Arazome
Arazome is written with characters suggesting a faded or receded crimson: a soft, pale salmon pink, as though a stronger red had been gently washed from the cloth.
How it was dyed in 927
The Engishiki — the court regulations completed in 927 — records exactly what the palace dyehouse was allotted to dye this color. Quantities are per bolt of cloth; units are left in the original (1 kin ≈ 600 g, 1 shō ≈ 0.7 L in later standards — Heian equivalents are debated).
退紅 あらぞめ Faded rose (arazome)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 skein of silk thread · 1 bolt of fine cloth · 1 bolt of tribute cloth.
Original text 原文
退紅帛一疋、紅花小八両、酢一合、藁半囲、薪卅斤、糸一絇、紅花小二両二分、酢三夕、藁小半囲、薪廿斤、細布一端、紅花大四両、酢二合、藁半囲、薪卅斤、調布一端、紅花小十四両、酢一合六夕、藁半囲、薪卅斤、
Text: 『デジタル延喜式』校訂文（縫殿寮）, National Museum of Japanese History · 1900 printed edition (NDL)
Tints & shades
Harmonies within the tradition
Complementary and triadic companions, chosen from real traditional colors — not computed values.
Similar colors
In this hue
