Cyan

The Beginning of Life in Eastern Spring

HEX#0094A3

RGBrgb(0, 148, 163)

HSLhsl(186, 100%, 32%)

HSVhsv(186, 100%, 64%)

CMYKcmyk(100%, 9%, 0%, 36%)

HEXA#0094A3FF

RGBArgba(0, 148, 163, 1)

HSLAhsla(186, 100%, 32%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(75.8%, 0.129, 200)

LCHlch(73.6%, 48.1, 206)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

♿ WCAG Contrast Colors

Learn More →

Aa14px Body

High Contrast Text

#F5FEFFRatio 3.6:1AA Large

Suitable for body text, headings, and primary content, ensuring readability for all users

Aa14px Body

Standard Text

#FFFFFFRatio 3.6:1AA Large

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#1000A3Ratio 3.7:1AA Large

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#FF9EF5Ratio 2:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

Online Color Picker → Gradient Generator →

Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, stepwise lightness adjustment ±30%

#002E33

#00373D

#006570

#0093A3

#00C1D6

#0AE7FF

#3DECFF

Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, stepwise saturation adjustment ±30%

#187F8B

#108693

#088C9B

#0093A3

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#083F45

#054147

#056671

#028D9D

#00B3C7

#00D8F0

#1AE8FF

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#00A38B

#00A398

#00A0A3

#0093A3

#0085A3

#0078A3

#006AA3

💡 Use Cases

🎨

Chinese Painting Pigments

Known alongside mineral green, mineral cyan is the core pigment of traditional blue-green landscape painting, used for depicting mountain ranges, pines, and rocks, presenting a heavy yet elegant classical artistic conception.

🏺

Blue-and-White Porcelain

Blue-and-white porcelain uses cobalt material painted on white porcelain bodies, fired at high temperatures to reveal a calm, vivid blue tone, representing one of the highest achievements of Chinese ceramic art.

👘

Traditional Attire

Cyan is highly favored in Hanfu and Tang-style clothing, suitable for both daily wear and formal court robes, embodying a dignified and reserved Eastern grace.

🛋️

New Chinese Style Home

Cyan, paired with natural wood, white, or gray, can create a fresh and elegant spatial atmosphere, combining classical charm with modern living texture in contemporary residences.

📜 Origin & History

Cyan holds a core position in the traditional Chinese five-color system, corresponding to the five primary colors of cyan, red, yellow, white, and black. It was first documented in the 'Zhou Li - Kao Gong Ji' (The Records of Examination of Craftsmen). As the color of the East, cyan is endowed with cultural connotations symbolizing spring, rebirth, and hope, corresponding to the Wood virtue in the Five Elements theory.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, cyan was widely used in court rituals and clothing systems. The cyan robes worn by Han emperors during sacrificial ceremonies symbolized their legitimacy to rule by Heaven's mandate. Simultaneously, different shades of cyan, such as pale blue, dark blue, and pure cyan, began to appear in silk fabrics, becoming markers of status and rank.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, cyan transitioned from a ritual symbol into the literati's aesthetic, becoming an important motif in painting and poetry. Wang Wei's verse 'Cyan mist enters to see nothing' depicts the hazy, moist cyan of mountain mist, while blue-green landscape paintings turned the colors of nature into timeless artistic conception.

Throughout the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with the maturation and spread of blue-and-white porcelain, cyan completed its journey from a national color to a global one. Blue-and-white porcelain, displaying elegant beauty through its blue-white contrast, was exported to Europe via the Silk Road, profoundly influencing global perceptions of Eastern color.

🧠 Color Psychology

CalmnessCyan lies between blue and green with a moderate visual wavelength, non-irritating and non-oppressive, giving the soul a sense of stable rest, reducing anxiety and defensiveness.

ClarityCyan evokes lakes and mist, helping to organize scattered thoughts and enhance rational judgment, suitable for environments requiring cool-headed decision-making.

TrustIn psychology, cyan represents openness and sincerity. Its subtle yet bright tone inspires a sense of trust, often used to cultivate a reliable image.

RebirthAs a spring color, cyan naturally carries psychological hints of revival and regeneration, providing hope and strength for new beginnings, dispelling burnout.

DetachmentWhile elegant, overly cold or pale cyan can easily create a sense of distance, fostering an unreal or introspective atmosphere, suitable for solitude and deep thought.

BalanceCyan possesses both the depth of blue and the vitality of green, psychologically balancing calmness and energy, helping emotions return to a state of equilibrium.

← Back to Explore Colors