Cultural Story
Dai Black
Dai Black is a deep blue-black. Women used dai stone for eyebrow painting, making "dai brows" synonymous with beauty. Lin Daiyu in "Dream of the Red Chamber" is named for this color—her brows like distant mountains in dai haze, suggesting her melancholic elegance.
Origin
Dai Black was made from graphite or pine soot, used by women for eyebrow painting.
Symbolism
Dai Black symbolizes subtlety, melancholy, and the depth of scholarly temperament.
Historical Origin
Dai use traces to pre-Qin times. The Han Dynasty recorded "dai black." By the Six Dynasties, dai eyebrow painting became standard makeup.
Traditional Applications
Cosmetics
Painting
Textile
Related Poems
黛眉蟹额叹离殇，一缕幽情寄远方。