Rhiannon Hendricks
In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolises happiness, good fortune, success, honour, and love. It has been a staple in Chinese wedding attire for over 650 years, since the Ming Dynasty. Brides often wear red dresses, such as the Qun Kwa or the Cheongsam, to celebrate the joy and happiness of the marriage. In Southern China, brides wear a Long Feng Gua, a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and a phoenix, symbolising the groom and bride, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Red |
| Culture | Chinese |
| Emotion | Happiness, joy |
| Meaning | Celebration, good fortune, success, honour, fertility, love |
| Occasion | Weddings, Lunar New Year |
| History | Started in the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago |
| Style | Qun Kwa, cheongsam, qipao |
| Fabric | Silk |
| Details | Gold or silver embroidery, dragons, phoenixes, clouds |
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What You'll Learn
Red symbolises happiness, joy, and celebration
In Chinese culture, the colour red symbolises happiness, joy, and celebration. It has been a traditional colour for wedding dresses for over 650 years, since the Ming Dynasty. Brides in China often wear a red Qun Kwa or a red cheongsam, also known as a Qipao, to celebrate the joy and happiness of their marriage.
Red is a popular colour in China, often used in festivals and special events. It is a sacred colour, believed to bring good luck and fortune, and to drive away evil spirits. It is also associated with honour, success, loyalty, fertility, and love.
The Lunar New Year is a particularly joyful time in China, marking new beginnings and double celebrations for brides and grooms. Red is a traditional colour for brides during this period, and it is also customary for the couple to decorate their new house with "double happy" designs made from red paper.
Red is also combined with gold, another lucky colour, in Chinese weddings. Gold symbolises wealth and fortune, and red and gold together are believed to bring good luck. This combination is often seen in the bride's attire, with gold embroidery or accessories accompanying a red dress.
Red is a bold and auspicious choice for a wedding dress, and it is a wonderful way for a bride to honour her Chinese heritage and express her happiness and joy on her wedding day.
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Red is considered an auspicious colour
Red is the most popular clothing colour for brides in Chinese culture. Brides can wear a red Qun Kwa, a two-piece dress with an A-line skirt, or a cheongsam, a figure-hugging one-piece. In Southern China, brides wear a Long Feng Gua, a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and phoenix, symbolising the groom and bride respectively. The bride might also wear a red silk veil, which covers her flushing face, and a Chinese Phoenix Coronet, an ornament of honour.
Red is also used in other parts of Chinese weddings. For example, guests usually give money as a wedding gift in a small red envelope. The couple's "new room" is decorated with "double happy" designs made from red paper. Red is also combined with gold, which represents wealth and fortune, in dresses, decorations, and embroidery.
Although Chinese weddings are becoming more Westernised, the colour red remains an important part of the culture and tradition.
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Red is believed to bring luck and fortune
Red is considered an auspicious and celebrated colour in Chinese culture. It symbolises happiness, prosperity, success, honour, and love. It is believed to ward off evil spirits, bringing good fortune and success to the couple's new life together. The colour is also associated with fertility and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for weddings.
The traditional Chinese wedding dress, known as the Qipao or Cheongsam, is often crafted from luxurious silk in vibrant red hues. Sometimes, the dress features intricate gold or silver embroidery, adding a touch of elegance and symbolism to the outfit. Gold is associated with wealth and fortune, enhancing the overall auspiciousness of the red dress.
The combination of red and gold is particularly favoured in Chinese weddings. This pairing is considered to bring good luck and fortune. Brides may opt for a red dress with delicate gold embroidery or choose to incorporate gold through accessories and decorations. The Long Feng Gua, a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and phoenix, is another traditional choice for brides in Southern China.
In conclusion, the colour red holds deep cultural significance in Chinese weddings. By choosing a red wedding dress, brides embrace a symbol of luck, happiness, and fortune. The colour's association with prosperity, success, and fertility makes it an ideal choice for celebrating the start of a new life together. The blending of traditional colours and modern styles in Chinese wedding attire showcases the unique blend of East and West in Chinese culture.
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The custom of wearing red began in the Ming Dynasty
The custom of wearing red for Chinese weddings began in the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty is considered the golden age of ancient Chinese costume culture and the peak of traditional Chinese wedding costumes. The dynasty's colourful embroidered dragon and phoenix red wedding costume, the Feng Guan and Xia Pei, as well as the red bridal veil, have influenced generations to come.
The Ming Dynasty followed the system of the previous Tang and Song Dynasties, but the people's pursuit of beauty and their growing consciousness led to the costumes of the Ming Dynasty taking on a unique and prosperous form. The Ming style is characterised by elegance and dignity, which has made it popular among modern people. The dynasty's red wedding attire is said to have been influenced by the dynasty's association with the element of fire and the emperor Zhu's surname, which also had a red meaning. Thus, the colour red was advocated for in the culture and politics of the nation.
Red is a traditionally auspicious colour in Chinese culture, representing joy, happiness, good luck, and celebration. It is worn at festivals and special events such as weddings. In Southern China, brides wear the Long Feng Gua, a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and a phoenix, symbolising the groom and bride respectively. Brides may also wear a red silk veil, which is said to cover their flushing faces and signify the start of a life of cherishing each other.
The custom of wearing red wedding dresses has continued in modern Chinese weddings, with brides choosing to wear the Qipao or Cheongsam to pay homage to their tradition. The Qipao is a one-piece red dress that often features an elaborate gold or silver design. The colour red is also combined with gold, which symbolises wealth and fortune, in Chinese weddings.
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Brides wear a red Qun Kwa or a red cheongsam
The Qun Kwa and the cheongsam are two iconic garments often worn by brides during Chinese wedding ceremonies. The Qun Kwa, also known as Kwa, is a traditional Chinese wedding outfit with origins dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). The dress consists of two main pieces: the Qun, an elaborately decorated skirt, and the Kwa, a jacket featuring intricate embroidery, usually with a dragon and phoenix displayed prominently. The dragon, representing strength, power, and good fortune, symbolises the groom, while the phoenix embodies grace, virtue, and the union of yin and yang, symbolising the bride. Together, the pairing symbolises a harmonious marriage. The Qun Kwa is typically made from rich red silk or satin, as red is a colour of luck and celebration in Chinese culture.
The cheongsam, also known as the qipao, is a one-piece, form-fitting dress that also originated in the Qing dynasty. It evolved from the loose-fitting garments worn by Manchu women and gained popularity in the early 20th century. The dress is typically edged with piping, especially at the collar and closure, and is characterised by its high collar, tailored bodice, and straight skirt that falls to the knees. The length of the cheongsam can vary, and it is often adorned with elaborate designs, including sequins and beads. The colour and style of the cheongsam can also vary, with modern versions blending contemporary fashion with traditional elements.
Both the Qun Kwa and the cheongsam are deeply symbolic in Chinese culture and are worn by brides to connect with their heritage and show respect for cultural customs. The colour red is particularly significant, symbolising joy, celebration, and love, making it an ideal choice for a wedding dress. By wearing a red Qun Kwa or cheongsam, brides can honour their cultural traditions while also celebrating the joy and happiness of their marriage.
The decision to wear a Qun Kwa or a cheongsam on their wedding day ultimately comes down to personal preference and the level of formality desired. The Qun Kwa, with its intricate embroidery and symbolic meaning, is a more traditional and formal choice, while the cheongsam offers a blend of tradition and modernity, allowing brides to showcase their elegance and femininity. Ultimately, both dresses are beautiful and culturally rich choices for a Chinese wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
In Chinese culture, red symbolises happiness, prosperity, good fortune, honour, success, loyalty, fertility and love. It is also believed to drive away evil spirits.
The custom of wearing red at weddings began during the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago.
Modern brides may choose to wear a red Qipao, a traditional Chinese one-piece, and a white Western-style wedding gown. Other adaptations include fusing Western and Eastern details, such as a cheongsam in ivory silk with red embroidery.
Gold and yellow are considered imperial and lucky colours, often woven into embroidery or accessories. Green was the most popular colour for bridal fashion during the Tang Dynasty, symbolising vitality, life, harmony and compassion. Purple is also the colour of nobility and royalty in China.
Red is a predominant colour in Chinese weddings, used in decorations, invitations and envelopes containing cash gifts.
