What does yellow mean in japan?

Answer 1

In Japan during the War of Dynasty in 1357, each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage.

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I find that fascinating, that in Japan the color yellow is one of courage. Here in America, it is the exact opposite. Yellow is considered the color of cowardice; indeed, to "show a yellow streak up the back" or to be "yellow bellied" or even just to be "yellow" is to be insultingly termed a coward. Indeed, this seems to be true in most western cultures.

I find it terribly interesting how colors have different, even opposite, meanings across cultures. I wonder how differently other colors are perceived, and what other perceptions of yellow exist in cultures other than Japanese and American?

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Yellow is a sacred color in Buddhism, and a color of monks' clothes. Buddhism monks in Japan don't wear yellow clothes, but still it's an important color in Busshism. I heard that Japan's Emperor's son wore dark yellow cloth for his wedding.