2. Comparison of English and Chinese Expressions on Colors

2.1 The Relation between Color and Social Cultural Ideology

    The nature is varicolored. The color will produce specific meaning in the minds of people, and cause specific association and inspire the special response; this is social intension of the color. In this way, the color is no longer an objective material, but turns into the abstract symbolic color, immerge in dyeing body of culture. “ （ Sun ， 2004 ： 78 ） ”.  There are many color expressions, which reflect different culture psychologies and emotional colorings both in Chinese and English. Especially in Chinese, there are rich and colorful color words since ancient times. There are the same in English. Many color expressions reflect the Western customs as well.  According to comparison between the Chinese color expressions and the English, we talk about the relations between the color " yellow " and its ideology of social culture.

   The yellow is the representative color of Chinese nation from ancient times, and also one of the colors, which Chinese nationality advocates. In ancient times, the yellow symbolized such cultural meaning as the sacredness, imperial power, honor, loftiness, solemnity, land, territory, etc. Zhu Xi, a great thinker, said in Song Dynasty: "Countenance of the central soil." So the yellow symbolizes central imperial power and the state, at the same time it signifies the land of everything grows. Besides, one of the first ancestors in Chinese nationally-- Xuanyuan emperor had " the lucky of soil morality ". It was said that he often wore the yellow crown, so the yellow became the emperor''s favorite color later. Chinese officials wore more yellow robes in ancient times, thus forbade common people to wear the yellow clothes. "Acclaimed emperor " means that " coup succeeds, capture regime ".

   The Yellow River Basin that life multiplies from ancient times is the birthplace of the Han nationality’s culture in China. So we call the Yellow River the cradle of Chinese nation, a cradle that fosters Chinese culture. In the Chinese drama facial art, the yellow represents the bold or capable personality, such as the complexion of Huanggai etc. in the Three Kingdoms for instance.