Usually, the seal pastes used in calligraphy works are vermilion or red. See this comparison for the different shades available. However, there are also other colours being sold, and they have their own uses.
First, if you are using white paper, or something of a similar light hue, you usually use red or vermilion seal paste. There is also brownish seal paste (usually called 仿古 or 古色) which works if you are trying to imitate something old. If you are using red paper, then you would use white or gold seal paste (gold usually for festive stuff). There are also other colours that can be used with coloured paper: yellow, silver, purple, and black. You choose the colour that contrasts well with the paper.
Certain colours have special meanings, though, and should be used with discretion.
Pink is for love letters. Don't use pink seal paste unless you mean it.
Blue and green are to show that the writer is in mourning. Do not use them unless someone just passed away in the family.
However, in Taiwan, blue seal paste is also used on official documents. In such cases, the use of blue for work is acceptable, and those in mourning would use green seal paste instead.
Update 29 April 2024: I got some blue seal paste, and tested it on yellow paper since it is really inauspicious to use blue on white paper.
No comments:
Post a Comment