Difference between revisions of "Red in Buddhist Color Symbolism"
(Created page with "Red throughout the development of civilization has had connotations with life and those things considered sacred in some way. It has developed as synonymous with the preservat...") |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | Red throughout the development of civilization has had connotations with life and those things considered sacred in some way. It has developed as synonymous with the preservation of our life force, as in the symbols of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Danger signs and signals are also often surrounded in red to indicate warning or threat to life. Similarly, fire has two facets. It can be a warming lifesaver or an uncontrollable destroyer. | + | Red throughout the [[development]] of {{Wiki|civilization}} has had connotations with [[life]] and those things considered [[sacred]] in some way. It has developed as {{Wiki|synonymous}} with the preservation of our [[life force]], as in the [[symbols]] of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. [[Danger]] [[signs]] and signals are also often surrounded in red to indicate warning or threat to [[life]]. Similarly, [[fire]] has two facets. It can be a warming lifesaver or an uncontrollable destroyer. |
[[File:Vajrayogini2005A.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Vajrayogini2005A.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | The color red is auspicious in Tibetan culture. It is a sacred color, one of the colors of the five Buddhas and the color of the monk's garments. It is believed to have protective qualities and is therefore often used to paint sacred buildings. In neighboring China, coral is a symbol of longevity, and in India it is thought to prevent hemorrhages. Hans Weihreter records beliefs about coral in western Tibetan cultures which center around blood. Coral is said to strengthen blood, and act beneficially for the menstruation of women. | + | The {{Wiki|color}} red is [[auspicious]] in [[Tibetan culture]]. It is a [[sacred]] {{Wiki|color}}, one of the colors of the [[five Buddhas]] and the {{Wiki|color}} of the [[monk's]] garments. It is believed to have protective qualities and is therefore often used to paint [[sacred]] buildings. In neighboring [[China]], [[coral]] is a [[symbol]] of longevity, and in [[India]] it is [[thought]] to prevent hemorrhages. Hans Weihreter records [[beliefs]] about [[coral]] in [[western]] [[Tibetan]] cultures which center around {{Wiki|blood}}. [[Coral]] is said to strengthen {{Wiki|blood}}, and act beneficially for the menstruation of women. |
| − | The symbolism of the color red shines forth in Buddhist aesthetics in the type of paintings known as red thangkas. A style requiring high technical virtuosity, all elements making up these painting are subsumed in the overall red field characteristic of this special genre of thangka. Red is the color of powerful rituals and deeds. It is the color of passion, transmuted to discriminating wisdom. These are especially relevant in especially vigorous meditation rituals requiring equally potent meditative tools. | + | The [[symbolism]] of the {{Wiki|color}} red shines forth in [[Buddhist]] aesthetics in the type of paintings known as red [[thangkas]]. A style requiring high technical virtuosity, all [[elements]] making up these painting are subsumed in the overall red field [[characteristic]] of this special genre of [[thangka]]. Red is the {{Wiki|color}} of powerful [[rituals]] and [[deeds]]. It is the {{Wiki|color}} of [[passion]], transmuted to [[discriminating wisdom]]. These are especially relevant in especially vigorous [[meditation]] [[rituals]] requiring equally potent [[meditative]] tools. |
| − | Another dimension regarding the color red is the belief surrounding coral, the semi-precious stone which is a gift from our mother ocean to remind us of our eternal foundation. It is actually composed of the skeletons of little animals into reef-plant - like with hard branches. It reminds us of our bones - hard and durable. Coral teaches us form, also flow and flexibility within form. It lives and breathes in the sea but its roots are anchored in the earth. It is one of the five sacred stones of the Tibetan Buddhists, and symbolizes the energy of life force. | + | Another [[dimension]] regarding the {{Wiki|color}} red is the [[belief]] surrounding [[coral]], the semi-precious stone which is a [[gift]] from our mother ocean to remind us of our eternal foundation. It is actually composed of the [[skeletons]] of little [[animals]] into reef-plant - like with hard branches. It reminds us of our [[bones]] - hard and durable. [[Coral]] teaches us [[form]], also flow and [[flexibility]] within [[form]]. It [[lives]] and breathes in the sea but its [[roots]] are anchored in the [[earth]]. It is one of the five [[sacred]] stones of the [[Tibetan Buddhists]], and [[symbolizes]] the [[energy]] of [[life force]]. |
| − | Coral is believed to be a protection against the evil eye. In a curious belief it was supposed to lighten in color and become pale if the wearer were ill or even exposed to illness - or were given poison. The coral would then darken as the wearer recovered. The same attribute was associated with a woman's menstrual periods, which the coral was supposed to "share" with women. Coral was also associated with stopping the flow of blood from a wound, curing madness, imparting wisdom, and calming storms. | + | [[Coral]] is believed to be a [[protection]] against the [[evil]] [[eye]]. In a curious [[belief]] it was supposed to lighten in {{Wiki|color}} and become pale if the wearer were ill or even exposed to {{Wiki|illness}} - or were given [[poison]]. The [[coral]] would then darken as the wearer recovered. The same attribute was associated with a woman's menstrual periods, which the [[coral]] was supposed to "share" with women. [[Coral]] was also associated with stopping the flow of {{Wiki|blood}} from a wound, curing madness, imparting [[wisdom]], and [[calming]] storms. |
| − | In Buddhism coral is believed to be generally good, and the Tibetans and Tibeto-Nepalese think of it as a good investment, and believe that the person who wears coral will have success in life. | + | In [[Buddhism]] [[coral]] is believed to be generally good, and the [[Tibetans]] and Tibeto-Nepalese think of it as a good investment, and believe that the [[person]] who wears [[coral]] will have [[success]] in [[life]]. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 11:26, 2 November 2015
Red throughout the development of civilization has had connotations with life and those things considered sacred in some way. It has developed as synonymous with the preservation of our life force, as in the symbols of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Danger signs and signals are also often surrounded in red to indicate warning or threat to life. Similarly, fire has two facets. It can be a warming lifesaver or an uncontrollable destroyer.
The color red is auspicious in Tibetan culture. It is a sacred color, one of the colors of the five Buddhas and the color of the monk's garments. It is believed to have protective qualities and is therefore often used to paint sacred buildings. In neighboring China, coral is a symbol of longevity, and in India it is thought to prevent hemorrhages. Hans Weihreter records beliefs about coral in western Tibetan cultures which center around blood. Coral is said to strengthen blood, and act beneficially for the menstruation of women.
The symbolism of the color red shines forth in Buddhist aesthetics in the type of paintings known as red thangkas. A style requiring high technical virtuosity, all elements making up these painting are subsumed in the overall red field characteristic of this special genre of thangka. Red is the color of powerful rituals and deeds. It is the color of passion, transmuted to discriminating wisdom. These are especially relevant in especially vigorous meditation rituals requiring equally potent meditative tools.
Another dimension regarding the color red is the belief surrounding coral, the semi-precious stone which is a gift from our mother ocean to remind us of our eternal foundation. It is actually composed of the skeletons of little animals into reef-plant - like with hard branches. It reminds us of our bones - hard and durable. Coral teaches us form, also flow and flexibility within form. It lives and breathes in the sea but its roots are anchored in the earth. It is one of the five sacred stones of the Tibetan Buddhists, and symbolizes the energy of life force.
Coral is believed to be a protection against the evil eye. In a curious belief it was supposed to lighten in color and become pale if the wearer were ill or even exposed to illness - or were given poison. The coral would then darken as the wearer recovered. The same attribute was associated with a woman's menstrual periods, which the coral was supposed to "share" with women. Coral was also associated with stopping the flow of blood from a wound, curing madness, imparting wisdom, and calming storms.
In Buddhism coral is believed to be generally good, and the Tibetans and Tibeto-Nepalese think of it as a good investment, and believe that the person who wears coral will have success in life.
