Traditional colors of Japan explained

The traditional colors of Japan are a collection of colors traditionally used in Japanese art, literature, textiles such as kimono, and other Japanese arts and crafts.

History

The traditional colors of Japan trace their historical origins to the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System which was established in 603 by Prince Shōtoku and based on the five Chinese elements. In this system, rank and social hierarchy were displayed and determined by certain colors. Colors known as were strictly reserved for the robes of the Imperial family and highest ranking court officials; for example, the color was used as the color for the robes of the Crown Prince and use by anyone else was prohibited. Colors known as were permitted for use by the common people.

Most names of colors originate from the names of plants, flowers, and animals that bore or resembled them. Certain colors and dyeing techniques have been used since the Asuka period, while others had been developed as late as the Meiji period when synthetic dyes became common. Due to the long history of use of this color system, some variations in color and names exist.

Colors

Red/violet series

Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 一斤染		One kin dye	240,143,144	F08F90	Japanese: 桃色		Peach-colored	244,121,131	F47983
Japanese: 紅梅色		Red plum colored	219,90,107	DB5A6B	Japanese: 中紅		Medium crimson (dye)	201,55,86	C93756
Japanese: 桜色		Cherry blossom color	252,201,185	FCC9B9	Japanese: 退紅		Washed-out crimson (dye)	255,179,167	FFB3A7
Japanese: 薄紅		Pale crimson (dye)	242,102,108	F2666C

Red series

Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 鴇羽色		Ibis wing color	245,143,132	F58F84	Japanese: 桜鼠		Cherry blossom mouse grey	172,129,118	AC8181
Japanese: 長春色		Long spring (season) color	185,87,84	B95754	Japanese: 唐紅/韓紅		Foreign crimson	201,31,55	C91F37
Japanese: 臙脂色		Cochineal red/rouge	157,41,51	9D2933	Japanese: 深緋		Deep scarlet	123,59,58	7B3B3A
Japanese: 甚三紅		Thrice-dyed crimson	247,102,90	F7665A	Japanese: 水がき		Water persimmon	181,108,96	B56C60
Japanese: 梅鼠		Plum-blossom mouse grey	151,100,90	97645A	Japanese: 蘇芳香		Sappanwood incense	162,79,70	A24F46
Japanese: 赤紅		Pure crimson (dye)	195,39,43	C3272B	Japanese: 真朱		True red	143,29,33	8F1D21
Japanese: 小豆色		Azuki bean color	103,36,34	672422	Japanese: 銀朱		Greyed red (lit. silvered red)	188,45,41	BC2D29
Japanese: 海老茶		Maroon (shrimp brown)	94,40,36	5E2824	Japanese: 栗梅		Red-brown (lit. chestnut-plum)	139,53,45	8B352D
Japanese: 曙色		Dawn-color	250,123,98	FA7B62	Japanese: 珊瑚色		Coral color	248,103,79	F8674F
Japanese: 猩々緋		Red-orange (lit. orangutan-colored)	220,48,35	DC3023	Japanese: 芝翫茶		Wilted brown (lit. wilted lawn-clippings)	171,76,61	AB4C3D
Japanese: 柿渋色		Persimmon-juice color	147,67,55	934337	Japanese: 紅樺		Red birch	157,43,34	9D2B22
Japanese: 紅鳶		Red kite (bird species)	145,50,40	913228	Japanese: 紅檜皮		Cypress bark red	111,48,40	6F3028
Japanese: 黒鳶		Black kite (bird species)	53,30,28	351E1C	Japanese: 紅緋		Blood red	243,83,54	F35336
Japanese: 照柿		Glazed persimmon	211,78,54	D34E36	Japanese: 緋		Scarlet (blood)	207,58,36	CF3A24
Japanese: 江戸茶		Red-brown (Edo brown)	161,61,45	A13D2D	Japanese: 紅柄色		Dyestalk red (lit. the color from dying with the stalk of the (safflower) plant)	145,50,37	913225
Japanese: 檜皮色		Cypress bark color	117,46,35	752E23	Japanese: 宍色		Meat-color	249,144,111	F9906F
Japanese: 洗朱		Rinsed-out red	255,121,82	FF7952	Japanese: 赤香色		Red incense-colored	240,127,94	F07F5E
Japanese: ときがら茶		Brewed mustard-brown	230,131,100	E68364	Japanese: 黄丹		Ochre (earthen yellow-red-brown)	255,78,32	FF4E20
Japanese: 蘇比		Overdyed/refreshed red-brown	227,92,56	E35C38	Japanese: 遠州茶		Muddy brown (lit. the brown of a distant river)	203,102,73	CB6649
Japanese: 唐茶		Spicy red-brown (Chinese tea brown)	179,92,68	B35C44	Japanese: 樺茶		Birch brown	177,74,48	B14A30
Japanese: 宗傳唐茶		Faded spicy red-brown	155,83,63	9B533F	Japanese: 雀茶		Sparrow-brown	140,71,54	8C4736
Japanese: 栗皮茶		Chestnut-leather brown	96,40,30	60281E	Japanese: 百塩茶		Boiled red bean brown	84,45,36	542D24
Japanese: 鳶色		Ibis-color	76,34,27	4C221B
Japanese: 朱色		Cinnabar-color	255,53,0	ff3500

Yellow/red series

Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English translation	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 胡桃染		Walnut-dyed	159,116,98	9F7462	Japanese: 蒲色		Cattail color	182,73,37	B64925
Japanese: 黄櫨染		Sumac-dyed	89,43,31	592B1F	Japanese: 焦茶		Scorched brown	53,31,25	351F19
Japanese: 深支子		Rich gardenia	245,127,79	F57F4F	Japanese: 洗柿		Washed-out persimmon	236,130,84	EC8254
Japanese: 代赭色		Red ochre color	159,82,51	9F5233	Japanese: 赤白橡		Sawtooth oak	236,149,108	EC956C
Japanese: 礪茶		Polished brown	152,85,56	985538	Japanese: 煎茶色		Green tea-colored	130,75,53	824B35
Japanese: 洒落柿		Stylish persimmon	255,162,107	FFA26B	Japanese: 薄柿		Pale persimmon	252,164,116	FCA474
Japanese: 萱草色		Daylily-colored	255,137,54	FF8936	Japanese: 梅染		Plum-dyed	250,146,88	FA9258
Japanese: 紅鬱金		Red-bronze (lit. red dye and turmeric)	251,129,54	FB8136	Japanese: 丁子茶		Clove-brown	143,88,60	8F583C
Japanese: 憲法染		Legal dye (from when color use was regulated by class)	46,33,27	2E211B	Japanese: 枇杷茶		Loquat tree-brown	171,97,52	AB6134
Japanese: 琥珀色		Amber color	202,105,36	CA6924	Japanese: 淡香		Pale incense	255,165,101	FFA565
Japanese: 朽葉色		Decaying leaves color	213,120,53	D57835	Japanese: 金茶		Golden brown	198,107,39	C66B27
Japanese: 丁子染		Clove-dyed	169,98,50	A96232	Japanese: 狐色		Fox-color	152,86,41	985629
Japanese: 柴染		Brushwood-dyed	140,89,57	8C5939	Japanese: 伽羅色		Aloewood-color	106,67,45	6A432D
Japanese: 煤竹色		Weathered bamboo (lit. "sooty")	89,58,39	593A27	Japanese: 白茶		White tea-colored	196,142,105	C48E69
Japanese: 黄土色		Ochre (lit. earthen yellow)	190,127,81	BE7F51	Japanese: 銀煤竹		Golden-grey bamboo (dried and weathered)	125,78,45	7D4E2D
Japanese: 黄唐茶		Chinese yellow tea-colored	183,112,45	B7702D	Japanese: 媚茶		Kobi tea	107,68,35	6B4423
Japanese: 赤朽葉		Red fallen leaves	219,132,73	DB8449

Yellow series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 浅黄		Light yellow	247,187,125	F7BB7D	Japanese: 山吹色		Golden yellow (Kerria japonica)	255,164,0	FFA400
Japanese: 玉子色		Egg-colored	255,166,49	FFA631	Japanese: 櫨染		Sumac-dyed	224,138,30	E08A1E
Japanese: 山吹茶		Gold-brown	203,126,31	CB7E1F	Japanese: 桑染		Mulberry-dyed	197,127,46	C57F2E
Japanese: 生壁色		The color of undried plaster	120,94,73	785E49	Japanese: 梔子		Cape jasmine or gardenia	255,185,90	FFB95A
Japanese: 玉蜀黍色		Corn-colored	250,169,69	FAA945	Japanese: 白橡		White oak	206,159,111	CE9F6F
Japanese: 黄橡		Golden oak	187,129,65	BB8141	Japanese: 藤黄		Gamboge	255,182,30	FFB61E
Japanese: 花葉色	or	Floral leaf-colored	255,185,78	FFB94E	Japanese: 鳥の子色		Eggshell paper-colored	226,190,159	E2BE9F
Japanese: 鬱金色		Turmeric-colored	230,155,58	E69B3A	Japanese: 黄朽葉		Golden fallen leaves	226,156,69	E29C45
Japanese: 利休白茶		Faded Sen no Rikyū's tea	176,146,122	B0927A	Japanese: 利休茶		Sen no Rikyū's tea	130,107,88	826B58
Japanese: 灰汁色		Lye-colored	127,107,93	7F6B5D	Japanese: 肥後煤竹		Japanese iris and sooty bamboo	127,93,59	7F5D3B
Japanese: 路考茶		Contemplation in a tea garden	102,83,67	665343	Japanese: 海松茶		Simmered seaweed	76,61,48	4C3D30
Japanese: 菜種油色		Rapeseed oil-colored	161,121,23	A17917	Japanese: 黄海松茶		Yellow Sea pine-brown	137,108,57	896C39
Japanese: 鶯茶		Japanese bush warbler-brown (greenish brown)	92,72,39	5C4827	Japanese: 菜の花色		Rape-blossom brown	227,177,48	E3B130
Japanese: 苅萱		Japanese triandra grass (Themeda japonica)	226,177,60	E2B13C	Japanese: 黄蘗		Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense)	243,193,58	F3C13A
Japanese: 蒸栗色		Steamed chestnut color	211,177,125	D3B17D	Japanese: 青朽葉		Pale fallen leaves	170,135,54	AA8736
Japanese: 鶸茶		Finch-brown (Cardueline finch)	149,123,56	957B38	Japanese: 女郎花		Patrinia flowers (Patrinia scabiosaefolia)	217,182,17	D9B611
Japanese: 鶯色		Japanese bush warbler-colored	100,85,48	645530

Yellow/green series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 鶸色		Greenfinch color	189,169,40	BDA928	Japanese: 青白橡		Pale oak	187,164,109	BBA46D
Japanese: 柳茶		Willow tea	156,138,77	9C8A4D	Japanese: 璃寛茶		Rikan brown	83,74,50	534A32
Japanese: 藍媚茶		Indigo tea	71,63,45	473F2D	Japanese: 苔色		Moss color	139,125,58	8B7D3A
Japanese: 海松色		Codium fragile seaweed color	82,75,42	524B2A	Japanese: 千歳茶		Thousand year old brown	59,52,41	3B3429
Japanese: 梅幸茶		Baiko brown	133,124,85	857C55	Japanese: 岩井茶		Iwai brown	94,85,69	5E5545
Japanese: 鶸萌黄		Siskin sprout yellow	122,148,46	7A942E	Japanese: 柳煤竹		Sooty willow bamboo	77,75,58	4D4B3A
Japanese: 裏柳		Underside of willow leaves	188,181,140	BCB58C	Japanese: 淡萌黄		Pale young green onion	141,178,85	8DB255
Japanese: 柳染		Willow-dyed	140,158,94	8C9E5E	Japanese: 萌黄		Fresh onion	91,137,48	5B8930
Japanese: 青丹		Blue-black clay^[1]	82,89,59	52593B	Japanese: 松葉色		Pine needle color	69,77,50	454D32

Green/blue green series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 薄青		Pale blue	140,156,118	8C9C76	Japanese: 若竹色		Young bamboo color	107,147,98	6B9362
Japanese: 柳鼠		Willow grey	129,123,105	817B69	Japanese: 老竹色		Old bamboo color	94,100,79	5E644F
Japanese: 千歳緑		Thousand year old green	55,66,49	374231	Japanese: 緑		Green	42,96,59	2A603B
Japanese: 白緑		Whitish green	165,186,147	A5BA93	Japanese: 錆青磁		Rusty celadon	137,138,116	898A74
Japanese: 緑青		Patina	64,122,82	407A52	Japanese: 木賊色		Horsetail color	61,93,66	3D5D42
Japanese: 御納戸茶		Storeroom brown	61,64,53	3D4035	Japanese: 青竹色		Green bamboo color	0,100,66	006442
Japanese: 利休鼠		Greyish dark green	101,98,85	656255	Japanese: びろうど		Velvet	34,70,52	224634
Japanese: 虫襖		Insect screen	45,68,54	2D4436	Japanese: 藍海松茶		Indigo Codium fragile seaweed brown	46,55,46	2E372E
Japanese: 沈香茶		Aloeswood brown	90,100,87	5A6457	Japanese: 水浅葱		Pale green onion	116,159,141	749F8D
Japanese: 青磁色		Celadon color	129,156,139	819C8B	Japanese: 青碧		Blue-green	58,105,96	3A6960
Japanese: 錆鉄御納戸		Rusty storeroom	58,64,59	3A403B	Japanese: 鉄色		Iron color	43,55,51	2B3733
Japanese: 御召茶		Silk crepe brown	53,78,75	354E4B	Japanese: 高麗納戸		Goryeo storeroom	32,56,56	203838

Blue/blue violet series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 湊鼠		Harbor rat	117,125,117	757D75	Japanese: 青鈍		Dull blue	79,73,68	4F4944
Japanese: 鉄御納戸		Iron storage	43,55,54	2B3736	Japanese: 水色		Aqua Blue color	134,171,165	86ABA5
Japanese: 錆浅葱		Rusted light-blue	106,127,122	6A7F7A	Japanese: 瓶覗		Inside of a bottle	198,194,182	C6C2B6
Japanese: 浅葱色		Light blue color	72,146,155	48929B	Japanese: 新橋色		"New Bridge" color	0,108,127	006C7F
Japanese: 錆御納戸		Rusty storage	69,88,89	455859	Japanese: 藍鼠		Mousy indigo	92,84,78	5C544E
Japanese: 藍色		Indigo color	38,67,72	264348	Japanese: 御納戸色		Onando color	54,65,65	364141
Japanese: 花浅葱		Light blue flower	29,105,124	1D697C	Japanese: 千草色		Thousand herb color	49,117,137	317589
Japanese: 舛花色		Opposite flower color	77,100,108	4D646C	Japanese: 縹		Light blue silk	4,79,103	044F67
Japanese: 熨斗目花色		Iron head flower color	52,77,86	344D56	Japanese: 御召御納戸		Kimono storage	61,76,81	3D4C51
Japanese: 空色		Sky Blue color	77,143,172	4D8FAC	Japanese: 黒橡		Black chestnut oak	37,35,33	252321
Japanese: 群青色		Ultramarine color	93,140,174	5D8CAE	Japanese: 紺		Dark blue	25,34,54	192236
Japanese: 褐色		Coarse wool color	24,27,38	181B26	Japanese: 瑠璃色		Lapis lazuli color	31,71,136	1F4788
Japanese: 紺青色		Prussian blue color	0,49,113	003171	Japanese: 瑠璃紺		Dark blue lapis lazuli	27,41,75	1B294B
Japanese: 紅碧		Stained red	120,119,155	78779B	Japanese: 紺桔梗		Navy blue bellflower	25,31,69	191F45
Japanese: 藤鼠		Mousy wisteria	118,105,128	766980	Japanese: 紅掛花色		Safflower color	90,79,116	5A4F74
Japanese: 藤色		Wisteria color	137,114,158	89729E	Japanese: 二藍		Dark indigo	97,78,110	614E6E

Violet series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 藤紫		Wisteria purple	135,95,154	875F9A	Japanese: 桔梗色		Bellflower color	93,63,106	5D3F6A
Japanese: 紫苑色		Tatarian aster color	151,110,154	976E9A	Japanese: 滅紫		Disappearing purple	63,49,58	3F313A
Japanese: 紫紺		Blue-violet	43,32,40	2B2028	Japanese: 深紫		Deep purple	58,36,59	3A243B
Japanese: 薄色		Thin color	168,124,160	A87CA0	Japanese: 半色		Half color	141,96,140	8D608C
Japanese: 菫色		Violet color	91,50,86	5B3256	Japanese: 紫		Purple	79,40,75	4F284B
Japanese: 黒紅		Dark red	35,25,30	23191E	Japanese: 菖蒲色		Iris color	118,53,104	763568
Japanese: 紅藤		Red wisteria	187,119,150	BB7796	Japanese: 杜若		Rabbit-ear iris	73,30,60	491E3C
Japanese: 鳩羽鼠		Dove feather grey	117,93,91	755D5B	Japanese: 葡萄鼠		Grape mouse	99,66,75	63424B
Japanese: 蒲萄		Vine grape	109,43,80	6D2B50	Japanese: 藤煤竹		Wisteria and burnt-bamboo	77,59,60	4D3B3C
Japanese: 牡丹		Tree peony	164,52,93	A4345D	Japanese: 梅紫		Plum purple	143,65,85	8F4155
Japanese: 似せ紫		Fake purple	67,36,42	43242A	Japanese: 紫鳶		Purple kite	81,44,49	512C31
Japanese: 蘇芳		Sappanwood	126,38,57	7E2639	Japanese: 桑染		Mulberry dye	89,41,44	59292C
Japanese: 紅消鼠		Vanishing red mouse	68,49,46	44312E

Achromatic series

Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet	Name	Romanized	English	RGB	Hex triplet
Japanese: 白練		Unbleached silk	255,221,202	FFDDCA	Japanese: 白鼠		White mouse	185,161,147	B9A193
Japanese: 銀鼠		Silver-grey	151,134,124	97867C	Japanese: 素鼠		Plain mouse	110,95,87	6E5F57
Japanese: 丼鼠		Brown rat grey	75,60,57	4B3C39	Japanese: 藍墨茶		Indigo ink brown	57,52,50	393432
Japanese: 檳榔子染		Betel nut-dyed	53,41,37	352925	Japanese: 墨色		Ink color	39,34,31	27221F
Japanese: 黒色		Black	23,20,18	171412	Japanese: 藍白		Indigo white	235, 246, 247	EBF6F7

Bibliography

• Book: Hibi. Sadao. Fukuda. Kunio. The Colors of Japan. 2000. Kodansha International. 978-4-7700-2536-4 .
• Book: Nagasaki, Seiki. Nihon no dentoshoku: Sono shikimei to shikicho. Seigensha. 2001. 4-916094-53-0. ja.
• Book: Nihon Shikisai Gakkai. Shinpen shikisai kagaku handobukku. Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai. 1985. 4-13-061000-7. ja.
• https://color-term.com/traditional-color-of-japan/

External links

• Japanese traditional color Names
• Japanese traditional colors (archived)
• The traditional colors of Nippon (Japan)

Notes and References

1. Book: Marra, Michael. Essays on Japan: Between Aesthetics and Literature. 2010-10-15. BRILL. 978-90-04-19594-3. en.