Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum

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cal events, religion, social customs, and geometric designs. Through
association and punning, the images were used to express wishes
for longevity, harmonious marriage, numerous progeny, happiness,
wealth, and prosperity. To the simple folk, adorning their clothes
and household furnishings with these auspicious symbols was one
way of reminding them of the good things to look forward to in life.
Seeing them constantly also made them feel that their aspirations
would more likely come true one day. Today unfortunately, this rich
symbolic tradition has become
widely neglected due to changing
times and cultural values.
Many motifs now need to be
decoded to be fully appreciated.
Blue-and-whitetextilesand
embroidery may look too subdued
or sterile to people in the
modern age. Yet, for centuries
the common people in China
have found them spiritually satisfying.
To them, the simple
colour scheme epitomized contentment,
tranquillity, and harmony
between human beings
and nature. Notwithstanding
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the wide acceptance of this
simple colour scheme, it must
be pointed out that ordinary
Chinese did not dress themselves
in just blue and white. They also dressed in other colours. The
ethnic groups, in particular, who were and still are passionate about
colours, would always mix and match clothes or accessories made
from blue-and-white textiles and embroidery with articles adorned
in more vibrant colours. In most cases, blue and white blend just as
effectively with a multicolour scheme as they do when used on their
own in a much simpler colour scheme.