The paper reports a panchronic philological study on the official colours of Chinese regimes. The historical accounts of the Chinese regimes are introduced. The official colours are summarised with philological references of archaic texts. Remarkably, it has been suggested that the official colours of the most ancient regimes should be the three primitive colours: (1) white-yellow, (2) black-grue yellow, and (3) red-yellow, instead of the simple colours. There were inconsistent historical records on the official colours of the most ancient regimes because the composite colour categories had been split. It has solved the historical problem with the linguistic theory of composite colour categories. Besides, it is concluded how the official colours were determined: At first, the official colour might be naturally determined according to the substance of the ruling population. There might be three groups of people in the Far East. (1) The developed hunter gatherers with livestock preferred the white-yellow colour of milk. (2) The farmers preferred the red-yellow colour of sun and fire. (3) The herders preferred the black-grue-yellow colour of water bodies. Later, after the Han-Chinese consolidation, the official colour could be politically determined according to the main property of the five elements in Sino-metaphysics. The red colour has been predominate in China for many reasons.
Chinese References (Ordered by dates)
0-YI 周[Zhou]:《易[Yi, logic]».
0-SU 周[Zhou]:《書[Shu, writing]».
0-LI 周[Zhou]:《禮[Li, etiquette]».
0-ZS 周[Zhou]:《[逸周]書[Yizhoushu, writing of Zhou]》.
0-YIW:《易緯[Yiwei, an extension of Yi]》.
0-SUDZ:《尚書大傳[Shangshudazhuan, an extension of Shu]]》.
0-SUZH:《尚書中候[Shangshuzhonghou, an extension of Shu]]》.
0-LIJMZ:《禮稽命徵[Lijimingzheng, an extension of Li]》.
-338-SJS 周之秦[Qin of Zhou] (?)商鞅[Shāng Yāng](395~338BCE):《商君書[Shangjunshu, writing of Sir Shang]》.
-30θ-ZSJN 周之魏[Wei of Zhou]:《竹書紀年[Zhushujinian, bamboo annals]》.
-239-LL 秦[Qin] 呂不韋[Lǚ BùWéig](ca.290~235BCE):《呂覽[Lülan, viewing of Sir Lü]》.
-139-HN 漢[Han]建元二年 劉安[Liú Ān](179~122BCE)等[et al.]:《淮南子[Huainanzi, a book by Huainan King]》.
-104-CQFL漢[Han] 董仲舒[Dǒng ZhòngShū](179~1048BCE):《春秋繁露[Chunqiufanlu, an extension of Chuqiu]》.
-91-SJ 漢[Han]征和二年 司馬遷[SīMǎ Qiān](145~ca.86BCE):《史記[Shiji, the historiography]》.
121-SW 漢[Han]建光元年 許慎[Xǔ Shèn](ca.58~ca.147):《說文解字[Shuowenjiezi, the zì-book]》.
92-HS 漢[Han] 班固[Bān Gù](32~92):《漢書[Hanshu, writing of Han]».
28-220-HJ 漢[Han]:《[東觀]漢記[Hanji, Actual recording of Han]».
241-DW 晉[Jin] 皇甫謐[HuángFǔ Mì](215~282):《帝王世紀[Diwangshiji, historical accounts of the emperors]》.
28θ-3GZ 晉[Jin] 陳壽[Chén Shòu](233~297):《三國志[Sanguozhi, writing of the three states]》.
445-HHS 宋[Song] 范曄[Fàn Yè](398~445):《後漢書[Houhanshu, writing of continued Han]》.
488-SS 齊[Qi]永明六年 沈約[Shěn Yuē](441~513):《宋書[Songshu, writing of Song]》.
51θ-QS 梁[Liang] 蕭子顯[Xiāo ZǐXiǎn](489~537):《[南]齊書[Nanqishu, writing of Qi]》.
554-WS 齊[Taugas Qi]天保五年 魏收[Xiāo ZǐXiǎn](506~572):《魏書[Weishu, writing of Taugas Wei]》.
636-LS 唐[Tang]貞觀十年 姚思廉[Yáo SīLián](557~637):《梁書[Liangshu, writing of Liang]》.
636-CS 唐[Tang]貞觀十年 姚思廉[Yáo SīLián](557~637):《陳書[Liangshu, writing of Chen]》.
636-QS 唐[Tang]貞觀十年 李百藥[Lǐ BǎiYào](565~648):《[北]齊書[Beiqishu, writing of Taugas Qi]》.
636-ZS 唐[Tang]貞觀十年 令狐德棻[LìngHú DéFén](583~666):《周書[Zhoushu, writing of Taugas Zhou]》.
636-SS 唐[Tang]貞觀十年 魏徵[Wèi Zhēng](580~643):《隋書[Suishu, writing of Sui]》.
648-JS 唐[Tang]貞觀二十二年 房玄齡[Fáng XuánLíng](579~648)等[et al.]:《晉書[Jinshu, writing of Jin]》.
801-TD 唐[Tang]貞元十七年 杜佑[Dù Yòu](735~812):《通典[Tongdian, encyclopaedia]》.
963-5DHY 唐[Tang]乾德元年 王溥[Wáng Pǔ](922~982):《五代會要[Wudaihuiyao, outline of Five Dynasties]》.
945-TS 晉[Jin]開運二年 劉昫[Liú Xǔ](887~946)等[et al.]:《[舊]唐書[Jiutangshu, writing of Tang]》.
974-5DS 宋[Song]開寶七年 薛居正[Xuē JūZhèng](912~981)等[et al.]:《梁唐晉漢周書(舊五代史)[Jiutwudaishi, history of Five Dynasties]》.
1008-GY 宋[Song]大中祥符元年 陳彭年[Chén PéngNián](961~1017)等[et al.]:《大宋重修廣韻[...guangyun, the yùn-book]》.
1194-BMHB 宋[Song]紹熙五年 徐夢莘[Xú MèngXīn](1126~1207):《三朝北盟會編[San chao bei meng hui bian, collection of northern affairs during the reign of three emperors]》.
1214-DJDY 金[Jin/Kim]貞祐二年:《大金德運圖說[Dajin deyun tu shuo, illustration of official virtues of Da-Jin]》.
1244-YL 蒙古[Mongol Khanate]:《中書令耶律公神道碑[Zhongshuling yelü gong shendaobei, epigraphy of the general secretary Yelü]》.
1345-SS 元[Yuan]至正五年 脫脫[Toqtogha](1341~1356)等[et al.]:《宋史[Songshi, history of Song]》.
1345-JS 元[Yuan]至正五年 脫脫[Toqtogha](1341~1356)等[et al.]:《金史[Jinshi, history of Jin]》.
1370-YS 明[Ming]洪武三年 宋濂[Sòng Lián](1310~1381)等[et al.]:《元史[Yuanshi, history of Yuan]》.
1399~1644-MSL 明[Ming]:《明實錄[Mingshilu, actual recording of Ming]》.
1635~1912-QSL 清[Qing]:《清實錄[Qingshilu, actual recording of Qing]》.
1937 郭沫若[Guō MòRuò]:《殷契粹編·考釋[Yinqicuibian kaoshi, etymological correlation of Yinqicuibian]》, 東京(Tokyo): 文求堂書店(Bunkyūdō shoten).
1956 陳述[Chén Shù]:〈哈喇契丹說[Hala-qidan shuo, on Qara Khitan]〉–《歷史研究[Lishi yanjiu](Historical Research)》1956.2 (67–77), 北京(Beijing).
1979 于省吾[Yú ShěngWǔ]:《甲骨文字釋林[Jiagu wenzi shi lin, decipherments of oracle bone inscriptions]》, 北京[Beijing]: 中華書局[Zhonghuashuju].
1986 郭錫良[Guō XīLiáng]:《漢語古音手册[Hanyu gu yin shouce, handbook of Chinese ancient ERFs]》, 北京[Beijing]: 北京大学出版社[Beijing daxue chubanshe].
1987 张正明[張正明][Zhāng ZhèngMíng]:《楚文化史[Chu wenhua shi, history of Chu culture]》, 上海[Shanghai]: 上海人民出版社[Shanghai renmin chubanshe].
1992[2008] 徐锡祺[徐錫祺][Xú XīQí]:《新编中国三千年历日检索表[Xinbian zhongguo sanqian nianli ri jiansuo biao, newly edited historical Chinese calendar for 3000 years]》, 北京[Beijing]: 北京人民教育出版社[Beijing renmin jiaoyu chubanshe].
1994 何光岳[Hé GuāngYuè]:〈夏族尚黑的流传和影响[Xia zu shanghei de liuchuan he yingxiang, spread and influence of the black official colour of Xia]〉–《安徽史学[Anhui shixue, Historical studies of the Anhui Province]》1994.1 (9–14), 合肥[Hefei].
2002 陈良煜[陳良煜][Chén LiángYù]:〈历代尚色心态的变异与汉语构词[Li dai shangse xintai de bianyi yu hanyu gouci](“The variation of favorable colour state of mind in Chinese past dynastise [dynasties] and Chinese word-formation”)〉–《青海师范大学学报(哲学社会科学版)[Qinghai shifan daxue xuebao (zhexue shehuikexue ban)](Journal of Qinghai Normal University (philosophy and social sciences)》2002.3 (109–112), 西宁[Xining].
2002[-GL] 李圃[Lǐ Pǔ](主編[ed.]):《古文字詁林[Gu wenzi gu lin, collection of glossary on ancient Chinese glyphs]》, 上海[Shanghai]: 上海教育出版社[Shanghai jiaoyu chubanshe].
2003 郑张尚芳[鄭張尚芳][ZhèngZhāng ShàngFāng]:《上古音系[Shang gu yinxi, phonology of Old Chinese]》, 上海[Shanghai]: 上海教育出版社[Shanghai jiaoyu chubanshe].
2005 胡新生[Hú XīnShēng]:〈“周人尚赤”说的历史考察[Zhou ren shangchi shuo de shili kaocha]〉–《文史哲[Wenshizhe](Journal of literature, history and philosophy)》, 2005.2 (91–97), 濟南[Jinan].
2006 孙建军[孫建軍][Sūn JiànJūn]:〈古代尚色文化与汉语色彩词[Gudai shangse wenhua yu hanyu secai ci](Ancient color-favored culture and the Chinese color words)〉–《中国青年政治学院学报[Zhongguo qingnian zhengzhi xueyuan xuebao](Journal of China Youth College for Political Sciences)》2006.3 (128–133), 北京[Beijing].
2008 高晶一[Gāo JīngYī]:《汉语与北欧语言:汉语与印欧语言及乌拉尔语言同源探究[Hanyu yu beiou yuyan: Hanyu yu yinouyuyan ji wulaer yuyan tongyuan tanjiu](Chinese language and languages of northern Europe)》, 北京[Beijing]: 中国社会科学出版社[Zhongguo shehuikexue chubanshe](China Social Sciences Press).
2008[-ZH5S] 彭德[Péng Dé]:《中华五色[Zhonghua wu se, the five colours of China]》, 南京[Nanjing]: 江苏美术出版社[Jiansu meishu chubanshe].
2009 王炯[Wáng Jiong]&彭向前[Péng XiàngQián]:〈“五德终始说”视野下的“大白高国”[“Wude zhongshi shuo” shiye xiade “da-bai-gao-guo”](The great state of upholding white: under the view of five cyclic virtues)〉–《青海民族学院学报[Qinghai minzu xueyuan xuebao](Journal of Qinghai Nationalities Institute (Social Sciences))2009.3 (68–71), 西宁[Xining].Non-Chinese References (Ordered by alphabets)
Chang, Tsung-tung (1988) “Indo-European vocabulary in Old Chinese: a new thesis on the emergence of Chinese language and civilization in the Late Neolithic Age”. (Sino-Platonic Papers, 7.) Philadelphia.
Chen, Ching-lung (1989) “Concepts regarding numbers, colors, and the cardinal points among the Turkic peoples”. Giovanni Stary, ed. Proceedings of the XXVIII permanent international Altaistic conference (Venice, 8–14 July 1985), 49–56. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.
Kay, Paul, Brent Berlin and William Merrifield (1991) “Biocultural implications of systems of color naming”. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology 1, 12–25.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jlin.1991.1.1.12
Kay, Paul and Chad McDaniel (1978) “The linguistic significance of the meanings of basic color terms”. Language 54, 3, 610–646.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/412789
Gao, Jingyi (2012) “Basic colour terms for black and white in Chinese: with discussions on models of language development”. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics 3, 1, 87–128.
Liu, Li and Hong Xu (2007) “Rethinking Erlitou: legend, history and Chinese archaeology”. Antiquity 81, 886–901.
Polo, Marco (author), Henry Yule (translator), Henri Cordier (editor) (1920) The travels of Marco Polo. London: John Murray.
Yule, Henry (1915) Cathay and the way thither: being a collection of medieval notices of China. London: The Hakluyt Society.