The color blue-green refers to the color between blue and green, and it can also refer to black. When describing lake water as blue-green, it indicates a light blue color; when describing mountains as blue-green, it indicates a bluish-green color. In the “Song of the Lustful Duzi” by Song Yu from the Warring States period, it is described that ‘a moment of white is disliked, a moment of blue-green is disliked.’ Regarding the color blue-green, there is also an idiom ‘full head of black hair’ which describes having a full head of black hair. Taoism venerates the color blue-green; black is also considered a form of blue-green. Taoists wear black (blue-green) hats and scarves, representing the azure sky above their heads.
In early Taoism, there were no fixed styles for Taoist clothing. By the Liu Song period of the Southern Dynasties, the famous Taoist Lu Xiujing summarized and reformed Southern Taoism. While organizing Taoist scriptures, he compiled over a hundred volumes of texts on Taoist fasting rituals and established names for Taoist robes: ‘Moon Cloak’, ‘Star Scarf’, ‘Rainbow Garment’, ‘Cloud Sleeve’, and ‘Ten Absolute Spirit Banners’.
Afterward, these gradually evolved into a complete set of clothing rituals by the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. According to “Dao Shu Yuan Shen Qi”: ‘The clothing of Laozi’s disciples does not conform to worldly fashions.’ This requires that Taoists should not wear secular trendy styles but should maintain ancient Chinese customs.
Taoists favor wearing blue-green robes; this tradition evolved from cultural beliefs regarding the five directions, five elements, five colors, and the Taoist philosophy of valuing life. Blue-green is one of the five colors: ‘blue-green, red, white, black, yellow,’ corresponding to ‘east, south, west, north, center’ for directions and ‘wood, fire, metal, water, earth’ for elements.
‘Shuo Wen Jie Zi’ states: ‘Blue-green is the color of the east; wood generates fire; fire produces red. The trust in red and blue means it must be so. All things related to blue are derived from blue.’ In terms of directionality among five elements and colors in which wood belongs to blue in the east represents vitality; east signifies birth. The east is where “Ten Continents and Three Islands” are located in Taoist belief—an ideal realm sought by practitioners.
According to Gao Shi Min Yi De from the Qing Dynasty in “Qing Gui Xuan Miao”: ‘For all True Unity clothing styles, only blue-green is primary. Blue-green represents eastern wood (甲乙木), corresponds with Tai hexagram position while also being associated with auspicious energy generated by Azure Dragon—this symbolizes lineage from Eastern Emperor Lord Hua with connotations hidden within True Unity’s dual cultivation philosophy.’
When a Daoist temple’s abbot or presiding monk holds grand ceremonies at such times they wear purple ceremonial robes. This stems from an anecdote about Laozi riding a green ox out through Hangu Pass when ‘purple energy came from the east,’ thus purple became regarded as a noble and auspicious color in Daoism.
Since Tang-Song dynasties emperors have also bestowed purple ceremonial garments upon renowned high-ranking Daoists. Upholding tradition today only abbots or presiding monks along with highly accomplished masters or revered figures may don purple ceremonial attire. It can be seen that ordinary Daoists are not permitted to wear purple robes; lay practitioners or believers attending Daoist activities are likewise prohibited from wearing purple garments.
In numerous ancient literary works,’blue’ has been vividly expressed by many scholars throughout history. For instance: Li Bai’s poem ‘The clouds are greenish-blue as if it’s going to rain’ means: The cloud layer looks dark like it’s about to rain here ‘greenish-blue’ refers to ‘black.’
Xunzi said ‘Blue comes from indigo but surpasses indigo,’ referring that indigo dye extracted from indigo plants appears bluer than indigo itself here ‘blue’ interprets as ‘blue.’ In “Records of History – Fan Sui Cai Ze Biography”: ‘Xu Gu said earnestly about death penalty saying: Gu never expected you could elevate yourself above azure clouds.’ Here ‘azure’ refers to ‘sky-blue.’ Many literary poems have become timeless tales rich in imagery.
In ancient views，blue symbolizes life’s light，thus becoming life’s representation，and people discovered when youth fades away，life begins wilting，one’s hair turns gray or white hence reinforcing their belief that “black hair” symbolizes healthiness and life.
Blue represents life’s essence while Daoism embodies teachings originating from East。Daoism values life，enjoys living，and reveres azure reflecting ancient Chinese philosophy on “Heaven-Man Harmony.”
by-Wang Daolong
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