Asaake
Scarlet dyed shallow: a soft coral-red produced by dyeing lightly with madder. Asaake keeps the warmth of full hi scarlet but lets most of its intensity go.
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).
浅緋 あさあけ Pale scarlet (asaake)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 bolt of kudzu cloth.
Original text 原文
浅緋綾一疋、〈綿紬・東絁・貲布亦同、〉茜大卅斤、米五升、灰二石、薪三百六十斤、帛一疋、茜大廿五斤、米四升、灰二石、薪三百六十斤、葛布一端、茜大十斤、米一升、灰四斗、薪九十斤、
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
The namesake
茜染め 淡い布 — what the name literally points to.
