Fukamidori
Fukamidori, 'deep green,' is a green darkened with both blue and black — dense and shadowy, like foliage at the unlit heart of a forest.
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).
深緑 こきみどり Deep green
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
Original text 原文
深緑綾一疋、〈綿紬・糸紬・東絁亦同、〉藍十囲、苅安草大三斤、灰二斗、薪二百卌斤、帛一疋、〈貲布亦同、〉藍十囲、苅安草大二斤、灰一斗、薪一百廿斤、糸一絇、藍三囲、苅安草大九両、薪六十斤、
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
深い森 濃い緑の葉 — what the name literally points to.
