Keshimurasaki
Written with characters meaning 'extinguished purple' and read either messhi or keshimurasaki, this is a smoky, darkened purple — a violet whose brightness has deliberately been put out.
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).
深滅紫 こきけしむらさき Deep dulled purple (messhi)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
中滅紫 なかけしむらさき Medium dulled purple (messhi)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
浅滅紫 あさけしむらさき Pale dulled purple (messhi)
Original text 原文
深滅紫綾一疋、紫草八斤、酢一升、灰一石、薪百廿斤、帛一疋、紫草八斤、酢一升、灰一石、薪百廿斤、糸一絇、紫草八斤、酢二合、灰三斗、薪九十斤、
中滅紫綾一疋、紫草八斤、酢八合、灰八斗、薪九十斤、帛一疋、紫草八斤、酢七合、灰七斗、薪九十斤、糸一絇、紫草七斤、酢一合、灰一斗五升、薪廿斤、
浅滅紫糸一絇、紫草二斤、灰一升、薪三斤、
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
