The traditional Chinese five colors, also known as the 'Five Elements' or 'Wu Xing,' are the colors red, yellow, blue-green, white, and black. These colors are central to Chinese culture, philosophy, and aesthetics. Red symbolizes happiness and prosperity, yellow represents the earth and the emperor, blue-green signifies the heavens and wisdom, white symbolizes purity and death, and black represents the earth and the subconscious. Each color is associated with a particular element, and they are often used in traditional Chinese art, architecture, and ceremonies.