Kokiake
Kokiake, meaning 'deep scarlet', pushes the classical scarlet toward darkness — a low, brownish red in which the fire of the hue is banked into shadow.
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).
深緋 こきあけ Deep scarlet (kokiake)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 bolt of fine hemp cloth · 1 bolt of kudzu cloth.
Original text 原文
深緋綾一疋、〈綿紬・糸紬・東絁亦同、〉茜大卌斤、紫草卅斤、米五升、灰三石、薪八百卌斤、帛一疋、茜大廿五斤、紫草廿三斤、米四升、灰二石、薪六百斤、貲布一端、〈四丈、〉茜大十六斤、紫草十四斤、米三升、灰一石五斗、薪三百六十斤、葛布一端、茜大七斤、米八合、灰四斗、薪九十斤、紫草七斤、
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
