THE COLOR-SYMBOLISM OF THE CARDINAL
POINTS.[1]
In attempting to make any comparison of the colors used by various peoples as symbolic of the cardinal points, we are at once confronted by several difficulties. Although such symbolism was and is, presumably, widespread, it has been recorded, as far as I have been able to discover, only in North and Central America, in South and Southeastern Asia, and in Ireland. There is, therefore, not as large a fund of material as could be desired. Again, it is in some cases no easy matter to determine what colors are used by any given tribe or people for the different directions, as authorities differ widely, or make statements which may be construed in several ways. Lastly, we cannot be sure to how great an extent colors are confounded by the lower races. It is well known that, for instance, Blue and Green are not distinguished in the languages of some peoples, while others confuse Dark Blue with Black. Not that the difference between the colors is not recognized, but that the principles of color-nomenclature are different from ours. Knowing this to be the case, can we assume, for instance, that Green=Blue when we find two systems of colors which, except for this difference, are exactly the same? In the matter of Greens and Blues, it seems reasonable to consider the two systems, if not identical, as at least very closely related; but the equation Blue=Black is perhaps a little more doubtful. In the present discussion, however, no such equations are assumed unless expressly stated.
One of the first points of interest in this matter of the color-symbolism of the cardinal points is the choice of colors which was made by the various peoples. By this I mean what groups of colors were selected for this symbolism, irrespective of the directions which the colors were supposed to symbolize. Out of the thirty-odd systems of color-symbolism which I have been able to find, the most common color group is that of White, Yellow, Red, Blue; then in order follow, White, Yellow, Red, Black, and the two groups White, Yellow, Blue, Black, and White, Red, Blue, Black. These four groups together include nearly two thirds of the instances collected; and if we assume the equation Blue=Black, the first two groups coincide, and would contain some thirty per cent, of the total number of cases. This would seem to show no very startling uniformity in the choice of color groups; and yet, considering the large number of groups which might be formed with six colors, this proportion is relatively
- ↑ Paper read before Section H of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at Columbia University, New York, December 28, 1898.
