Kitsurubami
Kitsurubami turns the tsurubami oak browns toward gold, a deep tan with a honeyed glow, like acorns and dry leaves lit by autumn sunlight.
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).
橡 つるばみ Acorn (tsurubami)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
Original text 原文
橡綾一疋、〈東絁亦同、〉搗橡二斗五升、茜大二斤、灰七升、薪二百廿斤、帛一疋、搗橡一斗五升、茜大二斤、灰五升、薪二百廿斤、糸一絇、搗橡六升、茜大六両、灰二升、薪卅斤、
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
クヌギ どんぐり 落ち葉 — what the name literally points to.
