Chinese Colour Intelligence

Chinese Colour Library中国色彩库

Every colour here has a name, a source text and a reason to exist. The library pairs the classical colours of Chinese material culture — objects, textiles, pigments — with the 24 solar terms, each giving four colours in the 起承转合 (open / succeed / turn / combine) structure. Each entry carries its HEX value, the nearest CSS and Pantone equivalents, the work it was recorded in, and reference photography.

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The 24 Solar Terms 二十四节气 · 每节气四色

A solar term is roughly a fortnight, each with its own weather, plants and light. The four colours run 起 (opening) → 承 (succeeding) → 转 (turning) → 合 (combining).

Classical Colours 古典色 · 依色系

Object- and material-named colours from classical texts, grouped into the nine traditional colour families.

Values are common reference conversions; nearest CSS and Pantone matches are approximate (OKLab). Traditional colours have no single standard value. Colour names, cultural notes and photography are compiled from classical Chinese sources and openly licensed stock — see each colour page for its citation.