March 17, 2004 · updated February 15, 2022
Colors in Christianity
In Christianity, color symbolism is primarily used in liturgical decorations (banners, vestments, etc.) and to a lesser degree in Christian art. Symbolic colors are rarely used in the Bible. See our articles on specific colors for details.
Colors in Buddhism
Color symbolism is used in a wide variety of fascinating ways in Buddhist art and ritual. In Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism, each of five colors (pancha-varna) symbolizes a state of mind, a celestial buddha, a part of the body, a part of the mantra word Hum, or a natural element. (Blue and black are sometimes interchangeable.)
It is believed that by meditating on the individual colors, which contain their respective essences and are associated with a particular buddha or bodhisattva, spiritual transformations can be achieved.
Following is a table summarizing the meaning of the main color symbols in Buddhism. Click on the color name for a full article and examples of that color.
Color |
Blue |
Black |
White |
Red |
Green |
Yellow |
General Meanings |
coolness, infinity, ascension, purity, healing |
primordial darkness, hate |
learning, knowledge, purity, longevity |
life force, preservation, the sacred, blood, fire |
balance, harmony, vigor, youth, action |
rootedness, renunciation, earth |
Seen In |
turquoise, lapis lazuli |
black thangkas |
White Tara, white elephant |
coral, red thangkas |
Green Tara |
saffron robes of monks |
Emotion, Action |
killing, anger |
killing, hatred |
rest and thinking |
subjugation and summoning |
exorcism |
restraining and nourishing |
Transforms: |
anger into mirror-like wisdom |
hate into compassion |
delusion of ignorance into wisdom of reality |
delusion of attachment into the wisdom of discernment |
jealousy into the wisdom of accomplishment |
pride into wisdom of sameness |
Buddha |
Akshobhya |
n/a |
Vairocana |
Amitabha |
Amoghasiddhi |
Ratna-sambhava |
Part of Hum |
the dot (drop) on the crescent |
n/a |
the crescent |
syllable 'ha' |
vowel 'u' |
the head |
Body
Part |
ears |
n/a |
eyes |
tongue |
head |
nose |
Element |
air |
air |
water |
fire |
n/a |
earth |