When you travel to Tibet, you must be impressed by the colorful things in Tibet. Tibetan color concept is embodied in the Buddhist culture, as well as Thangkas, murals, architecture, sculpture, folk arts, and folklife. Here are five of the most iconic Buddha color:

Red - a Symbol of Power

In Buddhism, Amitabha, the leader of the Western Pure Land (Sukhavati) is red, so red is a symbol of power. In Tibetan opera, the character wearing a dark red mask represents a king.

The usage of red in Tibetan architecture is strictly regulated. It is mainly used in the outer walls of palaces, dharma halls, and halls for propitiating stupa towers, to show majesty. Thus it's one of the typical Tibetan colors. For example, the red palace of the Potala Palace has the shrine hall of the Dalai Lama's stupa towers, which is the center of the whole Potala Palace complex, with the important significance of commemoration and sacrifice. Most of the Dharma halls are painted in red, such as Nechung Kuten Hall of Drepung Monastery and Protector Deity Hall of Samye Monastery. In the primitive Bon religion of Tibet, the universe was divided into three worlds: god, man, and ghost. In order to avoid the invasion of ghosts, people painted their faces with red dye. With the development of the times and with the change of belief, this kind of red is no longer painted on the face but remains in the building.

Yellow - Symbolizes Prosperity and Land

In Buddhism, Ratnasambhava representing the south position is yellow, so yellow represents the south. In Tibetan opera, the character with yellow masks represents a noble monk.

Yellow symbolizes prosperity, as well as the land. In Tibetan architecture, the buildings painted in yellow have a higher status, such as temples, the residence of living Buddhas or eminent monks, well-known practice rooms, and the most important halls of the monasteries. For example, the Dalai Lama's yellow practice room in the west of the Potala Palace, the Jambak Buddha hall of Drepung Monastery, and the main hall of Mindrolling Monastery. As for the yellow house on Barkhor Street - Makye Ame, it's in yellow cos it's people's emotional sustenance for memorizing Tsangyang Gyatso - the sixth Dalai Lama. In addition, Buddha's clothes, various religious articles, robes for senior monks and living buddhas, are all yellow. By the way, ordinary monks and laypeople generally do not wear yellow color clothes.

White - Important Part of Tibetan Culture

In Buddhism, the white Vajrasattva represents the position of the East, so the East is expressed in white.

The custom of advocating white color is an extremely important part of the Tibetan culture. The most typical example is the presentation of Khata. It is easy to find that the white Khata is a symbol of Tibetan etiquette on all occasions, no matter the most sacred or the most common. In Tibetan opera, the white mask refers to the male character. The old man will deliberately wear a white coat with a sun and moon pattern on his own zodiac year to show good fortune. The exterior walls of the houses in Tibet are also white. Tibetans live on the snowy plateau, drink white milk, present white Khata, and daub their houses' walls in white. Scientifically, white can resist radiation of ultraviolet on highlands lands.

Blue - Shows the Majesty and Auspicious

Because blue Motionless Buddha in Buddhism represents the middle position, blue means the middle. In Tibetan opera, the blue mask refers specifically to the hunter.

The most familiar blue color is the so-called Tibetan blue. Tibetan blue is mainly used for various angry gods and protector gods in Buddhist Thangkas and murals that mainly represent religious subjects. The color can show the power, majesty, and temperament of the angry gods and protector gods to the maximum extent, with a three-dimensional sense. It's an artistic effect that cannot be represented by any other blue color. The patterns on Tibetan door curtains or tents are almost pasted or sewed with Tibetan blue cloth to represent auspiciousness and abundance, which is another meaning and symbol of Tibetan blue in Tibetan folk customs. In addition, ancient Bonists regarded the color of the sky as sacred, and the sides of the vests and skirts in the monk costumes were lined with blue brims. The inner edge of the Tibetan costume inlaid with blue lines is just adopted from this ancient tradition.

Green - Means Civilians

In Buddhism, Amoghasiddhi Buddha represents the north, so green represents the north. The green mask in Tibetan opera refers specifically to female characters. Green in Tibet means civilians, which is closer to the public, life and the vast agricultural and pastoral areas. Green headscarves, turquoise decorations, green shirts, and green robe brim are often seen on Tibetan women.