Ebizome
Dyed to the color of the ripened fruit of the ebikazura grape vine: a reddish, somewhat pale purple halfway between wine and violet — the fruit's bloom translated into 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).
葡萄 えびぞめ Grape (ebizome)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk.
Original text 原文
葡萄綾一疋、紫草三斤、酢一合、灰四升、薪卌斤、帛一疋、紫草一斤、酢一合、灰二升、薪廿斤、
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
エビヅル 山葡萄 — what the name literally points to.
