Kiiro
Yellow at its most fundamental: one of the three primary colors. Against this pure, saturated standard, the traditional palette's many softer and duller yellows are measured.
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).
深黄 こきき Deep yellow
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
Original text 原文
深黄綾一疋、〈綿紬・糸紬・東絁亦同、〉苅安草大五斤、灰一斗五升、薪六十斤、帛一疋、苅安草大三斤、灰八升、薪卅斤、糸一絇、苅安草大一斤、灰三斗、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.