Karakurenai
A vivid, saturated crimson whose name records a safflower red said to have arrived from Korea — the "kara" originally written with the character for the Korean peninsula, with "Tang China" a later substitution.
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).
韓紅花 からくれない Kara-kurenai crimson
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 bolt of ra gauze · 1 bolt of sha gauze · 1 skein of silk thread · 1 bolt of fine hemp cloth · 1 bolt of fine cloth.
Original text 原文
韓紅花綾一疋、紅花大十斤、酢一斗、麸一斗、藁三囲、薪一百八十斤、帛一疋、紅花大六斤、酢六升、麸六升、藁二囲、薪一百廿斤、羅一疋、紅花大七斤、酢七升、麩五升、藁二囲半、薪一百五十斤、紗一疋、紅花大二斤、酢二升、麸二升、藁大半囲、薪卌斤、糸一絇、紅花大一斤、酢七合、麸二升、藁半囲、薪卅斤、貲布一端、紅花大四斤、酢一升二合、藁一囲、薪六十斤、細布一端、紅花大五斤、酢六升、藁二囲、薪百五十斤、調布准此、
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
紅花 紅 — what the name literally points to.
