Someone once asked:“What color is qing?”
I replied:Qing is not merely a color.It is the fullest expression of life in all creation—the condensed vitality of Heaven and Earth.
In ancient oracle bone script, the upper part of the character “青” resembles the sprouting of grass breaking through the soil, brimming with life; the lower part derives from “丹,” referring to minerals refined by fire, the essence distilled through smelting. Combined together, the character was not created simply to denote a hue, but to embody a spirit—the purest, most vigorous, and upward-rising energy between Heaven and Earth. Xu Shen of the Shuowen Jiezi wrote: “Qing is the color of the East.”
In the Five Elements, it belongs to Wood; among the four seasons, it signifies Spring; among the five directions, it governs the East; among the five virtues, it represents Benevolence.The East is where the sun rises and all things begin. Spring is the ceaseless renewal of life, the great virtue of Heaven and Earth. Benevolence is the heart of compassion and the foundation of civilization.
Thus, from the very birth of the character itself, qing has carried the vitality of the cosmos and the generative force of all existence.
Hence:The flourishing of grass is called green grass, the purest sky is called the blue heavens, the darkest hair is called raven-black locks, the prime of youth is called youthful springtime, supreme mastery is called perfect refinement, the finest porcelain is called celadon, and enduring history is called the annals of green bamboo.
Within this single character lies every form of beauty brought to perfection, and every force that strives upward toward goodness. Qing is not merely a color.It is a realm, a philosophy, a way.
I. Qing as the True Color of Heaven and Earth
When the ancient sages observed the cosmos and created writing, qing stood among the five orthodox colors.
The Azure Dragon of the East, foremost among the Twenty-Eight Constellations, governs spring rains and the awakening of life. Emperors who ruled under Heaven adopted institutions such as “azure robes” and “azure chambers.” Ritual and music spoke of “azure banners” and “azure spring.”
The Erya explains: “Spring is called Qingyang,” meaning the warm and life-giving energy of springtime. Later generations used “Qingyang” as another name for spring itself and even for the imperial residence.
Through a single color, Heaven and humanity became connected, and the rhythms of time and season were woven together. Such is the uniquely Chinese cosmology embedded within the civilization of Huaxia.
The Rites of Zhou also records:“In all sacrifices, the jade scepter of the East shall be green.”The green jade symbolized the virtue of spring.The ancients compared jade to moral character and associated qing with benevolence.Thus, hidden within the character “青” is a civilization’s deepest reverence for life itself.
II. Qing as the Foundation of Tempering and Refinement
“Since ancient times, who has escaped death?Let my loyal heart illuminate the annals of history.”
What is meant by “the annals of green bamboo” (hanqing)?
Before paper existed, words were written upon bamboo slips. Fresh bamboo contained moisture and easily decayed, so it had to be dried over fire until sweat-like droplets emerged. Hence the term hanqing—“sweated green bamboo.”
Only after enduring fire could the bamboo preserve civilization for a thousand years.
Thus hanqing later became another name for history itself.
This is no empty phrase, but a solemn vow:
May we be like green bamboo—tempered by fire, tested by time, upright and unbending, hollow yet principled, green on the outside yet strong within, fused into the very backbone of our nation.
The virtues of bamboo are fivefold:
1.Its green color symbolizes steadfast purpose.
2.Its joints symbolize integrity.
3.Its hollow core symbolizes humility.
4.Its resilient leaves symbolize unyielding spirit.
5.Its deep roots symbolize firm foundations.
These are the virtues admired in a gentleman, and likewise the principles a company should follow.
TJian Water continues this legacy of hanqing.Zhejiang is the homeland of celadon. For a thousand years, its kiln fires have never ceased. The famed glaze known as “sky-blue after rain” inspired admiration across the world.
This is the Chinese dream rendered in color and painted with fire through generations of craftsmanship.The value of celadon lies not in dazzling brilliance, but in the serenity concealed within its green hue, the depth hidden within its stillness, and the vastness implied within its richness.
Warm as jade and resonant when struck, it is praised as “like ice and jade alike.”
Today, TJian Watertakes this qing as its foundation, extending from porcelain into membrane technology.
Ceramic membranes are not cold industrial objects, but the continuation of a thousand years of kiln fire—the modern embodiment of “refined to perfection.”
Just as bamboo must endure fire to become hanqing, and clay must endure a thousand-degree kiln to become fine porcelain, ceramic membranes must undergo high-temperature sintering before they can resist corrosion, preserve purity, and safeguard the drinking water of millions.
What runs continuously through them all is this:fire,qing,and unwavering resolve.
III. Qing as the Root of a Family of Characters
Qing is not an isolated character.
It is the ancestral root of an entire cultural lineage spanning three thousand years.
Add the water radical, and it becomes 清 (qing): purity and clarity.
Water that is not still becomes turbid; water that is not clear becomes polluted.
The virtue of clarity lies in cleansing impurity and reflecting all things truthfully.
The art of water treatment is precisely this: returning murkiness to clarity and restoring the world to its original purity.
Add the speech radical, and it becomes 请 (qing): respect and courtesy.
Its virtue lies in humility and reverence toward others.
Add the heart radical, and it becomes 情 (qing): sincerity and genuine feeling.
Its essence lies in honesty without deceit.
Add the sun radical, and it becomes 晴 (qing): brightness and openness.
It signifies clouds dispersing and light breaking through.
Add the eye radical, and it becomes 睛 (jing): keen vision and insight.
It means perceiving what others cannot see.
Thus:clarity, respect, sincerity, brightness, and insight，all share the same root in qing.From one character emerges an entire family of meaning; from one family unfolds the myriad phenomena of the world.
Such is the unique beauty of Chinese characters and the Chinese worldview that “all things share one origin.”
IV. Qing as the Soul of Poetry
For three thousand years, the character qing has flowed through Chinese poetry as one of the deepest emotional codes of the Chinese people.
“Green, green the scholar’s collar—Long, long my heart’s yearning.”
Here, the “green collar” symbolizes longing for a beloved.
Later, Cao Cao quoted these lines in Short Song Style, transforming private affection into yearning for worthy talent and great aspirations for the realm.
“Riding a bamboo horse, he came around the bed to play with green plums.”
With one phrase, Li Bai captured childhood innocence and pure affection.
Thus “green plums and bamboo horses” became China’s gentlest name for youthful love.
Zheng Banqiao used bamboo among green mountains to symbolize integrity and indomitable spirit.“The green bamboo hat, the green straw raincoat—In slanting wind and fine rain, there is no need to return.”
Zhang Zhihe painted a life of serenity and freedom amid mist and rain.And then there is the immortal line:“After rain, the sky breaks open in celestial blue—Let this be the color of the future.”Its brilliance lies in the final words: “the future.”
Qing is not merely nostalgia—it is renewal and creation.The finest color still lies ahead;the finest undertaking also lies ahead.
Even today, Fang Wenshan’s lyric—“The sky-blue glaze waits for misty rain,
while I wait for you”—has carried the thousand-year beauty of celadon into the hearts of modern youth.
From the Book of Songs to contemporary pop music, qing has lived on for three thousand years without aging, interruption, or decline.Such vitality among the world’s languages is truly unmatched.
V. Qing as the Weight of History
When qing enters historiography, it becomes “green annals” — qing shi.
History exists to preserve truth, transmit trust, and provide lessons for posterity.Sima Qian endured humiliation to write the Records of the Grand Historian, seeking:“to investigate the relationship between Heaven and humanity, comprehend the changes of past and present, and establish a unique body of thought.”
The gravity of history lies in judgment.A single word of praise may honor more richly than ceremonial robes; a single word of condemnation may cut more sharply than an axe.Before history, power cannot impose its authority, nor wealth sway its conscience.
By taking qing as the root of its corporate culture, TJian Water declares its commitment to truth and integrity.
For a company’s legacy does not rest in present-day clamor, but in how future generations will remember it.
Only through honesty, righteousness, and steadfastness can one leave behind a worthy mark in the “green annals” of the industry.
VI. Qing as Philosophical Depth
When qing enters philosophy, it becomes the Way of Life itself.
The Book of Changes says:“The great virtue of Heaven and Earth is life.”
The character “青,” rooted in “生” (life), embodies precisely this principle.Spring gives birth, summer nurtures, autumn harvests, and winter stores away. Yet spring is the beginning of all cycles.
Among the five constant virtues—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith—benevolence stands first.
Thus qing, governing the East and presiding over spring, becomes the written embodiment of the philosophy of life and renewal.
Daoism treasures qing. Its color exists between brightness and obscurity, between presence and emptiness, resonating with the mystery of the Dao itself.
Buddhism, upon entering China, also absorbed the symbolism of qing. Compassion, transcendence, and enlightenment all became associated with its serene depth.
Confucian benevolence, Daoist mystery, and Buddhist compassion all converge within this single color.
Through one hue, the three teachings become interconnected.
Such is the inclusiveness and profundity unique to Chinese civilization.
VII. Qing as the Soul of the Enterprise
In conclusion, the meaning of qing is vast indeed.
In Heaven, it signifies the East, spring vitality, and the virtue of life.
On Earth, it signifies vegetation, celadon, and the inheritance of kiln fire.Among people, it signifies youth, scholars, and noble aspiration.
In history, it signifies integrity, truthful record, and moral courage.
In art, it signifies celadon, landscape painting, and mastery refined to perfection.In philosophy, it signifies benevolence, mystery, compassion, and the unity of all things.
Today, TJian Water Affairs takes qing as its spirit, embracing five principles:
Life — Water is the source of life; water services protect life itself.
Purity — To transform pollution into clarity and impurity into cleanliness.
Integrity — Like bamboo joints, upright and unyielding.
Resilience — Enduring hardship and persevering through time.
Innovation — “Let this be the color of the future.”
Qing is not merely remembrance of the past, but continual creation of the future.
Conclusion: This Qing Shall Continue to Burn
From oracle bone inscriptions,to bamboo annals,to celadon glaze,to poetry and song,to today’s ceramic membranes—three thousand years have passed, yet the spirit of qing endures.
Why? Because qing does not reside merely in outward color, but in inward principle; not in the past, butin ceaseless renewal. TJian Waterinherits the ancient elegance of celadon and upholds the life-giving virtue of Heaven and Earth.With purity as its foundation,integrity as its conduct,resilience as its strength,
and innovation as its future,it devotes itself to ceramic membrane technology for the benefit of countless families.
This spirit of qing shall not perish.This resolve shall never change.
Detailed introduction: Click on the link below the image to view
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