Make Your Fiancée Feel Like An Ancient Chinese Empress

When one thinks of luxurious beauty and sophistication, especially in the realm of art, one of the first places the mind wanders to is China. Over the centuries, the world’s most populous nation has made a name for itself in most artistic fields, including porcelain art and, indeed, jewellery.

In this particular field, the leading Asian nation has several millennia of expertise upon which to lean. Jewellery making in China goes back 5,000 years, when smithies began developing elaborate motifs with religious significance for Buddhist ceremonies (and still to this day Buddhist monks wear yellow, live in yellow temples and mourn with the colour yellow as well). As with most places of ancient times, wearing jewellery in China was a sign of status and wealth. To wear yellow jewellery, though, denoted very high status, almost a demi god. Which, essentially, the ancient emperors were, officially mandated by heaven to wield absolute power over China responsibly.

You’ve probably never considered bestowing on your loved one the powers of an ancient Chinese emperor. And that wouldn’t come as a big surprise, not least if you have little to no association with Imperial China. But did you know the colour yellow holds deep symbolic meaning in the Far East? Maybe you did. Maybe that’s why you’re considering a yellow sapphire engagement ring.

An Imperial Colour

Corresponding with the earth, the colour yellow in ancient China was seen as beautiful and prestigious, worn and permitted only by the 5 legendary emperors, starting with "the Yellow Emperor", the first traditional ruler, who gained his name by combining the titles of "sovereign" and "god king".

Huangdi (his other name) was the first emperor also to have absolute power, and he’s credited with the origins of holistic Chinese medicine, writing an informative text that is still referred to today despite being over 2,500 years old. So if he wanted to wear yellow, he wore yellow. He would definitely have chosen a yellow sapphire engagement ring.

The other four emperors, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao and Shun respectively, also retained this symbolic colour, wearing yellow robes, covering their roofs with yellow tiles, and decorating their temples and their dinner plates with yellow hues. Outside the Forbidden City no one was allowed yellow tiles or any of the prestige that was associated with the colour yellow. All were reserved for the emperor. These days, of course, you can pretty much have yellow tiles wherever you live, and some people even have yellow cars and highlight part of a text with yellow just because they can. And if you want a yellow sapphire engagement ring to match your yellow tiles and your yellow carpet and yellow dog (golden retriever – close enough) then what’s stopping you?

Frank L Orman is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From a diamond to a yellow sapphire engagement ring from a princess cut to a platinum band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.