other hand, it could also represent clarity and energy.
3. In Asia
Two of the main explanatory theories of color symbology in Asia have been Feng Shui and Yin Yang. Of the first, its relationship with Taoist philosophy and the consideration of the five elements through which energy circulates stands out. These elements represent the entire environment, including the color manifestations. In this sense, yellow would be related to the element earth, which is in turn representative of a dense and conservative atmosphere, but at the same time also of disorder or instability.
For its part, in the Yin Yang, and in its representation of the world through complementary elements; Yellow would be associated with Yang due to its link with the Sun and heat, in turn associated with masculinity. Finally and for the same reason, yellow has historically been positioned as a representative color in China, although red and green have also been.
