The color red. The most intense color. The color that is associated with horrible and beautiful things.

This vivid color has been given the reputation of being negative and is associated with dangerous things. Fire, blood, and poison are just a few of the dangerous things that give the color red the reputation it has. Even though this color is considered menacing, its origins are very interesting. 

It is thought that the Chinese were the first group of people to produce the first known color of red. This specific color of red is known as synthetic vermilion. Researchers believe that they created the color as early as the 4th century B.C. Vermilion became known as China red and was used a lot. The color was used for the printing pastes for personal name stamps and palatial red lacquers. Sometimes, the red calligraphic ink was reserved for emperors. The color red became distributed across the world. Arab alchemists brought vermilion to Europe, and it was used widely by Renaissance painters.

The word red comes from Sanskrit rudhira, meaning red, blood-red, bloody, and Proto-Germanic rauthaz.

The color red is considered popular, but not nearly as popular as blue. The color red may have lost its popularity because of the negative things it’s associated with. Sacrifice, danger, and courage are just a few of the things that this color is associated with. Religious fervor is also associated with the color red. Red has been known to symbolize war and courage for many years.

People associated with the red personality are considered energetic, assertive, and vigorous.