Archaeological Inquiry into the Brown Color Palette during the Yuan Dynasty: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Cultural Significance and Technological Innovation

Abstract

The brown color palette, a crucial component of traditional Chinese colors, prominently emerged during the Yuan Dynasty, marking a significant achievement in the era's color development. This paper, grounded in archaeology and employing multidisciplinary approaches, delves into the fundamental meanings and multifaceted connotations of the brown color palette during the Yuan Dynasty. Through archaeological analyses of brown's specific manifestations in clothing, artifacts, and architecture, the paper summarizes the unique characteristics of its flourishing development, including extensive innovation in the color palette, large-scale production, and widespread application. The underlying reasons for this phenomenon are closely tied to color restrictions within the hierarchical clothing system of the Yuan Dynasty and the blending influence of color customs from minority ethnic groups. This study not only reveals the distinctive aspects of color culture during the Yuan Dynasty but also provides new insights into understanding cultural interactions between the ancient Mediterranean region and inland areas.