The colorful cloths in blue/green, yellow, red, white, and black/purple hung outside the temple are called Goshiki-maku, or the five-colored curtain.
These curtains are not limited to temples; they are also seen in various traditional events in Japan, such as carp streamers for Children’s Day, the five-colored paper strips for Tanabata, on the sumo ring, and on the curtain of a Noh stage.
The origin of these five colors is said to come from ancient China’s Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory.
Yin-Yang represents the vital energy of the universe, while the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are considered the essential forces behind all natural phenomena.
Each element corresponds to a color:
🔵 Wood: blue/green,
🔴 Fire: red,
🟡 Earth: yellow,
⚪️ Metal: white,
⚫️ Water: black/purple.
By expressing cosmic ideas through colors, people could understand and pass on these teachings more easily.
When introduced to Japan, the concept was blended with Buddhism and came to represent the virtues of the Buddha:
🔵 Blue/Green: the Buddha’s hair, symbolizing a calm and meditative mind 🟡 Yellow: the body, representing an unshakable presence
🔴 Red: flowing blood, symbolizing constant diligence
⚪️ White: pure teeth, representing a pure heart
⚫️ Black/Purple: the color of robes, symbolizing endurance through hardship
Thus, the Goshiki-maku is more than a decoration—it is a symbol that unites cosmic philosophy and Buddhist wisdom.
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