The ancient Chinese attire color system was rooted in the Pre-Qin ritual system, evolving over more than two millennia to form a comprehensive hierarchical symbolic system. The philosophical concept of five colors corresponding to five directions and five elements established the theoretical foundation for color order. The Zhou Dynasty's “dark upper garment and vermilion lower garment” initiated ritual attire color standards. The Qin and Han dynasties established a political color ideology. The Sui and Tang dynasties created the rank-color system that strictly correlated official ranks with clothing colors. The Song and Ming dynasties deepened the imperial monopoly of “yellow as supreme.” The Qing Dynasty integrated Manchu and Han traditions to construct a diversified court attire color spectrum. From ritual regulations to political representation, from cosmic concepts to power order, colors consistently served as visualized hierarchical symbols engraved upon garments, reflecting the dual trajectory of ritual inheritance and transformation through dynastic transitions.