Kōrozen
A yellow-tinged brown dyed with sumac, and the first of the kinjiki — the forbidden colors. Reserved for the emperor's use, it stood at the very summit of the color hierarchy.
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).
黄櫨 こうろぜん Kōrozen yellow-sappan
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk.
Original text 原文
黄櫨綾一疋、櫨十四斤、蘇芳十一斤、酢二升、灰三斛、薪八荷、帛一疋、紫草十五斤、酢一升、灰一斛、薪四荷、
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
ハゼノキ 櫨の木 — what the name literally points to.
