A reflective display apparatus includes three liquid crystal modules stacked in sequence for an incident light to enter from top to bottom sequentially. Each liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between two substrates. A switchable electric field and a vertical alignment force are provided by the two substrates to the liquid crystal layer. The three liquid crystal modules are respectively: a blue light liquid crystal module located at a top layer, a green light liquid crystal module located in a middle layer and having the liquid crystal layer doped with a dichroic dye for absorbing a light within a blue light wavelength range, and a red light liquid crystal module located at a bottom layer and having the liquid crystal layer doped with a dichroic dye for absorbing a light within a green light wavelength range. A method for controlling the reflective display apparatus is also disclosed.