Page 51 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 44
Bi-section

The round section of jade, whose outer diameter is double the width of the circular
hole in the middle, is taken to be a simple symbol of heaven. It was formerly part of
the ceremonial apparatus used in earth worship. Some sinologists think that it also had an
astronomical purpose.
‘Intact ring’ (wan bi) signifies, inter alia, ‘virginity’.

Black

hei

When Shi Huang-di, the first Emperor of China, had defeated the red Zhou Dynasty
he chose black as the colour of his dynasty, since water (associated with black) puts out
fire (red). His successors in the Former Han Dynasty (from 206 BC) let all of a hundred
years elapse before they opted for red again.
According to the ancient teaching of the five permutations of the elements, black
was associated with water, the North and a salty taste, and its representative
domestic animal was the pig. Black was chosen by later historians as the symbolic
colour of the first of the three ancient dynasties – Xia; the second – Shang – was
symbolised by white.
As a symbol, black stands for darkness, death, honour. In the Chinese theatre eight
heroes with blackened faces represent men who are honourable, if rough and ready: the

Chinese Solomon, Bao-gong, is one of them.

Blood

xue

In Chinese, a distinction is made between two kinds of blood: fresh, red blood, the kind
that flows from wounds, is a symbol of life, while the dark blood of menstruation is
unclean; contact with it brings illness or unhappiness. Red blood is the seat of the
soul, and any object smeared with this blood acquires magical powers thereby.