Color Analysis of Porcelain Inlay Decoration in Traditional Buildings in Chaozhou

Abstract

Chaozhou porcelain inlay (Qian ci) is a key decorative element in the traditional architecture of the Chaoshan region, deeply rooted in local cultural identity. The color schemes used in these decorations are not merely aesthetic choices but are rich in cultural and symbolic meanings. This study analyzes how the color system of Chaozhou porcelain inlay is shaped by the interplay between material properties, traditional craftsmanship, regional culture, and environmental factors. Through a combination of historical review and field investigation, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how color choices reflect and communicate cultural significance within the architecture. Over the long term, this chromatic system has developed stable, highly distinctive regional characteristics. Focusing on porcelain inlay decoration in traditional buildings in Chaozhou, this study combines literature review with field investigation to examine color composition and pairing rules, and analyzes them from three perspectives: color characteristics, formation mechanisms, and cultural meaning. The results suggest that the colors of Chaozhou porcelain inlay are not merely aesthetic choices, but a visual-symbolic system constructed through high-saturation hues, warm–cool contrast, and hierarchical spatial allocation. From the perspectives of color symbolism and semiotics, this color system not only responds to the environmental and climatic conditions of the region, but also gradually constructs the cultural identity and local expression of traditional Chaozhou architecture through continuous processes of cultural encoding and spatial dissemination.

Highlights
Reveals the first systematic color framework of Chaozhou porcelain inlay decoration by integrating material characteristics, chromatic composition, spatial organization, and cultural symbolism.
Develops a quantitative color analysis approach combining field investigation, Adobe Color extraction, RGB recording, and NCS color classification to objectively identify the chromatic characteristics of porcelain inlay.
Explains how environmental adaptation, traditional craftsmanship, and regional cultural beliefs jointly shape the distinctive color language of Chaozhou porcelain inlay, providing a theoretical basis for heritage conservation and contemporary design applications.