Red, a vibrant hue synonymous with warmth and happiness, transcends cultural boundaries, painting emotions with a universal brush. In the Western world, Santa Claus embodies the festive spirit associated with this color. Similarly, in China, red takes center stage during traditional festivals, especially Chinese New Year, where red envelopes embody good fortune. However, the recent surge of inspiration drawn from Chinese folklore in horror games has transformed the once-celebratory color into a vessel for the supernatural, introducing a paradoxical element to narratives that captivate the imagination.

Official Concept Art of “Paper Bride“ Photo: HeartBeat Plus

The Yin and Yang of Red

Michel Pastoureau, in “Red: The History of a Color,” reveals red represents many meanings from very early on, with both positive and negative sides. In the association of fire, red fire can represent both the power of warmth and destructive power. Red blood can represent both vitality and enthusiasm, as well as war and violence. Duality is inherent in red, a color full of paradoxes.

Likewise, Chinese culture deeply embeds red as a symbol of prosperity, happiness, and the promise of good fortune. Its positive connotations permeate celebrations and rituals, creating a tapestry of joy. Yet, as the horror genre interlaces with traditional narratives, red morphs into a tool for storytellers, becoming an agent of fear within the very fabric of cultural symbols meant to evoke joy.

The Red Veil: A Symbol of Oppression

In Chinese tradition, brides would wear red, including a red veil over their faces. In the past, brides were traded as commodities, even the word “bride” in Chinese translates to “新娘” or “new mother,” a poignant reminder of the societal expectations placed upon these women. Some were forced into marriages, leading to tragic outcomes like suicide or being sold as ghost brides after death, adding layers of resentment that birthed many ghost stories. Films like “The Wedding Maidens,” “Raise the Red Lantern,” and “The House That Never Dies” portray young girls suffering from oppression, showcasing the deep roots of cultural norms and societal expectations.

There are different opinions on the origin of the red veil on the bride in traditional Chinese weddings, but the most popular saying that has been spread to this day is “A married daughter is like water poured out.” If the bride is covered with a veil, she will never find her way back. In that feudal period, with the emergence of feudal dross such as “child brides”, and necrogamy appearing one after another, the red veil became a tradition.

A person wearing a red veil cannot see the road clearly and cannot make big movements. Even though she is wearing the brightest color, she can only rely on the support of others or being carried on her husband’s back. Ironic enough, on her most joyful day, the bride wears lively colors but is not allowed to show liveliness. She wears the colors that best express her desires, but she cannot express any personal desires, so the bride becomes the biggest conflicted person at the wedding. Red is a color full of dynamics, but the bride dressed in red is sealed by the red veil. The custom of wearing a red veil also reflects the low social status of women at that time. Affected by the environment at that time, the red veil became a prop to restrain women and restrict their freedom of marriage.

Official Concept Art of “Paper Bride“ Ⅱ
Photo: HeartBeat Plus

The Chilling Tale of Brides in Horror Games

The emergence of Chinese horror games, inspired by folklore, thrusts a new interpretation of red into the limelight. No longer confined to festivities, red becomes a conduit for ancient beliefs and superstitions, symbolizing not just the joyous celebration of festivals but also the lurking shadows of the unknown.

Take, for instance, the Chinese horror puzzle series mobile game, “Paper Bride” (纸嫁衣), developed by HeartBeat Plus in 2021. As stated in Baidu Baike (Chinese Wikipedia), “Paper Bride“ spans five releases set in the same universe but different eras, the game immerses players in a world where innocent girls revered as paper brides by a remote, superstitious village, face a grim destiny in ghost marriages. As players navigate through haunted temples and dungeons, the once-familiar color red takes on an ominous quality, representing the tension between tradition and the macabre, between the auspicious and the haunting.

Similarly, there is another Chinese horror game “Soul at Stake”, a game created and developed by Chongming Studio. According to Soul at Stake Wiki, the game was released in 2018, and the game’s rule is similar to “Dead by Daylight”. There are devils and survivors, each played by players themselves. One of the devils in this game is named “The Bride”, who is forced to commit to necrogamy and take her own life. Ghost brides draped in crimson, red-tinged rituals, and eerie symbols transform the color into a visual language that tells a chilling tale of the otherworldly.

Beneath the Red Veil: A Mirror of Cultural Complexity

As we peer beneath the Red Veil, the paradoxical use of red in Chinese horror serves as a mirror, reflecting the complexities of cultural identity. This vibrant color, steeped in tradition, invites viewers to confront its duality—capable of both joyous celebrations and instilling a sense of foreboding. In recent years, red transcends its traditional associations, becoming a narrative device that adds depth and symbolism to Chinese horror, prompting exploration of both festivity and fear.

References

Pastoureau, M., & Gladding, J. (2017). Red: The history of a color. Princeton University Press.

Unveiling Shadows: Chinese Horror Beneath the Red Veil