Kukrit Studies: Beliefs about Colors

Abstract

This article aims to present beliefs about colors in M.R. Kukrit Pramoj’ works, which inform M.R. Kukrit Pramoj’s contributions to Thai education in another aspect. The colors found are varied, but they conveys the beliefs of different groups of people and have a source or linking point. There are 4 colors: yellow, red, black and purple. All four colors are symbols of royalty, but they don’t show consistently among all ethnic groups. Yellow is the color of the ruling classes according to Chinese and ancient Khmer beliefs. Red is the color of royalty according to the beliefs of the Myanmar people. Black represents the ascendancy of the Huan clan in southern China. Also, purple is a symbol of the ruling class according to ancient Roman traditions. Moreover, each color has other meanings that can be further subdivided. Yellow symbolizes cowardice in the British beliefs. Red conveys the impurity of puritan Hinduism. But at the same time, it is a symbol of prosperity and honor according to Chinese beliefs. While black represents dark power, inaupiciousness and evil in beliefs of the Westerners.