The Story of Japanese Traditional Color, Purples
True Purple, Shikon
Purple is around us everywhere now, so it might be hard to imagine that not everyone was allowed to use or wear it. The ancient Japanese treasured purple because the color was challenging to extract from the plant, Shikon. Although Shikon is not the only plant that you can make purple, that's the only purple ancient Japanese call it "true purple." On the contrary, they could have extracted "fake purple" from sappanwood.
Fake Purple extracted from Sappanwood
Shikon is a darker purple that represents elegance by itself. However, when you use yellow and gold in combination, it can also make those complementary colors gorgeous. It's a lovely color.
True Purple, Shikon
Half Purple, Hansyoku
Although we can access varieties of colors now, "true purple" was the color for the emperor and the aristocrats of the highest rank since 794 AD. Ordinary people were allowed to wear "Hanshyoku" (half purple) instead.
Half purple, hansyoku
Blueish Dark Purple, Edo Murasaki
Do you know there's a color called "Edo Murasaki" in Japan? It means the purple made in Edo Period (between 1603 and 1867). This purple color has more blue in it and is extracted by the comfrey plant. The bright and beautiful Edo purple is also called "Ima Murasaki," which means "Now Purple." Contrary to "Now Purple," another one is called "ancient purple," which contains slightly red, but it's still a dull color.
Blueish Purple, Edo Murasaki
Light Purple, Wisteria
Wisteria is a plant that originated in Japan. The flower blooms around the end of spring which represents elegance. How many people have been fascinated by the light blueish purple color since 794 AD?
Wisteria purple has a high level of intelligence and character. Therefore, it has been loved by Japanese, especially women, for thousands of years. I am no exception.
Fuji Purple, Wisteria
Violet Purple, Sumire
Sumire (violet) is a bluer purple flower. This color has a healing effect. The flowers are brooming at the beginning of the spring pretty. You'll also find several poems about Sumire (violet) in one of the oldest collections of Japanese poems called Manyoshu.
春(はる)の野に すみれ摘(つ)みにと来しわれそ 野を懐(なつ)かしみ一夜(ひとよ)寝にける
I came to the spring field to pick up violets, but I missed the field and spent the night.
Violet Flower, Sumire
In Summary
It was fun to explore the color and discover the relationship between purple and the ancient Japanese. We could tell purple was a valuable color to the people living in all eras.
