Kokimurasaki
Kokimurasaki, 'deep purple,' is exactly what its name declares: purple carried to its darkest register, blackened and dense, with only a low glow of violet escaping the 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).
深紫 こきむらさき Deep purple (kokimurasaki)
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 bolt of ra gauze · 1 bolt of twisted sha gauze · 1 skein of silk thread · 1 bolt of fine hemp cloth · 1 bolt of kudzu cloth.
Original text 原文
深紫綾一疋、〈綿紬・糸紬・東絁亦同、〉紫草卅斤、酢二升、灰二石、薪三百六十斤、帛一疋、紫草卅斤、酢一升、灰一石八斗、薪三百斤、羅一疋、紫草卅斤、酢一升、灰二石、薪三百斤、絞紗一疋、紫草十五斤、酢三合、灰四斗六升、薪一百廿斤、糸一絇、紫草十七斤、酢二合、灰二斗五升、薪六十斤、貲布一端、紫草五十斤、酢一升、灰一石二斗、薪二百卌斤、葛布一端、紫草廿三斤、酢二合、灰一斗七升、薪六十斤、
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
紫草 ムラサキ — what the name literally points to.
